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

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 153656

> Leslie41:
> I don't wish to make categorical claims about authorial intent, 
> though I think it's relevant at times.  Most often, though, intent 
> is irrelevant.  What's *there* is what matters, not what the 
author 
> *intended* to be there.  Authors are notoriously bad readers of 
> their own work.  

a_svirn:
If you say so. 

> Leslie41:
> But as to the naming of her characters, I cannot help but see some 
> sort of purpose there.  That's often the easiest place (as it is 
> with Tolkien) to see what the author actually intends.  
> 
> So, when Voldemort (flee from death) attacks James (apostle 
> associated with good deeds) and Lily (the symbol of the risen 
> Christ), and is foiled by Harry (power, destruction), right on the 
> place on his body where he was baptized (symbol of being welcomed 
> into the Kingdom of Christ), yeah, I think there's an underlying 
> meaning there.

a_svirn:
Yes, but what IS that much-vaunted underlying meaning? It is all 
very well to depress pretensions by saying that the meaning of 
Christ's sacrifice is too enormous for mere mortals to comprehend 
and all who disagree with you are deliberately short-sighted, but 
thing is, it's not enough. Now that you identified all that 
parallels with the Bible would you mind disclosing their 
significance? Why someone who represents the risen Christ happen to 
be married to someone who represents an apostle? What is so 
Christian about "power and destruction?" And what with all those 
other people that were baptised but failed to repel AKs? Were they 
not welcome to the Kingdom of Christ, after all? 

> Leslie41: 
> Just can't help it, considering all the evidence.  Is Harry's 
> baptism some sort of protection for him?  Not really.  But I think 
> the place of his scar is supposed to remind us of his baptism and 
> remind us that it is only through Christ's principles that he will 
> vanquish Voldemort.  Not through power or destructive raids.  But 
> through love.  

a_svirn:
Yet he was christened Harry, which  – as you yourself said –  
means  "power and destruction"!