Humanity, Kant, Caricatures, and Draco (was Re: Real child abuse)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 146270

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Magda Grantwich 
<mgrantwich at y...> wrote:
>
MML: 
> > Put simply, Harry is 
> > fighting for the good, Malfoy is fighting for the evil (pure-
> > blood wizardry) and it is this moral stance
> > which renders their actions right or wrong.

 
Magda:
> Which would be fine if morality were like a big quidditch game with
> teams clearly identifiable and no holds barred.  But right and wrong
> is a bit more complicated than that.  You can do bad things and then
> repent, and strive to do better or make up for your past.
> 
> And Harry's showing himself a bit too quick to throw those
> unforgiveables around for us (and him) to assume that his place on
> Team Good Guys is assured and unassailable.  
> 
> And FWIW, "pureblood wizardry" isn't in and of itself evil.
> 
> There's a verse in the bible (can't remember where) that says
> something like there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one 
sinner
> who repents than over ten others who never sinned at all.  Something
> for the good guys to remember lest they start to get smug.

Geoff:
For reference, the bit of 'canon' you need is:
"I tell you that, in the same way, there will be more rejoicing over 
one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do 
not need to repent"
(Luke 15:7)

Jesus is hammering home the point with the Pharisees that there is a 
need to repent; that those who /consider/ themselves righteous or who 
know all the answers will miss the chance to turn and go through 
the 'narrow door' of faith.

I think there are a number of groups in the Wizarding World in 
adidtion to the good guys who are inclined to get smug. My top two 
candidates for this qualification of thinking that they have got it 
all sewn up are the Death Eaters and also the top echelon of the 
Ministry of Magic.

I shall now await a comeback on that bit of iconoclastic thinking...