Religion in US, UK, Hogwarts Schools

[komagata_mai]

No: HPFGUIDX 128720

I would argue that a school like Hogwarts, would be a secular private (not-state owned) 
school. 

a) there are no religion classes of any sort. Even in religious schools that do not 
proselytize a single religion, an overview of theology or world religions still seems to be in 
the curriculum. Although given Hogwarts students arent taught things like Math either, 
this might not be a strong argument either way.

b) there seems to be no mention of a chapel anywhere in hogwarts. Odds are, it has a 
non-denominational chapel of some sort (it seems like the sort of thing old castles would 
have), but if it is not mentioned there seems to be no "school sponsored/scheduled" 
religious activities of any sort

c) Funding for hogwarts does not seem to come from any religious institution, it probably 
has some sort of endowment set up over the course of 1000 years. 

Thus, it would serve no purpose for Hogwarts to be religious (it does not need the money), 
nor would it serve a religious institution to make Hogwarts affiliated to them, since 
religion is not mentioned at any time as part of the course of study/student life.

Now, on the other hand, i dont see anything that particularly ties the wizarding world to 
pagan religions or witchcraft traditions. Magic, in the WW, does not seem to originate from 
a divine/mystical source. It seems to be, for most intents and purposes, a genetic 
mutation, and magic is used as a technology, replacing cars, subways, electricity, 
engineering. As such, a tool and a science, it has no reason to conflict with most present 
day religions, which acknowlege that faith and technology should need to be in 
contradiction (note that I said most, not all).  

Thus, I see no reason for wizards not to grow up in a society where some people are 
religious, and some are not, just like in muggle society.

a) Their hospital is named after a saint (St. Mungo), who is clearly a wizard and a religious 
man.

b) Their holidays are labeled with Christian names, which implies they dont reject muggle 
religions, even if they do not impose them.

c) the fat friar was a friar and a wizard

d) the belief of a soul is common, otherwise a dementor would not be effective against 
someone. Most major religions have some concept of a soul, or eternal part of the self, so 
this is not indicative solely of Christianity, but of a religious tradition worldview. Ghosts 
also imply the existence of a eternal component to the person.

bottom line: Hogwarts is probably not religious, but that does not mean that religion is in 
contradiction with the WW. It seems to fit in just fine.