Sin/Redemption & Snape / Christianity in HP

[lealess]

No: HPFGUIDX 128334

AyanEva said:
> . . . I'm just having some trouble understanding the applicability
> of Christianity to the Harry Potter books . . .

Nora replied:
> When you get that "will be able to guess what's coming in the 
> books" there, it points to her religious beliefs informing the
> action in fairly strong and direct ways.  This has led to a lot of
> listie speculation in the past about symbolism/etc., but as
> Lupinlore was exploring, it also has potential ethical
> ramifications.

AyanEva said:
> My point is this, I think Snape's intentions are explainable and
> pure enough for me because I can't make any sense of the Christian
> idea of sin and redemption.
<snip>
> He's doing the right thing now and as long as he keeps doing the 
> right thing, I can't see why it would matter so much WHY he's
> doing what he's doing, so long as he's doing it. 

Nora replied:
> There are many ethical systems which consider intent to be of
> fundamental importance in ethics, and JKR seems to be flirting with
> some of them.  . . . Intentions directly become results.


lealess:
I want to add a couple of thoughts to this, and although I grew up
somewhat indoctrinated into Christianity, I am not a Christian.

I can see the good vs. evil theme playing out in HP books, in a
complex and interesting way.  I can also see the reluctant sacrifice
of the one for the greater good of many, but I hope that doesn't
happen to Harry, or Dumbledore or Snape, or any character (but I am
prepared for the worst).

I do have trouble seeing the whole redemption angle, with reference to
Snape.  It seems to me that redemption has to be granted, in a
Judeo-Christian tradition, by some sort of god.  It is not something
you give yourself, no matter how worthy your deeds or how pure your
intent.  So will it be that Harry forgives Snape's sins, cures his
guilt, and welcomes him into final reconciliation with the good? Or
does redemption happen through death, especially through sacrifice,
leading to full acceptance by good itself?  Redemption seems to be a
Judeo-Christian deus ex machina.

Anyway, I am sure someone else can explain this concept, and I hope it
is not off topic or offensive to anyone.

I was trying to think what Christian teachings really might be, and,
reflecting my naiveté, they seem to include (1) following/
honoring/ loving a certain higher power and (2) accepting Jesus'
teachings as your path for coming into harmony with that power.  Then
there is what I really took away from the many Sunday schools I
attended: faith, hope and charity; love your neighbor as you love
yourself; turn the other cheek; judge not lest you be judged; who
among you will throw the first stone – that kind of good stuff,
which
I still appreciate.   It would be great if those concepts fit into the
HP books.

Having confusingly said that, I want to echo another sentiment
expressed by AyanEva, having to do with what we want for the Snape
character and even Voldemort after the Final Confrontation:  I would
like to see more compassion for the characters in the HP books, many
of whom are overcoming obstacles of neglect or abuse of one kind or
another, including obviously Harry and Snape.  I think much of their
inability to communicate in the best ways stems from not being
listened to, as children and beyond.  Hanging on to the past can be
bad, but many people are unable to overcome certain traumas.  I think
Snape is trying, and I am sure Harry will try, but will they ever be
whole or happy?  Will they become functioning, stable adults? Depends
on what the author has planned, but I hope so.  And I would like to
see a similar resolution for Voldemort.  I look for greater insight
into the formation and nature of the "evil" characters, with
compassion able to prevail over harsh judgment.

By the way, I found this in a brief web search when looking for the
actual meaning of redemption, in something called Grace Notes (which
is inactive, apparently, and I don't know how authoritative it is.
Here is the URL, anyway:
http://www.realtime.net/~wdoud/topics/redemptn.html):

"The word "redemption" in the Old Testament is the translation of the
Hebrew word (pädäh), meaning "to deliver" or "to sever".  It was
continuously stressed to the Israelites that they belonged to
Jehovah because He had redeemed them (severed them from bondage) and
had provided them with the land of Canaan for them to use as a gift
from God and for His glory. For this reason, all Israel owed their
lives and their service to God, in effect making the whole nation a
kingdom of priests, at least in spirit."

lealess