unicorns and religious references in HP (was checking out the library book

[pippin_999]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "nkafkafi" <nkafkafi at y...>
wrote:

> > Pippin: 
> > I wasn't surprised to learn that the  author had a strong
> > identification with Christianity, or that she felt  that
expounding  on her beliefs would give the storyline away.
> > 
> 
> Neri:
> Erm... I don't remember JKR saying she had a strong identification 
> with Christianity. I remember her saying she believed in God, which 
> isn't the same thing. I suspect we'll find out in the end of the 
> series that JKR's belief is more universal than any form of 
> traditional Christianity.    
> 

Pippin:
from the Vancouver Sun -10/26/2000
(no online link is available, but it can be purchased.)

Harry, of course, is able to battle supernatural evil with 
supernatural forces of his own, and Rowling is quite 
clear that she doesn't personally believe in that kind of 
magic -- ``not at all.'' Is she a Christian?

``Yes, I am,'' she says. ``Which seems to offend the religious 
right far worse than if I said I thought there was no God. Every 
time I've been asked if I believe in God, I've said yes, because I
do,  but no one ever really has gone any more deeply into it 
than that,  and I have to say that does suit me, because if I talk 
too freely about that I think the intelligent reader, whether 10 
or 60, will be able to guess what's coming in the books.''

> 
> Neri:
> There's something in what you're saying <g>, but I still suspect
that  this is more a cultural than a religious thing. In fact, most
Jews that write fantasy are probably not religious, while recent
religious  Jews (especially of the Hassidic currents) strongly
believe the Messiah may come any day.

Pippin:
There's something in that <g>. But the line between cultural
and religious Judaism is not easy to draw.

There are Jews who consider themselves atheistic and religious. A
few years ago a synagogue wanted to join UAHC (the umbrella 
group for Reform synagogues in America.) They submitted their 
prayerbook as required. It contained no references to God. 
After some debate, the UAHC decided that it was a Jewish 
congregation, but not Reform and so not eligible. 

Pippin