Rel 2240: Harry Potter, Magic, and Religion
Moral development in the Harry Potter books (yes, Kohlberg!)
•2 main levels of moral development, subdivided into 3 stages with a total of 6 stages •Preconventional: 1. Punishment and Disobedience - do whatever you can get away with 2. Instrumental Exchange - be nice to get a reward, do what you gotta do to get what u want (dudley) **VOLDEMORT never gets past this stage, he will do whatever he can do become immortal** Conventional: 3. Interpersonal Conformity - worry about what others think of you, do what earns praise (dursleys), loyalty to friends and family (harry and friends) 4. Social system - obey rules and laws in order to maintain order and harmony (hermione and percy) **reached by most adults and is necessary to function in society** Post-conventional: 5. Prior rights - rules exist for a reason, but must be broken if in conflict with higher moral values (hermione & DA) 6. Prior rights - rules exist for a reason, but must be broken if in conflict with higher moral values (hermione & DA)
*Hindu and Buddhist themes in the Harry Potter books*
BUDDHISM •Buddhist belief - a soul is just an illusion, you get reincarnated, trying to reach nirvana (state of no suffering); in HP people definitely had souls •One must be freed from all desires to reach nirvana - Harry starts out on a good note, wants his family but not really material thing, able to give up this desire to help others (SS); mirror of erised •Bodhisattva - "one whose nature is enlightenment", someone who reached nirvana but chooses to be reborn out of COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. Compare to Harry being reborn in order to kill Voldemort. Main characteristic of Bodhisattva: compassion for all living beings, Harry has compassion for snake (SS), Pettigrew (PofA), Dobby (CS), victims under lake (TC), Dudley (OotP), Tom Riddle (DH). Thunderbolt is symbol of compassion in Buddhism, the "strongest force in the world" (power the dark lord knows not???) (!!!!!!!) •Buddhist Ideas: Desire for immortality keeps you bound to unsatisfying existence (Voldemort!!), Humans must realize death is natural and not something to be feared, Nirvana only attained when you no longer desire it. Humans not > animals - blurred human/animal line, believe in nonviolence, cp to Harry using Expelliarmus. HINDUISM •not a huge part in series •Nagini - only sanskrit word in series, means snake, has positive meaning in Hindu tradition •Patil twins have Hindu last name, traditional first names, but don't know if they practice ◦Parvati: hindu goddess, common in india ◦Padma: lotus flower, associated with hindu goddess •No references to Sanskrit spells, though there is lots of magic in Sanskrit tradition •Hindu god Indra - thunderbolt weapon, serpent slayer, like Harry? •Number 4 is significant - 4 marauders, 4 founders, 4 houses •Harry's mission aligns with Hindu God's overall agenda - fighting demons, keeping the world safe
Greek and Roman mythology in the Harry Potter books
GREEK: •Hermes: Percy's owl, also a messenger god •Cassandra: a prophet of doom that nobody believes; Cassandra Trelawney a professor that is never taken seriously •Fluffy: Cerberus 3 headed dog who guarded the underworld/guarded the trap door in Sorcerer's Stone/can be tamed by being lulled to sleep by music •Harry: parallel to Greek hero, Perseus, who had an invisibility hat and was prophesied to kill the evil king. Also killed medusa (head of SNAKES), gets a special sword to do so. Slays a sea serpent (basilisk) and rescues a maiden, tames and rides winged horse (hippogriff) •Merope: In Greek myth is an immortal woman who is punished for marrying a mortal man; Voldemort's mom Merope Gaunt is punished for marrying a muggle •Black family is named after astrological stars •Zeus Symbol is a lightening bolt, similar to Harrys scar on his forehead •Zeus kills his father and becomes king of the god, Voldemort kills his father and becomes the dark lord •Nimbus: Greek gods often depicted with a nimbus, a shining cloud or halo-broomstick nimbus 2000 •Minerva: goddess who can change people appearance - mcgonagall teaches transfiguration ROMAN: •Remus: one of the babies raised by wolves, brother became founder of Rome. Lupin is latin for wolf... •Pomona Sprout: teaches herbology; roman goddess of gardens and fruit trees •Minerva/Athena; can change appearances; McGonagall can transfigure into a cat and teaches configuration •Luna: Roman goddess of the moon; Luna Lovegood •Riddle of the Sphinx in the Goblet of Fire
*The role of serpents in the Harry Potter books*
•Basilisk - greek for "little king". King of the serpents, small but deadly, can only be killed by weasels in folklore. Can kill you with a look. •Nagini - sanskrit for female serpent; snake that Harry freed from the zoo in first book? •Slytherin - has a negative connotation, has turned out the most dark wizards. Slytherin didn't want to accept students, only wanted pure-bloods (racist), ended up getting mad at the others and peacing out and leaving an evil snake behind, house color is green •Parseltongue - seen as mark of a dark wizard - Slytherin, Voldemort and Harry. Jewish people believe that Eve spoke snake language. •Snakes have overall negative connotation in HP. This matches alchemical symbolism and (Christian) religious symbolism as snakes tend to be negative in both, representative of Nigredo stage and of sin/evil
Harry Potter fandom - a religious phenomenon?
