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

[Randy]

No: HPFGUIDX 153643

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "juli17ptf" <juli17 at ...> wrote:
>
> 
> > > 
> > > > 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.
  
SNIP
SNIP



> Julie:
> I think the key phrase here is that a Christian would interpret
> a mother's sacrificial instinct as a gift from God. We all 
> interpret the books from our own life perspective. There are
> elements of the books that coincide with Christian values as
> well as values of many other religious and non-religious 
> groups. It may also be that JKR is drawing deliberate parallels
> to Christianity in particular through her characters and events
> in HP, which would be fine with me. There is nothing wrong
> with emphasizing love, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness,
> whether using Christian symbolism or any other symbolism. 
> 
SNIP

SNIP

 and it has never included anything at all specific
> to practicing a Christian faith, no church services, no 
> Bible study or even a Bible on hand, no praying even in
> the most dire moments, not a single mention of God or 
> Jesus. Nothing. 
> 
> That is why I don't consider the HP books Christian books
> at all. If Christianity as a practice does appear in 
> Book 7, I'll have to change my view of course ;-) But
> at this moment the HP books are not faith-based in any
> religious sense (pertaining to organized religion), despite
> their strong spiritual elements. They are books for everyone
> (which is why Harry is everyman), easily compatible within 
> any religious/spiritual framework that has a high regard 
> for basic human ethics and dignity. (And I personally hope
> they stay that way.)
> 
> Julie
>

Randy ponders....

Interesting dialog to read...I think the phrases that come to mind 
are "strong spiritual elements"  and "They are books for everyone"
and not "pertaining to organized religion".  I don't think JKR wants 
to write books to be sold in Christian Bookstores only and ignored 
by everyone else.  

It is much more interesting to discuss the real issues of life in a 
friendly setting without all of the trappings of any one organized 
religion.  After all, your peers and parents are probably telling 
you to stay away from "those guys" in that other church.  I think 
some of these posts reflect that thinking pattern.  That person must 
be from the other side of the street that my mom told me to stay 
away from.

If we take away all mention of Jesus, Christianity, and church 
services, we have eliminated the points of controversy. Now we can 
get to the real issues of 

1.  Loss of one's soul
2.  Eternal Life
3.  The consequences of betraying others
4.  The positive effects of love
5.  Laying down your life to save another
6.  The need to love your enemies (or at least treat them with    
kindness to try to overcome their evil)
7.  The evils of prejudice
8.  The importance of seeing yourself as you are (with Humility)
9.  The consequences of losing control of your patience and acting 
in anger
10.  The importance of taking ownership of your responsibilities

These are issues that I want my kids to read about.  I can't get 
them to talk about them by handing them a manual.  I might scare my 
neighbor by throwing a book on theology at him.  

I might teach the whole world if I write a series of fun magical 
books loaded with spiritual symbols and examples of good values and 
the consequences of bad behavior.

Why preach to the choir?  Why not talk to the people wandering 
around outside the church?

Randy (who does not want to insult, but want to focus on the 
important stuff)