[HPforGrownups] Re: Baptism/Christianity in HP/Worth it?

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 153536

>> a_svirn:
>> Why is it logical? Are you saying that Lilly's sacrifice is of the
>> same kind than that of Christ?
>
> Leslie41:
> Yes, in a way.  In that we all have the opportunity to be Christ for
> another person, and see Christ in others.  Jesus said that the way
> his followers would be known as Christians was because of their love
> for one another, and there was no greater good than someone die for
> their friend.

Magpie:
That's a perfectly okay connection to make but I think it makes it so 
general as to have nothing specifically relating to Jesus unless a reader 
personally just thinks of things in context of Jesus.  Lily is Harry's 
mother and her sacrifice is a mother's sacrifice for her child, which is not 
what the sacrifice at the center of Christianity is about.  Sacrifice and 
love certainly come into the Christian religion and there's nothing wrong 
with thinking of them in those terms personally but Lily being like Jesus 
for throwing herself in front of her child? Makes me think more of all the 
mothers in the world who would do the same--Mrs. Crouch, for instance.

It's just when you start talking about the baptism with the scar as an extra 
sheild you're adding magic, imo.  It turns into Harry being sprinkled with 
magical water that's a potion that repels the curse, but I don't see that 
kind of magic in the series.  It's the same thing for me with things like 
the pheonix.  The pheonix has understandably been used as a Christian symbol 
since it was originally, I believe, an Egyptian myth of a bird who was 
reborn like the sun. But since Fawkes lives in a world where actual centaurs 
and werewolves exist and he himself is literally a bird who immolates 
himself periodically I think he works more as just a pheonix (though he also 
symbolizes healing with his tears etc.).  Even his name connects him with 
gunpowder rather a symbolic death and rebirth.

I pretty much assume that when JKR says that her Christian beliefs will be 
manifest in the text she means that Harry will defeat Voldemort through 
love, which is more Christian in her eyes than a battle.  Some Christians 
would prefer the flaming sword, of course.  Depends on the Christian.

imasuperhero7"

Some of you seem to have based your
>> lives around Harry Potter. I am sure I am not meaning to be rude or 
>> trying to bash anyone, just curious, what is it about these books
> that have enthralled you?
>> Granted, they're well written, and fun, but are they really that worth 
>> while??? I mean, contemplating the personalities of each character and 
>> their motives and all that, worth it? I am an intelligent person and a 
>> very good reader [one of the only things I'm really good at], but I just 
>> don't think they're that amazing. I read the first, second, and latest 
>> one that came out,
> and quite frankly, lost interest.Am I the only one out there?


Magpie:
Err...well, that's an odd question.  It reminds me of one of my favorite 
lines from The Golden Girls: "I'm sitting here, having a cup of tea, 
talking.  You're looking at me like you paid sixty dollars to see Phantom of 
the Opera."

I don't know how one would base their life on Harry Potter, though I know I 
haven't.  They are just books that spark interesting conversations in my 
experience-sometimes critical conversation.  I got online because I wanted 
to talk about them--ironically having not liked them all that much.  I 
didn't hate them or anything, but they made me want to discuss some things 
about them rather than say how great they were.  It's a vibrant, creative 
fandom that creates more stuff to talk about.

So when you say that you're very intelligent and a good reader are you 
saying that the books aren't good enough to discuss?  Because in my 
experience sometimes the best books kill discussion because they're too 
perfect, really.  The book says all it needs to say.  HP doesn't do that so 
I talk about it.

Is it worth it?  Sure.  Just as any interesting conversation is worth it. 
It's fun.  I guess I'm equally interested in why you'd come to a fandom list 
and ask if there's anybody out there who finds the books uninteresting, you 
know?  Are you just puzzled by the phenomonen?  Because I can understand 
that definitely, but it might be a different question.  As for people who 
really just love the books like they're their favorites that just mean a lot 
to them and they like to read them over and over I can't answer because I 
have a different relationship with them--but I've been there with other 
books, so I understand the feeling.

-m