•Canon: original books •A body of second literature: numerous books, fan fiction, fan art •Community: online, podcasts, fan conventions, bookstores etc •Rituals: midnight releases, dressing up •Pilgrimage: Disney world/Land, Platform 9 ¾ , Harry Potter gravestone •Mythology: vas background knowledge •Canon informs moral decisions
Religious responses to the Harry Potter books (Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.)
•Christians: mixed responses - some believe that it can be read as a Christian story (bc of sacrificial love, character traits, lessons of the story)(Granger), can promote spiritual growth, others believe it is evil, leads kids to the occult, and goes against what the bible calls good (Abanes) (these people are stupid) •Hindu: Don't translate much, books are very popular, no real controversy. There was a replica of Hogwarts in a religious festival - because of the fight against evil? magic? Durga the demon slayer? •Jewish - Didn't have a problem with HP books, almost entirely positive response, but 7th book published on the Sabbath and was a bit of a controversy. Hebrew words often translated as "magic" in the bible really reference magic without divine consent, intended to hurt others or change the future ordained by God, not "magic" as we know it in HP. Jewish people read TaNaKh (Old Testament) in Hebrew, reason for different response from Christians? •Muslim: Translated into many different languages, sold in bookstores, but banned in schools in 2002 in United Arab Emirates. Criticized for glorification of sorcery, rule-breaking, lack of respect for elders. In Islam, anything encouraging magic is seen as the devil's work. Also debate about it promoting "Zionist cause". Many Muslims believe that it's just fantasy literature, reading about it is permitted as long as you aren't performing it, and HP promotes literacy in children. •Buddhist: they don't care bc they are chill af?? idk I don't remember them having issues
How is the archetypal "Hero's journey" reflected in the Harry Potter books?
•Hero myths from different cultures have similar structure - represent universal experience of "coming of age"? 1. Miraculous early childhood event (Jesus, Moses, Harr) prophecy about child's destiny,child confronts evil and is hidden away 2. Child has "second birth" like an initiation into their role, gain new identity (sorting hat, first years traveling across water-baptism?) •Often conquer a monster (representing wild desires) and proves him/herself 3. Hero withdraws from the world for training 4. Trial/Quest: Hero is given tasks, have to accept their own mortality 5. Sacrificial death for others - sometimes come back to life, sometimes they don't 6. Descent into underworld - hero journeys into realm of dead, a place of "new birth" 7. resurrection and rebirth-Hero conquers death and comes back into the world alive 8. Ascension - Jesus to heaven, ascend in some way. HARRY DOESN'T DO THIS
What is the relationship between religion and magic in the Harry Potter books?
