jk rowling claims to hav no religous aspects in harry potter, yet the students at hogwarts celebrate christmas which is a prodestant holiday. rowling, as we klnow did not represent anything religous at the wedding of bill and fluer or the birth of tonks and lupin's baby. do u not agree that christmas defeats all her saying that she did not express religion in the series even though there was no mention of god or anything?
2007-12-18 13:11:41 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
I very much enjoyed and still enjoy reading the series, but never really concentrated on the religious aspect. Personally (when referring to religion), now that I think about it, I think that J.K. Rowling wrote her books in a way that almost reflects Taoism in that Harry and his friends have their difficulties and struggles along their journeys, but always end up finding some form of peace. (I especially like the scene early on in Goblet of Fire in which Harry has just escaped from the Durleys and is enjoying a pleasant meal with his friends at The Burrow; this is a very good example of peacefulness.)
As far as holidays go...well, I think Rowling was trying to connect with people in a variety of ways. I mean, it's not as if she wrote the Christmas scenes in the novels where characters start speaking of Jesus, and whatnot (as you mentioned in your question). She purposely wrote in a brief way, rather than nit-picking with all the little details.
I rambled a bit; sorry. I guess my overall response is that perhaps Rowling was wrong if she said that no mentioning of religion in ANY WAY was found in her novels. In any case -- enjoy the books no matter what! So what if she was wrong. They're great stories -- wouldn't you agree?
Happy reading and happy holidays!
2007-12-18 13:31:55 · answer #1 · answered by Mike 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There's no mention of any religious context in the Hogwarts Christmas celebrations. Christmas can be celebrated as a secular holiday - my family, which belonged to no church, always celebrated it when I was growing up. And it is incidentally true that many of the practices associated with Christmas in this culture, notably the Christmas tree, are properly pagan rather than Christian in origins. Hogwarts is definitely English, and Christmas is celebrated in England, including among secularists.
I think Rowling does leave this all very vague. In one of the movies, the Hogwarts choir is singing a chorale based on the witches scene from Macbeth - a play which celebrates the burning of witches and seems rather inappropriate to be a part of the cultural background of a school of witchcraft.
2007-12-18 14:17:40 · answer #2 · answered by A M Frantz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas isn't just a religious holiday any more. Even people who aren't religious celebrate it, like me. It's become more of a commercial holiday for most people.
In answer to Snap - Yule is a Pagan holiday celebrating the solstice, not the birth of Christ. It's the 22nd this year.
2007-12-18 13:19:45 · answer #3 · answered by anw122 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You might enjoy "Climb the Highest Mountain," Mark Prophet, as it deals with the fairy kingdom, among many topics. So too do "Watch Your Dreams," Ann Ree Colton, and "Looking into the Invisible," O. M. Aivanhov.
2007-12-18 20:13:16 · answer #4 · answered by j153e 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Harry had a lightning bolt scar on his for head and Jesus i assume has a tattoo on his arm that reported "social gathering like it is 9"...i think of they are accomplishing for some similarities.
2016-11-23 13:41:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to read up more on the history of christmas and its pagan roots.
next you will be say the 3 deadly hallows are Symbolic of the holy Trinity.
I want to know where all the black kids were!
2007-12-18 13:21:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is not a protestant holiday. It is a paegan Holiday.
2007-12-18 13:19:37 · answer #7 · answered by *snap*dragon* 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