HP&theDH Title: People, Places, and Things

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 163127

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn at ...> wrote:
> PEOPLE-
> 
> I think in this case we need to be careful not to take 
> the 'Saints' aspect of 'hallow' to much to heart. It 
> really mean venerated or revered people, which saints 
> certainly are. Yet, I don't think 'saints' literally works
> in the wizard world.
> 
> Some have specualated Harry will gather his own army of 
> undead, but of venerated/good undead. Somehow, he will 
> draw on the power of substantail revered by probably dead
> people in the wizard world.
> 
> Some people have speculated that Harry will call on the 
> power of ghosts or spirit; either the Hogwarts 
> ghost/spirits or the spirits of the Founders. In a sense,
> in gathering the Founders Objects of Power, he is in 
> essense calling on the spirits of the spirits of the 
> founders themselves. This could also tie together the 
> idea of uniting the Houses.
> 
> Part of what I am trying to say is that I think we need 
> to come up with non-religious more secular applications
> of the word 'Hallows'. The 'saintly', 'holy', 'sacred' 
> aspect is certainly valid and undeniable, but as I said,
> applied in a more secular fashion.

Geoff:
Sadly, there is a misconception that saints are venerated people 
which has been propagated in particular by the Catholic Church. The 
New Testament writings always refer to /any/ Christian believers 
as 'saints'. Paul often begins his letters by addressing them as, for 
example, the saints in Ephesus or Galatia or wherever... And they 
didn't all have haloes or beatific expressions on their faces.

Speaking as one of that number - definitely sans halo - I see no 
reason why Hallows, in the Wizarding world, cannot cover those who 
seek a world aiming to help magical folk to a settled and peaceful 
way of life and looking to the downfall of the Voldemorts and 
Grindelwalds who seek only the victory of the dark side.