> The Harry Potter books deal with the great themes of life, the
> philosophical questions wuch as 'What does it mean to be good?' What
> happens when I die? All religions do the same so there will inevitably be
> some crossovers. Lord of the Rings to which others have referred in posts
> is another book which deals with the same issues. It has been described as
> a deeply religious book and yet there is no mention of God nor do the
> character have any formal religious practice. The same
> is true of Harry Potter. God is absent and yet spiritual themes abound.
> Love, friendship, sacrifice. Harry is the willing victim who embraces his
> fate. His Gethemane moment is on the floor of Dumbledores study when
> returned from Snapes memories he finally knows that he has to face death
> at Voldemorts hand with no hope of escape.Yes he is like Jesus and I guess
> we are lucky that Christians are onthe whole sensible tolerant people in
> the practise of their faith as adherents of some religions much consider
> suich likening blasphemous.I used to be a practising Christian but with
> sadness I am less so now and yet I sense the 'Hound of Heaven' sometimes
> in some books and DH is one of them.The last enemy that shall be destroyed
> is death. The Church of Scotland and, whenever she's asked, says,
> "I believe in God, not magic." In fact, Rowling initially was afraid that
> if people were aware of her Christian faith, she would give away too much
> of what's coming in the series. "If I talk too freely about that," she
> told a Canadian reporter, "I think the intelligent reader -- whether ten
> [years old] or sixty -- will be able to guess what is coming in the books.
> And Lewis is definitely the "most Christian" of the three because while
> the other two can be interpreted as Christian allegories if you
> feel like it, the Narnia Chronicles aren't even a Christian
> allegory,they're a series of books that star Jesus as a character except
> he's called Aslan in Narnia. As for why Lewis is eclipsed by Tolkien and
> Rowling... Tolkien is obvious : the Lord of the Rings isn't as obviously
> oriented for children, and the whole story and worldbuilding has more
> magnitude than for Narnia. As for Rowling the simple fact that she is a
> much more modern writer in style and everything explains her present
> popularity well enough for me. We can come back in 50 years and see who
> eclipses the other,and have a real argument.Finally, there is the fact
> that Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings are so much better than the
> Narnia Chronicles.The Christ is supposedly the son of GOD - Harry isn't
> The Christ was supposedly born through Immaculate conception - Not Harry
> The Christ was supposedly a GOD - who are eternal - no beginning and no
> end - Not Harry.No three kings, no bethlehem, no star, (ETC) at Harry's
> birth Harry destroyed a major evil - the Christ did not.Harry was a
> Horcrux - and also apparently had one too - A god doesn't need those
> things.The Christ had more "Sidekicks" than Harry.The Christ KNEW he could
> not die(Gods cannot do that) - Harry did not find that out until after he
> "ALMOST" did.The Christ's body was hung on a cross - not Harry.Train
> stations (Kings Cross) did not exist in the time that Christ was placed in
> his book.Harry didn't Resurrect in Heaven and take his body with him.Harry
> didn't start a church. Harry was both Married and had children in the
> end - the Christ was
> apparently only married. The Christ did miracles - Harry was not more
> magical than any other wizard in the books. In fact - his name would not
> have been jesus either. Theory of Harry representing Jesus allegorically
> WILL be discussed. And the thought that Harry, a wizard who practices
> magic, not always responsibly, is a Christlike figure,will give certain
> members of the Christian lunatic fringe absolute hives. JKR has certainly
> come in for her share of finger waving disapproval and hysteria from Uber
> Christians over the past ten years.I personally think a person can be a
> sincere Christian without losing their sense of humor or their common
> sense. I think that's why I particularly enjoyed the name pun of Pius
> Thicknesse, the puppet Minister of Magic who succeeds Scrimgeour. I think
> it was a wee
> pin in the balloons of religious hysteria.
>
>