Baylor philosophy professor sees virtue in Potter
___By Mark Wingfield
___Managing Editor
___WACO--While some Christians see evil lurking behind the Harry Potter phenomenon, Scott Moore sees some surprising correlations to Christianity.
___The Baylor University philosophy professor is the parent of five children, the oldest of whom is 12. His two oldest children have read all four Harry Potter books, as has he.
___Of author J.K. R
owling, Moore noted: "I don't know if this woman is a Christian or not, but there's something very interesting about the texts. The language and symbols she is using are in fact the symbols of Christendom."
___He offers these examples:
___ The phoenix that belongs to Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of the school Harry Potter attends. This creature plays a pivotal role in the story, at one point providing an escape from certain death for Harry.
___In the ancient Christian tradition, the phoenix was a symbol of rebirth, Moore noted. Although not originally a Christian symbol, it was appropriated by medieval Christians as a symbol for Christ.
___ The unicorn that Harry and his friends find in the forest near the school. As with the phoenix, the unicorn is an ancient symbol of Christianity, sometimes used to represent Christ's vulnerability, Moore said.
___ The life-giving blood of the unicorn. At one point, the antagonist, Voldemort, attempts to slay the unicorn and drink its blood so he can continue to live. "This is a very rich and evocative symbol," Moore noted. "Parents who are reading this with their kids can talk about this."
___ An emphasis on truth-telling. Although some critics of the books complain that Harry and his friends sometimes tell lies and get away with it, Moore contends that the overall message of the book is that truth always is the best course.
___As evidence, he cites a passage where Harry has a confrontation with Voldemort and tries to get away by lying but it doesn't work. "Harry has a conversation with Dumbledore in which he asks him some questions. Dumbledore says truth is a beautiful and terrifying thing. 'I will tell you what I can. I will not, of course, lie,' he says.
___"Part of Harry's education is about the fact that truth is a beautiful, wondrous thing," Moore said. "While Harry sometimes lies about trivial matters and it gets him into trouble, he's learning what it means to tell the truth."
___ Dumbledore's and Harry's willingness to call Voldemort by name. Because the antagonist is so feared, most people in Harry's world will not say his name, instead referring to him as "He Who Must Not Be Named."
___"One of the most pernicious examples (of lack of character) we have in our culture is the failure to call things by their proper name," Moore insisted. "Harry is having the courage to call Voldemort by his proper name. That's an evidence of truth telling."
___ The overarching virtues taught at Hogwarts Academy. "What they are learning is the classical and Christian virtues--courage, prudence, self-control, justice," Moore said.
___"In addition to that, faith, hope and love are exemplified. Hope that while things seem very bad, it is not the end. Faith, not Christian faith, but faith in the good in this cosmic struggle between good and evil. And love, which is one of the most pervasive elements here."
___Among Christians who are friendly toward the Harry Potter books, frequent comparisons are made between this series and C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia."
___"We don't have here a kind of easy allegory like with 'The Chronicles of Narnia,'" Moore said. "But we do have rich images that are part of these children's education that's going on."
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