The Role of Religion in the Potterverse was Magical Latin

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 186161

Shelley:
 I think she planned that Harry would need to sacrifice 
> himself. No other religion, save Christianity, has some Savior dying and 
> then raising from the dead. 

Magpie:
I don't think that story was very uncommon at the time Christianity started, actually. Saviors dying and then raising from the dead for humanity etc.--I think Christianty was one of many cults with that idea.

Though I'm sure for most people today that story=Christianity, and those people include JKR.

Though Harry Potter, being an ordinary person, can't die for other's sins the way Jesus did. The whole point was that he was/is God. In the Narnia Chronicles Aslan actually is Jesus replaying the same story. 

I would say Harry is pretty self-consciously being written as the Christ-figure--though you don't need to be Christian to get anything out of that story. For it to really be pushing Christianity itself, imo, Harry would have to be saved *through Christ* not die himself for others and return. But I still thought of DH that this is where we find out Harry is Jesus. (Which I thought was a bit much for me to think about Harry, but wasn't surprised by it.) I don't think HP as a story really says anything insightful about Christianity, but there are places--particularly in Harry's final sacrifice and return--that I definitely figured Rowling was thinking of Christ.

-m