That Whole Christian Thing (plus assorted others)

[Ricky & LeAnn]

No: HPFGUIDX 173450

Joe wrote:
>> "I'm of the opinion that JKR included some parallels/allusions to Christianty. This is different than saying these books are allegories for the Crucifixion of Christ, etc.

And yet!

She also included some elements that are clearly non-Christian." <<


Anders:

I am one who strongly sees the Christ allegory in the last book since I'm a devout Christian. (Harry went to King's Cross to speak to DD, Pettigrew/Judas sold Harry out for silver and died by his own hand, Harry's "baptism" in the lake by Ron/John, in book five we had Seamus/Doubting Thomas, - I could go on and on about episodes in the books which seemed to me to parallel Christian examples.) However, the question is whether or not Jo did a C.S. Lewis and intentionally wrote the series with that purpose, or whether her own Christian background merely came through in the writing on occasion, or whether I'm reading something into them which doesn't exist at
all. I believe the first, but I understand the opinions of others who
believe one of the latter two. 

History tells us that many of our Christian celebrations - especially
Christmas and Easter, - began as pagan festivals. When the church couldn't get people to stop the celebrations they interjected a new meaning into them and incorporated them as Christian holidays or "holy days". So, to a Pagan, a Christmas tree means something completely different than it does to a Christian. Therefore when I see Christmas trees in the Great Hall at Christmas, I think they're celebrating the day set aside to commemorate Christ's birth, while a Pagan might think they're celebrating an ancient pagan festival. Aren't we both correct in our own way? In that same vein I see the Christ story occasionally throughout the series, but especially in
the book's ending.

Anders