Harry IS Snape! (Forgiveness)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 141125

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "krista7" <erikog at o...> wrote:
> > Lupinlore wrote:
> > And if the forgiveness is one-sided, well, Harry becomes a kind 
> > of saint-like figure, if not a Christ figure forgiving the world 
> > that crucified him. Such is the foundation of a silly and insipid 
> > and preachy saga that will make for very good kindling.
 
> > Saraquel:
> > Yes Lupinlore, I've been struggling with that as well. But I 
> > think that Lily, to date, is the Christ-like figure.  I posted 
> > something on that ages ago, that her death parallels Christ's 
> > death on the cross, which I came up with based on JKR's 
> > statements about her faith, and the fact that at the end of the 
> > series, no-one would be in doubt about what her faith was.  
 
Krista:
> I disagree with the idea that Harry has to be a Christ-like figure
> to forgive Snape. To me, at the point that Harry is at the start of
> HBP, to begin the forgiveness process requires empathy; it means 
> you have to acknowledge you yourself are imperfect, that you can 
> say to yourself, "There, but for the grace of God, go I." That kind 
> of self-knowledge isn't super-human or really divine, to me. 

Geoff:
We had a lot of discussion on Harry as a Christ figure way back - 
particularly before Hans decided to go off and start his own website.

The following is a part of what I wrote back in message 80110 which 
was looking at Christianity and other beliefs but this extract is 
perhaps the most relevant to this thread.

"I believe people who like the Harry Potter novels and use them in
their search can find it to be in keeping with their views as you say
but I am viewing it from the standpoint of a committed believer that
Jesus is God in human form.

*****

OK, you feel that you must protest any attempt to tie JKR to one
religion. I accept that although I speak from a personal view; I
still see Harry as paralleling the Christian's search for and
relationship with God. He was saved by a loving sacrifice and has
enjoyed its protection. Christ gave himself lovingly as a sacrifice
which will continue to protect those who accept it at face value.
Harry's life and outlook have been influenced openly and 
subconsciously by what he has learned about his mother's "gift" and
he sees the way in which his life ought to move forward as a result.

Likewise, the life a genuine Christian is influenced in the same way
by the gift of salvation through the resurrection and we learn to 
seek the way in which our lives in the real world should move
forward.

(It is an interesting fact about Harry that he inspires totally 
opposed reactions from Christians in particular. There are folk in my
own church who are converted folk like myself who hold diametrically
opposite views on the books; it makes for interesting discussions.)

I can only put forward my own views; I accept that others may not
agree because they have their own interpretation of what life is all
about. The difficulty is that not all beliefs can lead to the same
outcome. But that is OT as far as this discussion group is concerned."