God in the WW?

[rachaelmcadams]

No: HPFGUIDX 132195

Jim Ferer wrote in message 132059:
It's safe to say that the wizard world seems pretty much like the 
Muggle one.

Rachael:
I agree, in most ways the Wizarding World parallels the real world.  
And in my experience, religion does not a play a big part in school, 
except for getting the Christmas and Easter holidays, or any other 
specific religious holidays one wishes to take.

Geoff wrote in message 132128:
Speaking seriously though as a Christian, I have commented on 
numerous occasions that you can see the presence of the writer's 
commitment even if it isn't overt. [...] We see from the way [JKR's] 
world works, how  right and wrong are viewed in it and. as a result, 
something of her feeling about faith.

Rachael:
However, her feelings of faith are not really what are expressed in 
the novels, but rather, her morals and ethics.  Many Christians often 
argue (and I am not saying any here has, just a pre-emptive reply in 
case someone does) that when an author expresses views that are in 
line with Christianity (for example, treating others the way you wish 
to be treated), they believe that it is a Christian novel.  However, 
those themes are often present in most other religions, as well as in 
most people's morality.  The point of this is, unless JKR 
specifically says she is trying to teach Christian morality, it is a 
very hard thing to prove.

Bamf wrote in message 132137:
My other response is this: There are plenty of atheists and other 
people in the world that celebrate Christmas as a time of gift giving 
and peace, and do it in a matter that has nothing to do with Christ. 
To those people, Christmas is much less a religious holiday, and more 
a 'state' holiday, or rather a civic holiday. [...] To them, it's not 
the name, but the intent behind the celebration.

Geoff wrote in message 132185:
(1) I think the name has great importance. We are celebrating the 
birth of Christ – that's what the word Christmas means – and if 
people are not, they should choose a different word.

Rachael:
The name has great importance to those that are Christian, BUT 
because of the history of Christianity being imposed on the people of 
wherever the British decided to colonize, the names do not 
necessarily mean that everyone that celebrates the holidays has to be 
Christian.  Christmas and Easter have become so ingrained in (at 
least) Western society and so commercialized that there doesn't need 
to be any religion involved to celebrate them.

As well, I would like to add that I have godparents, though neither 
my parents or I are Christian.  It was just done to specify who would 
take care of my brother and I if anything happened to my parents.

Rachael
who really hopes she hasn't offended anyone because she really didn't 
mean to