Christianity *in* HP, revisited was Re: Baptism/Christianity in HP

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 153640

Julie:
> The original debate though, initiated with the discussion of 
Sirius's godfather role and Harry's baptism, was if there is 
Christianity *in* the HP books, i.e., if Christianity plays a 
significant role in the books and in the WW. I don't think it does.

Ceridwen:
I think there's a noticeable and purposeful lack of obvious 
Christianity in the books.  As you said, there is no visual of Harry 
going to church, not at Hogwarts and not with the Dursleys.  The 
Weasleys don't seem to go, but that could just be the Harry filter.  
But, either the WW doesn't recognize Christianity, or Harry has never 
been to church.  In HBP, The White Tomb, US pg 643, the person I 
would think would be the minister gets up to officiate at 
Dumbledore's funeral.  The only description we get is: "A little 
tufty-haired man in plain black robes had got to his feet and stood 
now in front of Dumbledore's body."  Later, this person is referred 
to  as 'the little man in black' at least twice more.

Even a child who is raised outside of church knows what a preacher or 
minister is.  They see these people on television.  Their church-
going friends talk about them.  There are preachers, ministers, 
vicars and parsons in books which are required reading in school.  
So, I think that overt references to Christianity, or to religion in 
general, are not there.  The time when you would expect even a die-
hard Atheist to mention a minister, he is merely referred to as a 
little man in black.

Whether James and Lily were Christians of any stripe is not a 
consideration for Harry, other than the need to get him a godfather 
for the story.  If there is Christian symbolism in the books, it is 
molded into the story, in allegory if you see it, at least so far.  
The series will have some elements we see as Christian because it's a 
Western Culture book and a large part of Western Culture was built on 
Christianity.

I never read 'Pilgrim's Progress'.  I started it once, but put it 
down.  Overt analogies bother me a lot.  If I want to go to church, I 
will; if I want to read a book, don't make it something that 
preaches.  So far, the HP series doesn't preach.

Ceridwen.