Wizards and God

[Ron Weasley]

Q: Do you think wizards believe in God?

This question has been bugging me for some time now, and I can't find any resources otherwise. It's a question I ask myself, so I figure, why not pose it to you guys?

Do you think the Wizarding world has an established religion for itself? Granted, of course, muggle-born are going to carry with them their own religion (be it the Church of England, Catholicism, or whatever), but would wizards like Draco or Hagrid have a religion. Would they believe in God?

I've been thinking about it really because I want to develop Ron a bit more spiritually, but when I put my mind to it, it didn't make sense that they would have something like that. It's muggle, but at the same time, they are still human - do they believe in a higher power, and if so, what would it be?

I don't intend to spark any religious wars with this, so please leave all that junk behind. I will lock this thread if it gets out of hand, but naturally, as you are all mature individuals, I don't expect it to get wild. Even so, please keep your comments courteous, as this is a touchy subject. I want everyone to be able to express their opinions and not get torn down.

<33

[maiwolf]

Actually, I have no idea. If you had given another option such as 'I don't know' or 'maybe' I would have picked that one. As it is, I put yes. I'm not too sure about this either, but I never really had thought about it. I guess it's just that Rowling didn't want controversy when she made teh books so included no God or 'Godly characters'. I think That's about all. If there was a God (In the books), then it would probably be whatever one you would like, since there is no saying of right and wrong about religious things in her books. If you want Ron to be spiritual, you're playing him, and no one can object.

[Ron Weasley]

Well, aside from my own desires for Ron, it's just an interesting question. I know she probably wanted to leave the spiritual debate out of the books, but it's still a huge part of human existence, I think.

Like, when they swear they saw "Holy Merlin" who is an iconic figure, not a deity, where muggles would say "Holy Jesus" or something.

I don't know, really. On one hand, even witches and wizards being what they are historically, they were considered outcasts from the church, but a lot of people tried as witches were also pretty religious people who just disagreed with the church. Historically, of course. Taken from the HP point of view, they could have still been really religious people, but I think for the fact that they really were witches and wizards that they would have gone to church and practiced for the sake of normality, so that people wouldn't suspect them and burn them alive, and some of that might have rubbed off so that they are even mildly religious.

It's a toughie. I would like to think that they are at least interested in God, maybe wonder why he graced some people with Magic and others without.

[Natalie Summers]

i voted yes... because... well... i don't know why. i just say yes.

[Bellatrix Lestrange]

I'm in two minds about this, but I voted yes. However, I don't think that they would have just one religion, and one which all of them practice and live by. If I had to decide I'd have to say that it is just as varied as muggles would be, with everyone having a different viewpoint when it came to a higher power and whether there was a God.

Though a society without a religion of any kind isn't very realistic, because throughout history the majority of communities have a religion or something that defines them in some way, whether it be a cultural difference or a belief. Perhaps it isn't religion, but tradition that wizards live by: for example, the idea that purebloods are superior is an idea and custom that has passed down those particular families.

So yeah...not much of that made much sense, but to sum it up I don't think they have one major religion, but a varied one. If you wanted your character to be spiritul then I wouldn't see anything against you including that, though perhaps altering it to fit with the wizarding world?

[Theodore Nott]

I honestly dont think they believe in any god or have any religion for that matter.. Well, some might of course, but I think main part dosen't.
Its like, when we say Oh My God, they say Oh Merlin or stuff like that.

And when they have magic in their lives why would they believe in God? God cant really do anything for them, that they cant do on their own.

[badfaith88]

Well I have to agree with Bella. If they do believe in any higher power it would be whatever choice they make like any muggle would choose, or were brought up with. As far as the iconic figures go and who's holy their history is based on the creators, developers, and dominating figures of the wizarding world; just like Jesus is a holy figure because he is a savior and Mohamed is a prophet, Merlin is a great wizard and though my knowledge on him is only beginning to grow was probably a large contributor to what magic is to the Wizarding community.

I guess we would also have to consider what differences and traditions lie in depicting the wizarding world, we all of course delve in Jo's depiction and what we feel wizards in her world would believe; Im not really sure how the issue is addressed in other novels. Eragon for example has a great religion myth on the creation of magical creatures as far as elves(Legolas and Arya like elves not Dobby ones) Dwarves and humans go. Or else we could just wait to meet a real wizard and ask him what he believes (or her). I said yes just to agree with the choice of believing.