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Posted: December 17th, 2007 at 12:42am By: Rev. Kristi Denham
I could easily do an extended presentation on the spiritual significance of each of the seven Harry Potter books, but it is time to look at the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," to examine how J.K. Rowling draws everything to a conclusion.
I can already imagine the dramatic battle scenes that will appear in the movie. The visuals will be spectacular, but it is once again the depth found in the conversations and subtle inferences of the last book that make it so memorable for me.
We see how the link between Harry and Voldemort finally plays itself out. We learn how they have been intimately connected since Harry's near death at Voldemort's hand and how the choices each of them makes leads to the powerful conclusion. Harry's willingness to die for his friends certainly links him in my mind to the story of Jesus.
But it is the Epilogue that inevitably brings tears to my eyes. Here we look forward 19 years from the days Harry and his friends finally graduated from Hogwarts. We see who married whom, how their lives turned out. Some of my teen friends have told me they are disappointed to discover whom Harry marred, but it feels perfect to me.
What brings me to tears is Harry's conversation with his now 11-year-old son, Albus Severus Potter, as he prepares to board the train at King's Cross railway station Platform 9 ¾ for his first year at Hogwarts. Albus is worried that he might end up being sorted into Slytherin House, just as his father had agonized over this question so many years before.
Harry tells his son that he was named for the two greatest wizards he had ever known: Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape.
Albus Dumbledore has recently been "outed" as gay by J.K Rowling, and there are those, who have not read the books, who think this is just some publicity stunt by the author to draw yet more anguished attention from the religious right to her occult-promoting books. But when you have read the stories, you realize Dumbledore had to be gay. It explains the intensity of his bond with an evil wizard in his youth that led him to make one terrible choice that caused the death of his own sister. This is not to say that being gay was bad. It was simply who he was. He was not great in spite of his gender identity. He was great because he was fully who he was and recognized his own human frailties, especially in relationship to issues of power. He chose never to become minister of magic because he understood his own weaknesses. He was wise. He was good and he was gay.
Severus Snape was the man we all loved to hate from story to story until almost the very end. He seemed completely evil. Only as he was dying was he able to reveal the true nobility of his character. He had chosen to honor his love for Harry's mother with no less than a lifetime of devotion. His was the hardest path to follow. So many people assumed him evil. Only Dumbledore and, in the end, Harry knew the truth. To love and to do the right thing when all people condemn and turn against you, this is the ultimate expression of love and of faith. Severus will be remembered for his sacrifices. He will be known for his goodness.
J.K. Rowling has said that she hopes her books will teach us tolerance. As the final scenes come to a close, I believe she has accomplished her goal and more. She has shown us how important it is not to judge others by what little we may know about them. Even the most difficult people may be amazing good spirits. Jesus said, "Judge not least ye be judged for by the measure that you judge, so shall you be judged" (Matthew 7:1-2). If we honored that one precept, we would be able to live out the law of love with conviction.
Harry Potter's story challenges us to face our shadow, our demons, our doubts, our judgments. Life is more complex and wonderful than our normal "Muggle minds" can imagine. There is a wonderful wizard and magical witch in each one of us longing to get out. We need to lighten up and let it happen.
May it be so!
— — —
Rev. Kristi Denham is pastor of the Congregational Church of Belmont, California (United Church of Christ). Her email address is {email RevKristi@aol.com}RevKristi@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Kristi Denham.
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I could easily do an extended presentation on the spiritual significance of each of the seven Harry Potter books, but it is time to look at the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," to examine how J.K. Rowling draws everything to a conclusion.
I can already imagine the dramatic battle scenes that will appear in the movie. The visuals will be spectacular, but it is once again the depth found in the conversations and subtle inferences of the last book that make it so memorable for me.
We see how the link between Harry and Voldemort finally plays itself out. We learn how they have been intimately connected since Harry's near death at Voldemort's hand and how the choices each of them makes leads to the powerful conclusion. Harry's willingness to die for his friends certainly links him in my mind to the story of Jesus.
But it is the Epilogue that inevitably brings tears to my eyes. Here we look forward 19 years from the days Harry and his friends finally graduated from Hogwarts. We see who married whom, how their lives turned out. Some of my teen friends have told me they are disappointed to discover whom Harry marred, but it feels perfect to me.
What brings me to tears is Harry's conversation with his now 11-year-old son, Albus Severus Potter, as he prepares to board the train at King's Cross railway station Platform 9 ¾ for his first year at Hogwarts. Albus is worried that he might end up being sorted into Slytherin House, just as his father had agonized over this question so many years before.
Harry tells his son that he was named for the two greatest wizards he had ever known: Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape.
Albus Dumbledore has recently been "outed" as gay by J.K Rowling, and there are those, who have not read the books, who think this is just some publicity stunt by the author to draw yet more anguished attention from the religious right to her occult-promoting books. But when you have read the stories, you realize Dumbledore had to be gay. It explains the intensity of his bond with an evil wizard in his youth that led him to make one terrible choice that caused the death of his own sister. This is not to say that being gay was bad. It was simply who he was. He was not great in spite of his gender identity. He was great because he was fully who he was and recognized his own human frailties, especially in relationship to issues of power. He chose never to become minister of magic because he understood his own weaknesses. He was wise. He was good and he was gay.
Severus Snape was the man we all loved to hate from story to story until almost the very end. He seemed completely evil. Only as he was dying was he able to reveal the true nobility of his character. He had chosen to honor his love for Harry's mother with no less than a lifetime of devotion. His was the hardest path to follow. So many people assumed him evil. Only Dumbledore and, in the end, Harry knew the truth. To love and to do the right thing when all people condemn and turn against you, this is the ultimate expression of love and of faith. Severus will be remembered for his sacrifices. He will be known for his goodness.
J.K. Rowling has said that she hopes her books will teach us tolerance. As the final scenes come to a close, I believe she has accomplished her goal and more. She has shown us how important it is not to judge others by what little we may know about them. Even the most difficult people may be amazing good spirits. Jesus said, "Judge not least ye be judged for by the measure that you judge, so shall you be judged" (Matthew 7:1-2). If we honored that one precept, we would be able to live out the law of love with conviction.
Harry Potter's story challenges us to face our shadow, our demons, our doubts, our judgments. Life is more complex and wonderful than our normal "Muggle minds" can imagine. There is a wonderful wizard and magical witch in each one of us longing to get out. We need to lighten up and let it happen.
May it be so!
— — —
Rev. Kristi Denham is pastor of the Congregational Church of Belmont, California (United Church of Christ). Her email address is {email RevKristi@aol.com}RevKristi@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Kristi Denham.
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