[HPforGrownups] JKR a Calvinist?Potterverse Destiny

[Barb Roberts]

No: HPFGUIDX 121358


On Jan 7, 2005, at 2:14 AM, justcarol67 wrote:

>  ...As I understand it, JKR is a member of the Church of
>  Scotland, which is Presbyterian (not a branch of the Church of
>  England, which is of course Anglican). But does Presbyterianism equate
>  with Calvinism?
>
>  A Calvinist, I would think, would not have much tolerance for
>  Christmas celebrations, but JKR's site had an Advent calendar and the
>  Christmas decorations...
>
>  Can anyone help me out here without being too OT? It's important
>  because of the question of fate and "innate goodness" vs. free will
>  and choice in the books. Also I think there's something like a
>  Christian view of death in OoP and elsewhere, but it's very ambiguous.
>
           				
JKR's hasn't been very forthcoming about her religious beliefs.  And 
while she seems to write from a generally Christian worldview, I see no 
proof that she is overly religious or overtly Presbyterian for that 
matter.  I really don't see her as defending Presbyterian orthodoxy.  
Wasn't she raised in England?  And does Wales fit in there somehow? 
Anyway, I'm not sure how deep her Presbyterian roots.  There are other 
examples of CoE practices in her books. The practice of having 
Godparents, for instance, isn't a Presbyterian practice (at least not 
in the US.) As far as Calvinism, it can mean different things, but it 
is generally used for system of theology that quite a few churches 
subscribe or historically subscribed, including  Presbyterians, some 
Baptists, a few Episcopalians, and various congregational and reformed 
churches.  It was a major the theology of the reformation, and all 
churches formed in that era have strains of Calvinism that they may 
reject or embrace.  Even Luther, never a "Calvinist" nevertheless wrote 
a major treatise against free will.  Knox (founder of Presyterianism) 
was a student of Calvin and historic Presbyterianism is almost 
synonymous with Calvinism. The modern Church of Scotland is mainstream. 
  I think only the "free" Presbyterian churches would have problems with 
Christmas celebrations.

Barbara Roberts

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