Christ-characters

When I was in my first year of seminary our Intro to New Testament course focused on questions of Christology.  And so one of the assignments was to look at Christology in a piece of popular culture.  I remember that one of my classmates did that paper on Jesus Chris Superstar and one of the points she raised was whether Herod had a swimming pool and did a soft shoe dance.  I did my paper on Christology within The Lord of the Rings (which was really just an excuse to buy a copy and read the book again that year as well as a bit of low-hanging fruit for me since I know the book so well).

Christ-figures are really quite popular in literature.  I have this vision of some day doing a study group of Christ figures in books and movies.  I would in fact argue than most great quest-epics have at least one Christ-figure in them.

Jut think of them.  Aslan in the Narnia series (arguably the least subtle Christ figure in anything I have read). Harry Potter in, well, Harry Potter.  In the paper I mentioned above I argued that Gandalf, Aragorn and Frodo are all Christ figures in one way or another.  Obi-Wan Kenobi for sure in Star Wars and I believe you could argue that Luke is also a Christ-figure, and (possibly Yoda?).  Jean Valjean in the musical (haven't read the novel) Les Miserables.  Simba in The Lion King (does that mean that Hamlet is also a potential Christ-figure???).  These are all fairly easy to pick up.  But recently I came up with a new one....

On Good Friday morning, while I was in the shower, I was thinking through my meditation for the service that morning.  The meditation was titled "The End" and was going to focus on how the followers of Jesus must have felt as they watched him die. [In an  admittedly self-promoting move I will now point out that you can hear that meditation here]  And a scene came into my mind.  From The Princess Bride.  Now that is not exactly a movie one would either think of in relation to Good Friday or in a discussion of Christ-figures.

But as I worked with the scene [the scene I was using was when Inigo and Fezzik find Westley in the Pit of Despair and Inigo says "He's dead" and then we switch to the grandson objecting that grandpa is reading the story wrong because someone has to "get" Humperdinck and Westley is not supposed to die] I realized that it did in fact tie in well to where I was going with the meditation.  And moreso I realized that an argument can be made that Westley is in fact a Christ figure, albeit on a relatively smaller scale than Frodo saving Middle Earth or Harry walking into the Forbidden Forest so Voldemort can kill him.

One of the ways we need to do theology is to make connections with the culture around us.  This is not new.   This is how successful popular (as in "of the people" not as in well-liked or critically acclaimed) theology has always worked.  And so we mine novels and movies and TV shows for images that will help us tell and explore the story of God at work in the world.  And sometimes that mining has surprising, out of the blue, results.

Half-Blood Coming

Ever wonder what the orphanage Dumbledore visits to "recruit" the young Tom Riddle looked like?

Well you can find out here while you watch the trailer for HArry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Movie comes out in November, I likely won't see it until mid 2009

ANd why is this a big deal???

So apparently J.K. Rowling envisioned Albus Dumbledore as being gay.

Great. But really, so what?

A fictional character, who has been killed off, who has been pretty much asexual throughout the story was envisioned as gay by the character's creator. Does it affect teh story line at all?

Not as she wrote the books. I suppose it could have, as part of the back story around Grindelwald. But since it wasn't mentioned it makes no difference.

Why make a big deal about it?

Unfortunately some will. And some will look for "sinster overtones" in all of the interactions between Dumbledore and Harry.

Get 'em Before they're Gone!

THat's right, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans are now available.

GOt to coffee this afternoon and one of the fellows said, "I've got something for you". Flavors (listed on the side panels) include grape, vomit, grass, soap, earwax...

The kids were very excited--but not totally taken with some of the tastes

Mischief Managed

THe battle is fought and won.

The hidden truths have been revealed.

THe true loyalties have been uncovered.

And now what shall I read?????

Retraction

Dear Chapters,
I wish to apologize for yesterdays rant.

It is now apparent that your systems have simply failed to keep up in the flurry of Harry Potter mania. While the website still lists my order as awaiting shipment I have teh book in hand with a shipping invoice showing that it was indeed shipped on July 21.

Obviously the problem is in data entry not in your processes. I apologize.

Truth in COmmunication

Dear Chapters,

I understand that some of us in small rural communities can not take advantage of a special Saturday delivery. And I am fine with that. However, when I read on your web-site:

If your address is ineligible for Saturday delivery, we will make every effort to deliver your order as quickly as possible: your order will arrive early the week of July 23. (see the bottom of the page)

then I interpret that to mean that it will arrive on Monday or Tuesday. I do not interpret that to mean that it will be shipped on the Monday (as it happens it is still listed as awaiting shipping as of 6:00 pm CDT on the Monday). With a 2-4 day delivery time this means the expected arrival is mid-late week not early in the week. If you plan to deliver on that schedule then please name that openly. AS it stands I find that you are guilty of providing false information. Had I had accurate information I would have ordered from the local bookstore despite the $15+ price differential.

Also I find your logic confusing. The Customer Service rep I spoke with said that the book was to be shipped today because it was the first business day following the launch. However every book that was delivered to readers on Saturday obviously was shipped out of your warehouse before the launch. Why do those of us in small communities not get the same treatment? Those copies could easily have been in the postal system to be delivered today or tomorrow. People in small rural communities are familiar with being treated unfairly. But that doesn't mean we accept it.

