[HPforGrownups] Re: The Role of Religion in the Potterverse was Magical Latin

[No Limberger]

No: HPFGUIDX 186173

>Magpie wrote:
>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.

>mmizstorge wrote:
>Actually, in world mythology there are many deities who die and
>are resurrected. The myth of Christ is but a fairly recent example.
>I can name off the top of my head: Osiris, Inanna, Odin, Tammuz
>and Dionysus.

No.Limberger responds:
Yes, a number of religions that predate Christianity included beliefs
in a resurrected, dead mythological deity figure.  Three more such
figures in addition to the ones mentioned are Mithra, Krishna and
Quetzalcoatl.  Mithraism (a derivative of Zoroastrianism) bears
many striking resemblances to Christianity and spread into Europe
thanks to Roman soldiers who were attracted to its beliefs.
According to its beliefs, the calendar date for the birth of Mithra is
December 25th, he was born of a virgin in a cave, was visited by
shepherds and three magi at the time of birth, later died and
was resurrected.  Mithra was known in Rome as 'Deus sol invictus'
("the unconquered sun").  The Roman emperor Commodus (ruled
from 180 to 192) was initiated into the Mithraic cult.  Thus, Mithraism
was in direct competition with Christianity for several centuries
until Emperor Constantine banned all non-Christian beliefs. The life
and birth of Osiris, which goes back much further historically than
Christianity is also strikingly similar to many Christian beliefs. It is
possible that in addition to Judaism, Christianity may be, in part,
a derivative of some of these beliefs and other similar pagan
religions that predate it.

>mmizstorge wrote:
>A protagonist doesn't need to mimic the actions of a deity in order
>to be heroic - nor does a character who dies and comes back from
>the dead necessarily convey a Christian message.

No.Limberger responds:
Exactly.

>mmizstorge wrote:
>Michael Moorcock's Jerry Cornelius, for example, died and came
>back from the dead (frequently!) and the message of the books
>in which he appeared was decidedly not a Christian one.

No.Limberger responds:
To presume that because an author has a particular set of
beliefs is automatically going to mean that any produced
works will convey those beliefs, and that this applies to
all authors, is not supported.

>Magpie wrote:
>For it to really be pushing Christianity itself, imo, Harry would
>have to be saved *through Christ* not die himself for others and return.
>
>I don't think HP as a story really says anything insightful about
>Christianity.

No.Limberger responds:
I agree.

>Magpie wrote:
>There are places--particularly in Harry's final sacrifice and return--
>that I definitely figured Rowling was thinking of Christ.

No.Limberger responds:
While it is possible that the story of Jesus dying & resurrecting
may have influenced this aspect of the HP story, the reasons and
method for HP's death and return have nothing in common with
the Christian belief in Jesus' death in resurrection.  Hence, the
similarity is superficial imo.


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