The Role of Religion in the Potterverse was Magical Latin

[Annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 186174

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, No Limberger <no.limberger at ...> wrote:
>
> >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.

<snip>

Annemehr:
I think you all may be talking apples and oranges here.  There are plenty of dying-and-rising deities, to be sure.  But the people who are arguing Christian imagery and themes in HP are relating to the *savior* aspect of it.  (This is in addition to the specific individual things such as friars and Bible quotes.)

Out of your list of other deities, however, the ones whose deaths I know about have nothing to do with saving humanity, and thus don't apply to the issue at hand.  Do any of them have a savior aspect?


> 
> >Magpie wrote:
<snip>
> >I don't think HP as a story really says anything insightful about
> >Christianity.
> 
> No.Limberger responds:
> I agree.
> 

Annemehr:
Me, too.  But I believe JKR was at least exploring the questions.


> >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.
> 
> 

Annemehr:
Well, there *is* that saving-people-thing.