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Originally Posted by Dumbledore
Um, no.
"Technically" you are Christian if you believe Jesus Christ to be the savior of the world and try to follow His teachings.
Back to topic, I think it's a silly debate but at least it seems they are trying to equally depict both views.
I think WildAboutHarry has a very good point:
Ok then not technically but I think they may be used to show how the festivals are celebrated even if it`s wrong to do so ie; it` s obviously wrong to celebrate something you don`t believe in. For instance, I would not celebrate Rammadan because I am not Muslim and so in the same respect Christmas should be celebrated by those who believe in the essence of it.
JK uses it to show how the UK has become motivated by popular culture - but then it could be arguably more religious because JK does not bring Father Christmas into the festivities. In the UK people use Christmas as an excuse to get drunk and forget the real meaning of it.
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In contrast, they don't celebrate Midsummer/Midwinter, Samhain, or any other holidays associated with witchcraft at all.
That`s probably because JK`s portrayal of Witchcraft is not a religion whereas Wicca, a branch of Witchcraft, is a religious-like practice.
What I find interesting is the whole Christening thing. I know alot of people who aren`t Christened because they don`t believe in it so the Potters must`ve believed in it to do it or else have followed the crowd.
I don`t think it`s silly because debates, when conducted properly, can only be good. They open up minds and share ideas. I think it`s also very relevant, the possibility of religious motivation, because tid bits of it do crop up in her books. Per example, C.S.Lewis has Aslan the Lion as a sacrificial figure, sacrifical love. The Potters sacrificed themselves out of love as did Christ arguably and what is even more intriguing is that the lion repeatedly symbolises self-sacrificing love in novels and then JK chooses the lion as a symbol for arguably the best house within the school. I don`t think that`s coincidence.
I think it`s great that people relate JK`s work to something good rather than using the Bible to condemn it.
it just represents popular culture within HP. Alot of the stuff in there probably mirrors christianity because that's the primary religion of the UK, most people celebrate christmas and easter for the right reasons and have christenings so it's befitting that Harry would too.