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To: Tax-chick
I see your point, too, and I don’t think an overtly Christian message would have been appropriate to the story. I just think it’s inconsistent to have, for instance, celebrations of Christmas and Easter when (apparently) no character practices Christianity.

The books are definitely shown from Harry's perspective, and certainly he would not have picked up any Christianity from the Dursleys, so I don't think Harry is religious at all. I don't think that means *none* of the characters are Christian, just that Harry doesn't particularly observe it if they are. In the graveyard, Harry doesn't recognize or understand the "last enemy to be destroyed is death" quote, but Hermione seems to, and even though she doesn't explicitly say it's from the New Testament she does explain that it means life after death. Certainly we don't see any gung-ho vocal Christians, and Harry would surely notice if, say, the Weasleys were weekly church-goers, but the reality is that most nominal 'Christians' are not particularly devout, either (especially in the UK, compared to the US).

1,174 posted on 07/25/2007 11:43:09 AM PDT by Sloth (The GOP is to DemonRats in politics as Michael Jackson is to Jeffrey Dahmer in babysitting.)
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To: Sloth

Excellent points. You’re right about the unlikelihood of Harry’s having much contact with practicing Christians. Obviously someone in the fictional world goes to church, since they were having a Christmas Eve service in Godric’s Hollow when Harry and Hermione arrived there.

My sister-in-law is the daughter of a Church of England priest. I wonder what she thinks about the whole thing!


1,179 posted on 07/25/2007 12:04:54 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("Go ahead and water the lawn - my give-a-damn's busted.")
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To: Sloth
They celebrate Christmas and Easter in the books and the dead are buried in a churchyard. (Hallowed ground - anathema to the traditional view of witches) They mention God several times although not in a religious context.

There's another Biblical quote in "Deathly Hallows." "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." That's from Matthew 6:19-24.

Now where's the "Harry Potter is the Devil" "Rowling is the Antichrist" crowd?

1,180 posted on 07/25/2007 12:06:02 PM PDT by CholeraJoe ("It's like being a house elf, but without the job satisfaction.")
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