Hogwarts, the fictional school of witchcraft and wizardry from the Harry Potter series, has been the subject of much debate among fans and scholars alike. While author J.K. Rowling has stated that “Hogwarts is a multifaith school,” the religious symbolism in the books and films is distinctly Christian.
The first example of Christian symbolism in the Harry Potter series can be found in the words of Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Dumbledore states that “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” This quote is taken directly from 1 Corinthians 15:26, which reads, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
The second example of Christian symbolism in the Harry Potter series is found in the words of Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In this book, McGonagall states that “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” This quote is taken directly from Matthew 6:19, which reads, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”
These two quotes, taken from the Bible, are just two examples of the Christian symbolism found in the Harry Potter series. Other examples include the presence of a cross in the Hogwarts crest, the use of Latin phrases such as “Expecto Patronum” and “Vulnera Sanentur” (“Let the wounds be healed”), and the use of religious imagery in the films.
It is clear that J.K. Rowling has used Christian symbolism in the Harry Potter series, and that Hogwarts is a school that is influenced by Christianity. While Rowling has stated that “Hogwarts is a multifaith school,” it is clear that Christianity is the predominant religion at Hogwarts.