Baptism/Christianity in HP: was Looking for God in Harry Potter

[leslie41]

No: HPFGUIDX 153407

What always perplexes me even more than Christians denouncing HP, is 
how the more paganish sorts don't want to believe the HP series has 
any basis in Christianity whatsoever.  

I'm not even talking about values/motifs, etc.  I'm talking about the 
basic obvious facts like the celebration of Christmas (and the suits 
of armor don't just sing secular Christmas songs), Easter, and the 
fact that those in the wizarding world do have their children 
baptized.  Most likely Harry was baptized into the Church of England 
(Episcopalians in the US). My guess is the Wizarding World follows the 
pattern of the Muggle world with regard to baptisms and Christianity, 
though obviously Christ isn't named specifically.

Harry's baptism isn't seen as something out of the ordinary, either, I 
don't think.  And though his parents had other things on their minds, 
they thought it important enough to do it.  And, if Sirius is the 
godfather, he most obviously is a Christian as well.

Here something from the 1662 prayer book which is relevant to this:

> For every child to be baptized there shall be not fewer than three 
> godparents, of whom at least two shall be of the same sex as the 
> child and of whom at least one shall be of the opposite sex; save 
> that, when three cannot be conveniently had, one godfather and one 
> godmother shall suffice. Parents may be godparents for their own 
> children provided that the child shall have at least one other 
> godparent. 

My guess is that Harry's parents did just that--served as godparents 
for their own child, though it's possible that there is another female 
godparent and another male as well that we don't know of.

> The godparents shall be persons who have been baptized and confirmed 
> and will faithfully fulfil their responsibilities both by their care 
> for the child committed to their charge and by the example of their 
> own godly living. Nevertheless the Minister shall have power to 
> dispense with the requirement of confirmation in any case in which 
> in his judgement need so requires. 

So, Sirius may have been confirmed, or may not have, but he most 
certainly was baptized as a Christian.  

Makes one think.