Christianity in HP? (WAS: Dumbledore's Death)

[Rachel Crofut]

No: HPFGUIDX 151054

Rachel:
>IMO, it seems almost a certain doom to use witches and wizards
>as the prime protagonists in a Christian novel.  I found an article
>dated July 13, 2005, about the new Pope's views on Harry Potter.
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>------ (snip)
>
>Tonks:
>First not all Christians see that as a problem. So the use of
>witches and wizards is not a problem for most of us. As to the
>current Pope's words when he was a cardinal, I think that the intent
>of his words have been misunderstood. As I understand it the Roman
>Church under John Paul II came out and said that there was nothing
>wrong with the HP books.  But even if the new Pope were against it,
>which I am not sure that he is, the Pope does not speak for all
>Christians either.

Rachel:
The new Pope is indeed against the Harry Potter books, though I do know he 
does not speak for all Christians, not even all Catholics.  I was using the 
Pope as a well-known Christian figure that demonstrated how witches and 
wizards can be taken to mean evil.

Tonks:
<snip> All of these speak to the
>collective unconscious of mankind. And those symbols have been with
>us for as long as humans have been on the earth.

Rachel:
Exactly!  I believe that JKR is appealing to the human in us all, regardless 
of religion.

Tonks:
>Third, the way in which she writes, combined with what she has said
>in interviews, point to her using specific Christian symbols to tell
>the world a Christian message in a way in which it can be openly
>heard.

Rachel:
Perhaps, but if you take a look at many main-stream religions, their morals 
are strikingly similar to those of Christianity.  Christianity does not need 
to be the spear-head of JKR's message, regardless of the subtlety in which 
she does so.

Tonks:
>Not every Christian is the kind that will accost you on the
>street (or TV) with a bible in their hand telling your what a sinner
>you are and that you need to repent and be saved or burn.  It is a
>sad thing that this is only introduction that many people get to
>Christianity, and this type is NOT what most of us are about.

Rachel:
No, I never thought so.  I was born and raised Methodist so I understand the 
frustration Christians must face when dealing with people who believe that 
to be the typical Christian.  I'm not suggesting that JKR is forcing 
Christianity down people's throats, rather, I'm suggesting that she is 
combining several different flavors of the world to demonstrate how similar 
humans can be.  See for example the Tri-Wizard Tournament and the emphasis 
placed on international relations by Dumbledore and even Hermione.  Compare 
this, then, to Voldemort and Malfoy's "pure-blood" pedestals.  IMO JKR is 
demonstrating the importance of accepting other cultures and beliefs.

Tonks:
>I
>think that most Christians are like DD, and like the man that Harry
>is growing to be.

Rachel:
I agree that DD and Harry are the heroes in the book that the reader is 
supposed to identify with, however I wouldn't say that they are necessarily 
the personification of Christianity (or, to use your words, that most 
Christians are like them).  I would suggest that the traits within DD and 
Harry (which undoubtedly many Christians possess) are those that JKR admires 
and believes should be held by all people - that of acceptance, trust, and, 
most importantly, love.

Tonks:
>I also think that the message that JKR is giving is a universal
>message. I was at a HP convention in Canada in 2004 in which someone
>presented a paper entitled "What is a Good Jewish Boy Doing in a
>Place Like This" (paraphrased).  The author made a good case for
>Harry from a Jewish point of view using Jewish symbolism.

Rachel:
Exactly my point :-).

Tonks:
>I have hoped that people of other religions might look closely at
>the books and show us other symbols from their own religions. I am
>sure that JKR is writing for everyone, young and old, from every
>race and tongue, etc. And the message is a universal one of God's
>Love.

Rachel:
Not even that of God's love, as it is Lily's love that saves Harry.  Rather, 
I believe JKR is showing the beauty of the love that humans have for one 
another.  It is love and friendship that has kept Harry alive throughout his 
childhood and school years.

To sum up - I believe that JKR is expressing an acceptance for separate 
cultures and beliefs and stresses the importance of love.

~ Rachel (Hoping she made sense somewhere along the line)