Religion in the Wizarding World. (Was: Re: Halloween Toasts)

[alabio]

No: HPFGUIDX 191386

	Nikkalmati:

> 	Interesting question.  First, the WW in the books reflects the wider world of several centuries ago.  Whatever the Muggles did,  the witches and wizards did.  They probably also celebrate Guy Fawkes day, although it is never mentioned.  Second, witchcraft in the popular mind is associated with the pre-Christian Celtic religion for which Samhan, celebrated at the same time as Halloween is now, was a great feastday.  However, our witches and wizards never do anything particularly religious, so probably everyone just celebrates with a big meal with decorations.

projectrosemary:
	I thought about religion in the Wizarding World.  It seems to me that most witches and wizards do not have religion at all.  They are mostly agnostic atheists.  Wizards and witches do not have to believe because they have evidence.  We need to define terms here:

	Belief is an idea held firmly with no evidence.  A science is knowledge accepted because of supporting evidence.  I shall give an example:

	I accept the mountains of evidence that the Universe took on its present form about 13.7 billion years ago.  I accept the overwhelming evidence that the Earth is about 4.55 billion years old.  I accept the evidence from genetics, the fossil-record, observations, et cetera that biological evolution occurs.

	The flat/young-earth geocentric creationist believes in geocentric young/flat-earth creationism with no evidence.

	Wizards and witches can directly perceive ghosts.  They know that souls exist because dementors eat them (souls are mortal) and murders tear them, allowing the creation of horcruxes.  Witches and wizards do not have religion because they do not need to believe anything, just accept the evidence.