•Magic is not religious at all •The books are almost devoid of outright references to religion; No chapel, mention of church etc @ Hogwarts •Magic is genetic, a separate entity devoid of a 'higher power' ◦It's more about what's inside you and the power ◦Magic is a natural force (not good or evil); but can be used to do good or evil
The significance of names in the Harry Potter books
•Names have meaning!!! Often derived from other mythology, folklore, alchemy, slang, or other languages. Paying attention to names can give significant hints about the character. i.e. shouldn't be a surprise Quirrell has a person on the back of his head, that Hermione is stunned in 2nd book, or that Filch is a caretaker. Sometimes they may be interpreted wrong like Sirius Black. •Says something significant about a person; indicates what their destiny is •Albus - white; Dumbledore - Bumblebee ◦White associated with goodness, purity Alchemical significance •Minerva-Roman goddess of learning; McGonagall: after bad poet •Harry - plain name, not plain person (but wishes he was); Potter-goblet,father •Ron - King Arthur's spear; Weasley - sneaky animal •Rubeus - red; Hagrid - hangover ◦(alchemical significance?) •Argus Filch - Argus a giant with 100 eyes that could see everything in Greek myth; Filch = to steal •Hermione - daughter of Helen of Troy; Granger-character that memorized books ◦Shakespeare's winter's tale predicts Hermione being turned to stone in CoS •Draco - Dragon, serpent; Malfoy - bad faith •Severus Snape - Severus → severe/strict; Snape → to blame; ◦He gets blamed by Harry for a lot of evil in the novels •Quirinus Quirrell - Quirinus a two faced Roman god. •Lucius Malfoy - Lucifer •Sirius black: "dog star"; black= dark; doesn't fully fulfill this •Remus Lupin: remus was a twin raised by wolves; lupin means moon; name literally tells us what he will be, but he is still able to be good •Voldemort - french for "flight from death" Poe character Valdemar appears to conquer death but turns into something non human. Name revolves around death even though that's what he's trying so hard to escape from
*The depictions of good and evil in the Harry Potter books*
•Whole series about good vs evil: Voldemort vs Harry, Hate vs Love •Evil characters tend to want to be in power ◦Evil is parasitic, "half-life, cursed life" ◎living off others; killing unicorn, dementors ◦Parasitic ◎Quirrell ◎Ginny ◎Peter Pettigrew living off the Weasley's as Scabbers ◦Voldemort begins human but loses his humanity •good and evil is messy/complicated •"it is the actions we take" •greed/selfishness is seen as an ultimate evil and love is the ultimate good •Contrast good/evil, light/dark
Islam and Harry Potter
•second largest religion in UK- but where are all the Muslim Hogwarts students??? wut •Referee @ Quidditch world cup was muslim •Flying carpets used instead of brooms in some countries → from Arabic fairy tales, associated with Muslim culture •No references to Muslim alchemical tradition, genies in bottles, magic from Muslim folk tales, etc
Norse mythology in the Harry Potter books
•Odin: the allfather ◦long white hair and beard, called the wanderer (Dumbledore book 7?), shape shifter (Dumbledore taught transfiguration), god of runes (runic book given to Hermione). Odin has 2 wolf friends, Dumbledore's middle name Wolfred, friend of Remus. ◦Odin has a well of wisdom to tell him about the future, Dumbledore's pensieve to learn about the past. ◦Master of Magic ◦Cunning and Wise •Tyr: comparable to Dumbledore too ◦One armed god, loses arm in battle (horcrux ring curses his hand), god of single combat (dumbledore vs grindelwald battle) •Thor/Harry: God of thunder and war, lightning bolt symbol, slays the midgard serpent (basilisk for harry). Thor can summon his hammer to fight and protect others, Harry summons and uses his fire bolt to fight the dragon in Goblet of Fire and protect others; it's a huge part of their strength •Fenrir: evil wolf in mythology, outlaws; Fenrir Greyback evil werewolf; represents the bad side of werewolves and their kind while Remus is the good, controlled side •Loki: Comparable to Snape; ◦Half god, half giant (Snape =half blood prince) ◦Doer of good and evil, nobody knows what to do with him b/c his loyalty is unclear •Many heroes in Norse epics are mocked by the people → spurs them to greater deeds •Borrowed creatures - ◦dumb, large, dangerous trolls ◦dangerous and unpredictable giants ◦ clever and cranky but skilled. Mastersmith goblins like Norse dwarves make famous treasures and weapons •Ragnarok: final battle between good and evil, "The Battle of Hogwarts" - final battle resulting in a beautiful new world.
