[HPforGrownups] Re:the whole Christian/Baptism debate that's been going on

[Marion Ros]

No: HPFGUIDX 153779

> > Leslie41:
> > True. But then if they're not significant, why go through them at 
> > all? To forge a tie to Sirius? Yes, of course. But why not just 
> > make Sirius Harry's guardian, all nice and legal?
> 
> Magpie:
> Because dramatically what is needed is a title with warmth, and 
> godfather works perfectly. Hearing that Sirius was a friend of his 
> parents is one thing, hearing he was the kind of friend that they 
> asked to stand godfather really says how they felt about Sirius, and 
> also is the perfect title to explain what his relationship with Harry 
> can be. Not something dry and legal--the Dursleys are his legal 
> guardians. 



The term 'godfather' or 'godmother' is not exclusive to christian faith or church. Remember the 'fairy godmother' from fairy tales? Do you really think fairy godmothers were present in a *church* in the presence of a *priest*? Do you remember the uproar the Harry Potter books caused amongst (American) Christians? They wanted to burn the books because they were supposed to be satanic. Why? Because it "taught children how to become *witches*" and doesn't the bible say something about 'thou shalt not suffer a witch to live'? 
Muggles hunted down witches because the bible and the priests told them to. The Church sent the Inquisition and the Christian State sent its Witchfinders Generals. The Wizarding World separated itself from the Muggle World because of this.
And you think, Leslie, that Wizards would give their children a *Christian* baptism? So they could be indoctrinated by the priests and their books? The books that told them (the baptised wizard children) that they were intrisically *evil* and must be *burned*? Or *drowned*?

There probable was a naming ceremony, in which Sirius played a big role. 
(the Christians took the whole notion of 'godfathering' from those pre-christian ceremonies. I can't remember anything in the Old or New Testament that vaguely resembles the 'godfather' or 'godmother' role)
But the Wizarding World being Christian? After centuries of persecution?
And wasn't one of the reasons that Wizards were supposedly satanic because they did not worship Jehovah or Christ? (one of the quirks of monotheism: "if you're not with us, your against us. Either you're a cardcarrying Christian, or you're one of Satan's own Satanic herd! Burn! Burn!!!")

A problem I could see arising in this: the Muggleborns. They might well be baptised and raised as a Christian. Very probably in fact. Which might explain *some* of the aversion the 'purebloods' might have against Muggleborns. 'Polluting' their culture with their weird religion which says that if you're a witch you should die or at least *repent* and *feel guilty*...

But luckily, Muggleborns get snatched from their motherculture from age eleven and thoroughly immersed in Wizard Culture. After graduating, they will continue to live in the Wizarding World and very rarely make excursions to the Muggle world with its churches and priests. If they ever were thoroughly indoctrinated by religion, a few years of spells, potions, ghosts and Quidditch would cure them of that. And if not, there is always Oblivation...

But what if the parents of the Muggleborn witch or wizard were Christian (probable) and they, after finding their offspring doing 'wild magic' before age eleven?
A trip to the local priest for an exorcism? Holy water? 'Beating the devil out of him/her'?
Children have been killed by their parents for less.

I think that in this case the Wizarding World would sent a special Auror squad to take the child away and into Wizarding Care. All those old stories about elves stealing children and leaving 'changelings' must be based on *something*, right?

In any case, I think we could rightly assume that an old pureblood family like the Potters (or the Blacks) would know nothing of Christian baptism.


best,

marion