Theological Harry--Not!/Christian motifs

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 121598


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, alexpie at a... wrote:

Barb:
> I believe that what she said was that if you understand Christian 
theology, 
> you know where the story is going.  That says nothing about her 
personal 
> beliefs; hey, I'm an an atheist but I do know Christian theology, 
which is why I'm 
> sure we'll be waving bye-bye to Harry in book seven--and I don't 
mean he'll be 
> going on a day trip to satisfy a craving for Mere Delacour's 
bouillabaisse.
>   I find "message" books as ponderous and self-important as self-
help books; 
> obviously the story to an extent will reflect her value system but 
message, 
> particularly a religious one? Nope.  Don't see it.  I see a 
thumping good story. 

Geoff:
There are three major series of books which are often discussed here 
on this forum, either directly or indirectly: Harry Potter, the 
Narnia books or Lord of the Rings.

All these have been written by authors who profess to be Christians. 
The only allegorical books here are C.S.Lewis' series and he made no 
secret of the fact that they were intended as such. "The Lion, the 
Witch and the Wardrobe" is an overt allegory of the Christian story; 
Aslan is the son of the great Emperor over sea and represents Christ.

Both JK Rowling and Tolkien have created universes which are not 
overtly Christian but which, through the beliefs of their writers 
have echoes of Christianity in their fabric. These books are 
not "message" books but labours of love. They are not mass produced 
books written to a template; I could name authors who have turned out 
massive numbers of books to very similar patterns which do not 
reflect any sort of ethical system.

I have remarked on occasions before that I do not see JKR postulating 
a story line in which Harry is a Christ figure because that would fly 
in the face of her belief. To a Christian, he cannot be such a figure 
because our belief accepts Christ as God in human form, sinless, 
perfect so as to be able to die for the sins of the world in his 
human form. 

I see Harry as an everyman figure echoing our own journeys through 
life. I love Harry as a character; he reminds me of the scrapes I got 
up to when I was his age but sinless, perfect? No way.

These three authors have written books which are timeless 
and "thumping good stories" which will continue to enthral readers of 
all ages in the future; they pit goodness against evil not in a black 
versus white scenario where everything is a foregone conclusion but 
with shades of grey which cast shadows and doubts on the final 
success of good. This is drawn from their own perception of good and 
evil which I believe is rooted in their faith.