Hello fellow fans...:)

I'm writing a college religion paper about how Harry Potter relates to the themes of religion...ie ressurection, teaching morals, good vs. evil, etc...I need some feedback and would love to know if anyone has any opinions or thoughts on this subject. And not just Christianity either, all religious themes work for this.

What about Lord of the Rings? Was religion a factor in those movies? No not really but why not ther was magic and mistical themes in those movies. Its thought that because the Harry Potter series were intended for a youg audiance that it is morally not politicly correct. Well it seems that the audiance is of all ages and loved by most not least. Children should have had a base idea of religion from thier parents; so reading or watching HP shouldn't make a difference.

i'm an ardent Catholic and i think Harry Potter is a perfectly good book, my mom doesn't tho, she thinks it's for devil worshippers cause it has magic in it. so that's her opinion. i love them tho
Hermione Lewis

Ok, i've been studying all kinds of religions so i'm going to break it down into each major one 1)Judaism 2) Christianity 3) Hinduism 4) Buddhism 4) Islam

1) Judaism

teaching Morals

strict adherence that no witch or wizard is allowed to be seen by a muggle doing magic corrolates to keeping the laws of God by keeping the religion sacred to fellow members of the community.This prevents dissensions among other religious bodies(muggles).

Good vs. Evil

Voldomorte represents the evil force that tries to take dominion over the "Good" wizarding side of the noble and virtious witches and wizards that are represented in Dumbledore. In Judaim, Voldomorte is the representation of the evil things the self-desires; the things that give rise to anger, greed,and selfishness. the power Voldomorte seeks is the result of selfish concern for one's self and neglecting the concern for fellow beings. Greed manifests itself by wanting excessively(ex: wanting more power translates to wanting more of what one has like money). Anger arises when Voldomorte does not succeed in getting what he wants (Harry killed and dominion of the wizarding world). Likewise, when we get something stolen from us that we wanted (ex:money,material objects) anger is the expression of the evil out of selfishness.
Voldomorte is feared by all wizards except for Dumbledore. Dumbledore represents virtue,truth,wisdom,and love. Voldomorte only fears Dumbledore because truth outways malice and deceit.In Judaism, every sin a person commits is judged after death. Likewise, Voldomorte is that sinful person that is getting away with a lot in his life, but will have to give an account for all his evil at judgement. Because Dumbledore is virtue,truth,and wisdom, self-interest does not exist,but rather the interest for the well being of all beings. This said, the powers of love is the greatest virtue of all.Loving all things equally is much more powerful than acting out of self-interest.

Dumbledore's Army

Uniting Hogwarts in stopping Voldomorte is a pivotal corrolation to Judaism and the fight for "Good." Only by uniting the whole school can they overtake the evil of Voldomorte. Likewise, only by fighting the good path and praying to God for guidance can we hope to rid evil from our midst. How do we do this? By reaching out toward others and looking out for the well being of others instead of just focusing on ourselves, we will begin to bring Good into this world, and over-ride the evils of the heart.

2) Christianity

teaching Morals

Similar to Judaim, Christianity emphasizes moral conduct and discipline. When Hogwarts introduces the foreign schools of Durmstrang and the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, the students are expected to treat them with respect and courtesy. In the Goblet of fire, Dumbeldore describes that "though we may speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one."
Good vs. Evil

Christianity is similar to Judaism in accordance to the Old Testament in reference to the law of God and its principles. The New Testament brings to light the abundance of grace. Through grace, one becomes free through salvation from one's sins. In Harry Potter, Harry is depicted as one who has received grace. Grace demonstrates that no works can be applied in reaching salvation but only through the compassion of God. Through the principle of grace, Harry was delivered from death at birth and was chosen for many things he intended not to have been a part of. In such a case, Ron misinterprets Harry being chosen for the Triwizard Tournament. In this case, Harry had no intention of being part of this, but yet again, he succeeds in the three tasks and escapes death yet again. Likewise, in Christianity, grace covers the sins of an individual, and thus they escape death, and eternal damnation, and recieve the ultimate eternal gift: Heaven.

The Resurrection

According to Christianity, Jesus Christ is the Son of God who is the living sacrifice for salvation. A person can only receive salvation by having their sins covered by the blood of Jesus. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, this act is paralled as Voldomorte is killed and Harry fulfills his destiny. Harry has escaped Voldomorte every single time because of the virtue bestowed upon him. His destiny was to escape evil and bring the Good back to the Wizarding World. In Christianity, a person who receives grace escapes death (eternal damnation) and thus inherits the "Good," the kingdom of God.

3) Hinduism

teaching Morals

Within the Hindu scriptures, virtue is based upon the acts of past lives. Morality is essential if one wishes to advance out of the constant cycle of birth and death (which is hell according to Hindu scriptures). One can only attain liberation (or salvation) by breaking free of this cycle and only in focusing and living for God. In Harry Potter, the Order of the Phoenix describes how the members focus on eradicating Voldomorte and the Death Eaters and evil once and for all.


