More on religion, love, etc - a bit rambly

[Neil Ward]

I'm going to dive in here with a few thoughts on the whole `what's 
behind the door'/ religion thread.  I haven't quoted anyone here, 
but I am drawing upon things said in some recent posts.

I often wonder about the way the Muggle and wizarding worlds are 
overlapping or compartmentalised, one with the other, in some areas 
and totally distinct in others.  Some wizarding culture reflects 
Muggle culture directly; some is a magical counterpart of Muggle 
culture; and some is a distinctly magical concept.  In my view, JKR 
often picks and mixes aspects of Muggle culture, mythology and 
invention to evoke a certain feel, rather than to imply anything.  
So, although she has included things that would suggest that 
Christianity is active in the wizarding world, I don't think that 
was her intention.

A consequence of the pick and mix culture is that it can mean all 
things to all Muggles.  In a parallel with the Mirror of Erised, it 
seems we can all look at the same words and see a reflection of our 
own ideas waving back at us.  As a non-religious person exposed to 
references to ghosts, prophecies, knights, souls et al, I see 
ingrained cultural meanings that do not rely on their respective 
spiritual associations.  At the same time, it would be equally valid 
for a Christian to read full religious significance into those 
collected references and take something personal from it.   

At a broader level, faith, love, good and evil are not exclusively 
religious concepts, so even though JKR has hinted at a biblical 
analogy in her story, which intrigues me no end, I guess I could 
remain ignorant of that and still gain something from the story. I 
don't think JKR's intention is to convey a Christian message, if 
anyone is suggesting that, but to explore ideas that many religions 
have, incidentally, at their core.

What is behind the door?  I would go with the obvious:  
unconditional love - the kind of love that can lead to sacrifice.  
If someone would die without question to save someone else, it 
carries a kind of drive or directional power that I can imagine 
being harnessed.

Neil