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

[leslie41]

No: HPFGUIDX 153609

> > > a_svirn:
> > > This is not what Christ's sacrifice was about. It was about 
> > > spiritual salvation of mankind, not about physical survival of 
> > > a friend.
> > 
> > Leslie41:
> > From a Christian perspective, I would say that's rather short-
> > sighted.  
> >  
> >
> a_svirn:
> What is?

Leslie41:
Your description of what Christ's sacrifice was about.  I would say 
it is short sighted because it's not comprehensive enough.  
 
> > > a_svirn:
> > > It is, isn't it? And in Christian tradition we have Father 
> > > sacrificing his beloved Son, whereas in the HP story Lilly 
> > > sacrificed herself so that her son would live. I'd say there 
> > > are more differences than similarities here. 
> > 
> > Leslie41:
> > Yes, if you are hung up on the essentially "masculine" nature of 
> > Christ.  Many people, including some of the most famous 
> > Christians of all time, see Christ as both mother and father.  
> > Julian of Norwich, for one.  Christ's sacrifice transcends 
> > gender, is what I'm saying.
> 
> a_svirn:
> I'll take your word for it, but I wasn't talking about gender at 
> all. I merely pointed out that in Christian tradition a parent 
> sacrificed his child, whereas in Rowling's story a parent gave her 
> life so that her child would live.

Leslie41:
Again, too limiting.  Because of the mystery of the trinity and 
Christ's triune nature, Christ is all-in-one.  Parent and child and 
the holy spirit as well.  And many more things of which our limited 
imaginations cannot even conceive.
 
> > > > Leslie41:
> > > > Well, I don't see how it follows that Lily was presumptuous. 
> > > > 
> > > a_svirn: 
> > > It follows if she saw herself as a second Christ or something. 
> > 
> > Leslie:
> > Wha?  I don't see how that follows at all.  
> 
> a_svirn:
> You don't think that comparing the love you feel for your child 
> and the lengths you are prepared to go in order to ensure his or 
> her well-being to the love Christ has for all mankind is somewhat 
> immodest?

Leslie41:

I don't think it's ever immodest to compare acts of love where we 
sacrifice ourselves for others to Christ's sacrifice. As Christians 
that is precisely the type of love to which we are to aspire.  When 
people ask "what would Jesus do?" that's essentially what they're 
attempting--to be Christlike.  

Lily's sacrifice was more feral, of course, because of her mothering 
instinct.  But again, a Christian would interpret that instinct as a 
gift from God, and God's love would be interwound with a mother's 
love for her child.