Good vs. Evil

According to Hinduim, good merit is attained in this present life by detaching ourselves from materialistic things and by sanctifying and purifying our minds through scripture,prayer and meditation. This Good merit advances our souls to a higher level of "being" in which we become closer to liberation. In Harry Potter, the study of good merit is the Good magic that adds merit to the witch or wizard. The order of the Phoenix represent the virtue of magical spells, while the Death eaters are corrupted with dark magic that brings forth non-virtue. This non-virtue causes a person to become poisoned and with nonvirtuous intentions such by means of harming, deceiving, and repressing others. Wormtail represents the effects of the poisons of the minds. He betrayed his two friends James and Sirius. Through fear he is subject to be a servant of Voldomorte. Virtue does not have fear, and only in getting rid of the dark magic, can a wizard be considered good.

Liberation

By breaking free of the unceasing rebirth, can one attain ultimate realization according to Hinduism. Only by getting rid of Voldomorte completely can the prophecy be fulfilled. Thus Hinduism is like the prophecy: "And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives". In Hinduim, one cannot hold on to this materialistic world if they wish to attain the spiritual bliss and liberation, of the spiritual realm.

4) Buddhism

teaching Morals

Similar to Hinduism. Karma plays a decisive role in Buddhism. Present Karma is the effect of actions of past lives according to Buddhism. Only by creating virtue can a person create good karma and attain nirvana. In Harry Potter, the negative Karma that Voldomorte created is revealed in the connection between his and Harry's wand in the cemetery during the final task. This negative Karma that Voldomorte created forshadows the fate that awaits him.


Good vs. Evil

In Buddhism, good and evil is the basis of Karma. The basic principle of Karma is that every action has an equal opposite reaction. Thus, if someone creates virtue, virtue will return to them. However, negative harm will also return in equal proportions. In Harry Potter, as Voldomorte continues his harm of others, he continues to build non-virtue;going farther from the good karma that will benefit him. Thus, as he turns toward greater dark magic, this will impact him in very serious conditions. A result of this karma reveals itself as he divides his soul and places the pieces into horcruxes. Although he may cleverly conceal the pieces of his soul, the negative karma of his actions leads only to his ruin, as he is ultimately destroyed, both body and soul, in the end. Thus, in Harry's case, the selfless concern for others is the virtue that repeatedly strengthened Harry in being able to spread this virtue to others, benefiting all.

Nirvana

The Buddhist do no worship any God, and do not believe in any kind of reunion with God in heaven after death. What Buddhist do believe is the concept of Nirvana, or ultimate peace. This peace is attained by no longer having any desire or attachments for anything. Similar to Hinduism, by purifying one's mind through meditation, one can attain a higher "being" and reach this consciousness. In Harry Potter, Nirvana is attained by eradicating Voldomorte. With order restored, the Wizarding community can attain peace.

5) Islam

teaching Morals

the five pillars of Islam represent the confession of faith, prayer,the fast of the month of Ramadan,alms-giving,and the pilgrimage to Mecca. These five staples of the moral principles can be translated to Harry Potter in confessing secrecy and loyalty of the wizarding world, study of magic, keeping away from dark magic, helping house elves, and expressing devotion to Hogwarts.


Good vs. Evil

The main principles of law within Islam are surrounded by the five pillars of faith but also are expressed in the Islamic scripures of the Quran. In confessing secrecy and loyalty of the wizarding world, all witches and wizards are expected to adhere to the strict conduct of the rules concerning being seen by muggles, as well as the loyalty within sects within the wizarding world. The order of the phoenix and the death eaters are two groups that demand extreme loyalty. This parallels all relgions in that one must be fully devoted to their faith in order to be a member of their community. Like prayer, the study of magic is like the scriptures. Learning good spells that benefit healing act as a means of virtue. Keeping away from dark magic ensures keeping away from the snares of evil. Helping house elves is a form of caring for those less fortunate. Hermione set up The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, or S.P.E.W. in act of caring for the house elves who cooked and cleaned around the castle. Expressing devotion to Hogwarts is expressing the respect of the learning and acquistion of knowledge within the castle walls. This type of respect is to be regarded in high esteem.

The Pilgrimage

Many Muslims aspire to make the long pilgrimage to Mecca to touch the holy ground of their faith. Muslims pray five times a day as part of their pillar of faith. In Harry Potter, Hogwarts is the journey Harry takes every year after a long summer with the Dursleys. This is the one place he feels most connected to and expresses his "feeling at home again" every time he enters the entrance to the castle.

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aequitas41,
good luck with your college religion paper. I hope I may have been of some help.

- Toms