Judaism and Harry Potter
•One Jewish character - Anthony Goldstein - not really important but in DA, has Jewish name ◦Goldstein = "goldstone" alchemical symbolism?? •Jewish influence on HP universe is minimal, no mention of Jewish alchemists, no hebrew words/spells, Jewish mystical traditions Kabbalah and Golems not mentioned/nothing appears to be inspired by them •Talmud does have a story about the Phoenix, which has eternal life bc of its humbleness •Talmud story - ghosts discussing what they can hear from "behind the curtain" •many themes can be seen as either jewish or christian; the chosen one -messiah or christ?
Celtic mythology in the Harry Potter books
•Rosmerta: Celtic goddess of plenty (hot server); bartender in Three Broomsticks •The Dagda: powerful male father-god, long hair and beard, associated with forest and oak trees, often portrayed as a rough giant with poor manners, "the red man" aka HAGRID •The Cauldron of Cerridwen - original connection between cauldrons and witches; important inspiration for Potions classes etc •King Nuada: lost hand and had it replaced with a silver one •Evil king Balor hears prophecy about being killed by his grandson, tries to prevent it, there are battles and prophecy ends up being true. ◦Voldemort hears a prophecy about a baby and tries to kill him. But the prophecy ends up coming true anyway! •The Hallows of Ireland - four treasures ◦stone of destiny: When a true king of Ireland stepped on it, it would cry out; think of sorting hat and the sword in the stone ◦spear of lugh: can't be beaten in battle (elder wand) ◦sword of Nuada: "the sword of light", impossible to beat (sword of gryffindor) ◦Dagda's cauldron: Magical cauldron that provides endless amounts of food; how we thought Hogwarts food worked before we saw the elves •nineteen years a complete cycle of ancient celtic calendar; epilogue is 19 years later (back to the beginning of the cycle)
Christian symbolism in the Harry Potter books
•Sacrificial love: Lily for Harry; Harry for world ◦after Harry sacrifices his life, voldemort's power won't hold on the people he died for (literally everyone); the silencing spell won't hold because they are all protected; aka Jesus' sacrifice protects us from ultimate destruction •Love is "ancient magic", the strongest force ◦Weakness of Voldemort is that he doesn't know how to love •Harry chooses to die for those he loves; Harry can be seen parallel to Jesus •Hero's journey through life, death, and resurrection echo that of Christ •Martyrdom and redemption strong themes •phoenix, lions, griffins, snakes as evil •death eaters vs Life eaters. •King's Cross •Love prevailing over evil
Spells and the significance of magical language
•Saying the words properly is very important - mispronunciations can make everything go wrong •Many of the spells derived from Latin words, a few greek/english, one in aramaic •Some spells work, some don't if they aren't real spells.
