Since the Pope died...

[zentraedi-shep.livejournal.com]

When Pope John Paul II. died last Saturday night, I couldn't help but think about this:

Is there religion in Harry Potter?

Well, of course they have Christmas, and they burry their people in graveyards, BUT what does a wizard or witch believe in? Are they Christian, Moslem, Hindu, or do they follow starnge Pagan paths or Voodoo or something like that?

What do you think?

Comments

[ciara-belle.livejournal.com]

I agree with our wonderful prefect. ;D

I definitely think it depends on whether the student is Muggle-born and/or half-blood or pure-blooded. Somehow I doubt the pureblooded families are religious in a Muggle sense (in that they practice a religion like Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc). I read one fic once in which Snape was a devoted Christian (he might even have been Catholic) and could even quote the Bible. In Aramaic. Somehow, I doubt that's the kind of thing Snape would do. He just doesn't strike me as the religious type.

I don't even know if they'd be pagan or Wiccan, because I think JKR just left all religion out of the books, aside from celebrations like Christmas. Let's face it, Christmas has become pretty secularized in this day and age, and I don't think most witches and wizards are celebrating it in the religious sense as much as the "ooh, we get presents" sense.

But as for Muggle born students (or even students with one Muggle parent, if that parent is really religious), I definitely could see them being raised as Christians or Jews or Muslims or what have you. For some families, I doubt that would even be a problem when the kid gets their Hogwarts letter. All depends on how liberal and open-minded the family is. I think it's an interesting question to consider.

[zentraedi-shep.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on that... I think it's very interesting, how much of an impact religion still has on us although we have no use of it in our working world (i.e. in our jobs, schools, etc.)... Perhaps it's just that human beings need something to believe in, and since wizards and witches have their magic to believe in, religion is not that much of a topic for them...

[ciara-belle.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I have always wondered about this topic. I mean, not just what the purebloods to, because I could see, as you said, them believing in magic as their religion, but what do Muggleborns do?

Like, I'm religious. What would I do if I got a Hogwarts letter?

I mean, I'd go and everything, because I don't think witchcraft is evil, at least not the sort of white, non-dark arts magic Hogwarts teaches, but how would people react to Catholicism? I get enough rude questions just being at a Muggle school!

[ledbylove.livejournal.com]

I agree. I would go because it would be fascinating to learn, but I don't see anything wrong with the magic taught at Hogwarts. In fact, some may draw religious parallels with Harry as the good side and Voldemort as the bad side, and even the Christian theme of sacrifice with Lily sacrificing her own life to save Harry's. Those parallels may or may not have been intentional, but it's definitely an interesting question to ponder.

[semirose.livejournal.com]

off-topic, but while I don't really see Snape as being religious, if he was I could totally see him reciting verses in Aramaic. I mean his devotion to whatever he does would be doubly amplified when it comes to religion.

I also agree with you nad our prefect. Also, imagine what would have happend back in the days when the Church was the ruling force in Europe. I mean now everything is a bit more seperated and people are a bit more accepting, imagine being muggle-born back then.

I honestly don't think they are Pagan (don't know enough about Wicca to make that statement). The wizarding world is structred on a different ability not a different belief. Access to this ability could easily be a reason for the lack of religion. I mean Christianity is partly based on a belief in miracles, but these are people who can make these miracles happen with the flick of a wand.

[ciara-belle.livejournal.com]

lol, yeah, Snape would totally be like that IF he were a Christian. But this fic was just painfully OOC.

I'm sure there were quite a number of Muggleborn witches and wizards who didn't get to attend Hogwarts because of religious intolerance/persecution.

I think that might be an interesting fic idea, although it's probably better in the long run to leave religion out of the Potterverse entirely.

Less wanky that way, anyway. o.O