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

[nikkalmati]

No: HPFGUIDX 191393



> 
> bboyminn:
> 
> Do you assume Harry was baptized BECAUSE he has a Godfather? Those things are not necessarily tied together. People may or may not baptise their kids, and as a separate issue, and anytime, my choose God Parents for their kids.
> 
> In this context, 'God Parents' is simply a generic name for those who will be guardians if something happens to the parents, and is further an issue not at all tied to religion or baptism.

Nikkalmati

Yes, I think having a godfather is a religious concept and means you were baptized in the Christian religion.  It has no legal meaning and picking a godfather does not give that person any standing as a legal guardian in the RW.  

Nikkalmati
 
>  bboyminn:
> 

> Further, keep in mind that the UK and EU are both more secular than the USA. The extent of many people's religion is confined to baptism, weddings, and funerals. It is entirely possible that much of the wizard world follows this same secular model. 

Nikkalmati

Yes Jo seems to portray most witches and wizards as following the Muggle customs. 

Nikkalmati
> 

 bboyminn:
> 

> Being a witch or wizard doesn't demand that you accept or practice religion, nor does it deny you the right. Further, let's remember that religion is not an organization that hold witches and wizards in high regard, so they are not especially welcome in most Churches. 
> 
> Lastly, there is a lot of superstition and misinformation in the muggle world religion, that is pure bunk to the more knowledgeable wizards. They KNOW with certainty that there is an afterlife because they see remnants of it all around them in the form of things like Moaning Myrtle and Nearly Headless Nick. They know of natural powers and abilities far beyond the superstition of muggle religions. 
> 
> I'm sure to a wizard, modern religion seems quaint and child-like. But, that does not mean that wizards are incapable of believing in a higher power on their own terms and in their own way. 

Nikkalmati

I suspect you are projecting your own opinions here.  First, there is almost complete separation between the Muggle and WW.  Most wizards have no concept of how Muggles run their lives.  They don'e seem to worry about whether they would be accepted or excluded and they don't show any resentment about the past.  Nothing about science or philosophy is taught at Hogwarts and I imagine most Muggles would consider most wizards pretty ignorant.  (Do you think they know about evolution, for example, or nuclear energy or read any foreign languages, other than maybe Latin.)  They pretty much haven't changed since the 17th century.  Do you suppose Muggles would consider belief in Giants and unicorns and werewolves to be superstitions and maybe even quaint and childlike?  Even Nick tells Harry he has no idea what comes after death, so having a few ghosts around is hardly direct observation of the afterlife. If wizaards believe in a higher power, other than the Church of England, we are not told about it. 

Nikkalmati

>  bboyminn:
> 

> Finally, I think JKR intentionally wrote a secular book. She did not want to inject religious bias into the story. She wanted a more spiritual story that did not re-enforce any specific religion, nor does the book deny any specific religion. A Christian, Hindu, or Buddhist can equally read the books, and see the underlying spiritual message. This is not, nor was it intended to be, nor should it be, a book promoting Christian ideology. I think that was a very good and very wise choice. 
> 
> Steve/bboyminn
>
Nikkalmati

I agree that Jo did not want to engender controversy over what are minor details in her story and that the themes she presents are universal.  She is not promoting any religion nor is she denying any religious belief.  The context is a certain place and time, however.  The WW reflects the majority culture of the UK about 1700.

Nikkalmati