Religion & Law in HP (Was Re:Witches, Warlocks, Wizards, and JKR)

[Goddlefrood]

No: HPFGUIDX 168859

> Bart (With snipping):

> In JKR's world, magic is just another technology. Many 
> Christians who praise her work recognize this, and 
> recognize the Christian philosophy throughout the books. 

Goddlefrood:

Fair enough, but it's not just by Christians that the books
have been criticised, although it may feel that way at times.
The books do have a strong underlying Christian morality, IMO, 
I took a look recently at one phrase in particular and came up
with what follows.

"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure"

So says Luna Lovegood in Chapter named after her, OotP, p. 169
Bloomsbury Hardback Edition.

Being inordinately suspicious by nature and seeing that the
entire saying was italicised, I decided to try and find out
where this came from. It is JKR's own twist on something else
that is not dissimilar IMO, this:

"How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure"

>From the hymn "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" by Stuart 
Townend. The above is the first verse and is available online 
here:

http://www.worshiparchive.com/worship_chord_sheet.asp?t=song&id=77

A strong message, IMO, and it also ties into the, perhaps
inappropriate, use of "the chosen one" as a description of
Harry's current status in the WW. Although it may not be 
inappropriate at all, in that it's use in the New Testament
(Luke 23:35) is a rather mocking one against those using it.

If you find this an odd statement, consider the stated verse:

'The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. 
They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the 
Christ of God, the Chosen One."'

>From the New International Version.

My interpretation of which is that it is making a mockery of 
non-believers in Christ's miracles, and perhaps consequentially
a swipe at the WW as being similar to the crowds of ignoramuses
and mockers gathered at the crucifixion.

Conversely it also suggests that those who do believe in Harry
as the one to dispose of Voldemort are the more moral members 
of the WW. That, IMO, is a valid interpretation and any are 
welcome to disagree with it.

> Bart:

> In intelligent Christian objections (intelligent being 
> defined as based on knowledge rather than ignorance)

Goddlefrood:

The ambiguity of the word ignorance is that it can mean both
lack of knowledge and ignoring the facts, I'd be interested
to know which one was meant as the context is not clear. It
does seem to be the former usage, but I'd appreciate a 
clarification.

> Bart:

> ... indeed, in many ways, the WW culture is morally INFERIOR  
> to the Muggle culture around them, in that their bigotry is 
> still entrenched in law, rather than thought of as an 
> undesireable trait.

Goddlefrood:

Muggles too have some odd laws, as I could attest. There are 
even some rather bizarre laws that still exist today, which no
one is ever likely to need. In the WW there is little clarity 
over what is and what isn't entrenched in law. The bulk of the
legal isues in canon to date would suggest only that bigotry
against beasts (as classified by the Ministry, sometimes on 
the request of the "beasts" concerned) and Muggles does exist,
but that on some matters the WW has progressed.

One thing the MoM at least does have, and whether it is effectual
or otherwise is a different matter, is a liaison office of some
kind for the more intelligent creatures in canon, such as the
House Elves, Goblins and Centaurs. Possibly others too, but 
that's from memory.

Goddlefrood.