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

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 153415

 
Leslie wrote:

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.
 
Julie:
Erm, I don't consider myself a "paganish" sort (whatever that  actually
means) though I am agnostic. I would say that the WW  celebrations
of Christian holidays seem to based on their cultural more  than their
religious relevance, as plenty of Muggles who are not Christian  (or only 
nominally so) celebrate Christmas and Easter in the same manner
in the RW.
 
At Hogwarts, though we do hear of a nonsecular Christmas song
or two, these songs are also heard in various public places (stores,
malls, etc) and sung regularly during the season by people who don't
practice the Christian faith, simply because those songs are so well
known and so connected to the Christmas season regardless of 
their nonsecular origins. 
 
What we don't see at Hogwarts is any reference to the actual practice
of Christianity. No chapel, no services even on Christmas Eve or on
Easter (a time when even otherwise non-churchgoing Christians will
often attend services). There is also no mention of church attendance
or study of the Bible outside of Hogwarts that I can recall. Even the
Dursleys don't seem to attend church services (or did I miss a  mention),
despite the fact that Harry was apparently baptised in the Christian
faith.
 
And I do agree Harry was baptised, so James and Lily were  at
least nominal Christians. But again, a lot of people are nominal 
Christians, sometimes merely following their society and  family 
traditions.( And being a nominal Christian to me does NOT imply a
disbelief in Christian theology, rather a disinterest in it in  relation
to everyday life).  The wizards in Britian (or France, Russia,  USA,
etc) were brought up in a society deeply steeped in Christianity ,
along with the Muggles around them. There's no way to deny that
influence. I just don't agree that JKR is using overtly Christian
"values" in telling her story, because those values of love, mercy,
sacrifice, etc are highly regarded in virtually *every* religion, as
well as by non-religious groups like humanists. 
 
To summarize, I think the Harry Potter books certainly reflect the
society where they take place, and from which the author writes--
both of which reflect a western Protestant background. I just don't
think that this is the same thing as the books having a "basis"  in
Christianity in the sense of its specific religious theologies. (Or  if
they do, JKR has yet to reveal that direct connection.)
 
Julie



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