Arthurian themes in the Harry Potter books
•The grail quest in book 4 (essay) •Magical mirror in which observer can see whatever he/she wishes •King arthur = harry, orphans who don't know their true power, raised by other families who they have conflicts with. Go on magical adventures, marry "Guinevere/Ginny", use a special sword you can only obtain if you're destined to do so (true king/true gryffindor). Both have invisibility cloaks, have enemies named Lucius, looked after by great wizards with long white hair and beard •Holy grail is similar to the goblet of fire and the triwizard cup (ultimate goal like finding the holy grail) •Three kings set out to find grail (three friends set out to end voldemort) also 4 people set out to win the Triwizard cup •When grail is found, whisked to heaven, when triwizard cup found, whipped to grave yard •Bor "with a distinct scar on his forehead" only one to return from his quest •Weasley's names are Arthurian
Alchemy in the Harry Potter books
•Trying to change metals into gold to find the elixir of life. •Quest for Philosopher's stone symbolic of the inner quest for spiritual transformation and immortality. Philosopher's stone depicted as a red jewel, a drink, a golden ball with wings. •Alchemist → a "potter" •Two catalysts to turn metal: ◦gold: Sulfur (male, red, impulsive) ◦mercury (feminine, calm, composed) ◦known as "the quarrelling couple" ◦RON AND HERMIONE •Each year at Hogwarts represents a new cycle: ◦Leaving the Dursley's (black) ◦learning and growing at Hogwarts (white) ◦then facing some kind of "death and resurrection" at the end of the year (red) •Parents are super important in this process ◦Lily is a symbol of the second stage as purification ◦James is the patron saint of alchemy and his stag patronus is a symbol of the alchemical process •Basilisk...color green...slytherin...chemicals that can dissolve gold so kind of seen as the enemy in the alchemical quest ◦Harry's wand emits red and gold sparks, while Voldemort's always emits green •Phoenix is the ultimate alchemical symbol of transformation and rebirth; red and gold (stone) •Three alchemical stages: ◦Nigredo: black, material is in its original state, sirius ◎Neville's toad, chocolate frog (signals Harry's beginning quest), the toad like Umbridge, deaths' mark, the Black family, Sirius ◎Book 5: black family, house of black,black dies ◦Albedo: white, beginning to "see the light" but not completely pure yet, being purified and taught. HBP ◎Lily ◎book 6: albus, luna, phoenix, albus death ◦Rubedo: red and gold, final purification/destination. Pure has to be separated from the rest. ◎symbol of change and transformation ◎book 7: gold and red, the winning of the stone, carried by rebeus •Harry seeker of golden ball, catches neville's remembrall (red), Flamel had lived immortal life after making the stone that get destroyed after first book •The four elements of alchemy ◦Fire, water, earth, air ◎tasks in triwizard tournament (dragon=fire and air, lake=water, maze=earth) ◎the houses symbols (G=fire, R=air, H=earth, S=water) ◎Four champions (Harry=G=fire, Cedric=H=earth, Fleur=air, Viktor=water) •the number seven is significant ◦Rowling incorporates a lot of sevens ◎seven books, seven challenges in each book, 7 horcruxes, 7 harrys for rescue •Sign of Deathly Hallows ◦Infinity (circle), trinity (triangle) and unity (line) •Quidditch: golden hoops and snitch, bludgers are black, quaffles are red •Two alchemists ◦Harry: spiritual ◦Voldemort: physical, never advances past nigredo stage, kills unicorn that symbolizes albedo
**The religious significance of central elements in the books (think Voldemort, the Triwizard Tournament, the encounter with Dumbledore at King's Cross Station, and Harry's "death", rather than Bertie Botts' Every Flavor Beans)**
•Voldemort: The Antichrist??? Voldemort is a god-like figure, but not in a positive way, as he is a force of evil. Voldemort is referred to by Quirrell as Lord Voldemort, and Quirrell treats him and speaks of him as if he has a God-like role in his life, saying this such as "I have served him faithfully" (291). He could be seen as a portrayal of a false idol, or of the devil, but he is drastically different than the Christian god that we see represented in Lily Potter. For example, a huge characteristic of the Christian god is forgiveness of sins, whereas Quirrell states that "He [Voldemort] does not forgive mistakes easily" (291). Another huge characteristic of the Christian god is love. 1 John 4:16 states "God is love." However, Voldemort cannot understand love, and can't even touch Harry because of the love that Lily showed for Harry in dying for him. Voldemort convinces his followers that by following him they will obtain power, and this is what leads them to the dark side - similar to how Satan convinced Eve that eating the forbidden fruit would make her more like god (powerful). Voldemort's tactics sound very familiar to those familiar with the Christian Bible. •Triwizard tournament ◦Arthurian? •King's Cross oThe name itself implies a holy significance oHarry "dies" but comes back to life, like Jesus