We'll Find Out in a Week.

A week ago I sought guesses as to how the Harry Potter saga might end. Here are some of my thoughts.

AS much as I thought it a silly idea when I first heard/read it I have been thinking about Harry as a Horcrux. At the end of Chamber of Secrets Harry asks Dumbledore why he is a parselmouth like Riddle. Dumbledore says that he believes Voldemort accidentally transmitted part of himself to Harry when he tried to kill him. But can a Horcrux be created accidentally?

Can Tom Riddle be redeemed? What we see of him as an 11 year old suggests that he may have his families inherent instability from birth, coupled with abandonment feelings and an over-defined sense of his own importance. But then again who believed taht Anakin Skywalker could emerge from the dark metal known as Darth Vader.

But Harry, I sense that Harry is walking on a fine line. Twice he has tried to use an Unforgiveable Curse (the Cruciatus at Bellatrix at the end of OOTP and an again at Snape at the end of HBP). Harry's sense of vengenance is over developed. He is passionate and quick to anger. WHat happens when an otherwise good person uses an Unforgiveable Curse succesfully? What does it do to one's psyche?

And I have been thinking tonight about Dumbledore's weak "Severus, please" at the end of Half-Blood Price. WAs he pleading for his life or for Snape to so what he did? Does the ending of HBP give Voldemort a false sense of security (Dumbledore was the one wizard Voldemort feared)? DOes this make him arrogant and lead him into a mis-step?

And if RAB was Regulus Black (which makes a lot of sense) then it seems likely that the locket Harry Ron and Hermione once found in the Grimmaud Place house was indeed the missing Horcrux. BUT who knows how to destroy it?

Diary, Ring--both accounted for. Locket--possibly located. Harry?? THat makes 4. Tom asked about making 6. 2 yet to be identified.

Oh and as an aside. This week as I was re-reading HBP and the memories of Tom Riddle as a child and also started reading Philosopher's Stone to the girls it struck me that there are strange similarities between Tom and Dudley Dursley. Mind you a bully is a bully whether magical or Muggle I suppose. WHat would have happened had DUdley somehow been born with wizarding abilities?

So Who Will IT Be??

In 2 short weeks many people will be carefully tucked in with a new book, catching up with an old (although just a teenager) friend. (Mind you some of us will have to wait until at least Monday the 23rd since we have no mail delivery on Saturday)

JK Rowling has announced that 2 main characters will die in this final book. NOw of course some main, and well-loved, characters are no longer in play (don't want to name names just in case someone who doesn't yet know who dies in 5 & 6 is reading). BUt who will be gone by the end of Deathly Hallows?

Bets I have seen include Harry, Lord Voldemort, Rone, Hermione, Ginny, HAgrid, Snape, Draco, and the DUrsleys.

Here is one thread of guesses (don't go here if you don't want to know who is already dead)

Here is another and here as well (again spoiler alert for these)

Other guesses I have seen include 2 dead characters making a miraculous reappearance but I find those to be unlikely.

I can make logical arguements for how many of them would follow the story line as created thus far. So who wants to make a prediction?

Ravenclaw I think...

Purechristianithink has posted a description of ministry styles a la the Houses of Hogwarts. I figure I would be mosty Ravenclaw, with subshades of Gryffindor and possibly a touch of Hufflepuff.

She has also posted one on "House" churches. I woulodn't dare to publish a guess on that one...

Where does the line form?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last of seven instalments of the boy wizard's adventures, will be published July 21, author J. K. Rowling announced Thursday on her website.

Now the question is do I buy it this summer in hardcover or wait an extra year till the paperback comes out????

It's Coming!!!!!!

July here we come!

The Importance of CHARACTER

Why is HArry Potter such a wild success?

Most commentators I have heard talk about the story, about the conflict, the archetypal battle between good and evil. ANd that is true. But I can't help but think that these books would be nowhere near as popular if they didn't have such good, REAL characters.

Can anyone help but laugh at the sibling rivalries and sibling put downs the WEasly's share? Did anyone else feel the jealousy Ron shows when Hermione goes to teh Yule Ball with Viktor, and doesn't know he's jealous? OR Harry's stumbling attempts at dating Cho, along with Cho's struggle with moving on from Cedric's death? As someone who was mercilessly bullied in school I understand fully why Snape can't let go of his loathing for James and Sirius. THese characters are definitely real.

Yes, a good enthralling story is important. But without characters a good story becomes meaningless. Without good characters we wouldn't really care after all. It strikes me that this is partly why I like the original 3 Star Wars movies better than Episodes 1 and 2 (have yet to see Revenge of the Sith). In those earlier years Lucas couldn't do as much with computers so the characters and the acting were more important. Now I think that the characters and acting are almost second thoughts, with the real stars being the computer animation. SOmehow I have trouble warming to a pile of pixels.

WEll at least things are consistent...

Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

And to be honest. Every time I have take a Myers-Briggs based test I have come out INFP so that fits.

So that's why I am fascinated by the moon...

You scored as Remus Lupin. You are a wise and caring wizard and a good, loyal friend to boot. However sometimes in an effort to be liked by others you can let things slide by, which ordinarily you would protest about. Remus Lupin 80% Hermione Granger 70% Ron Weasley 60% Severus Snape 55% Sirius Black 55% Ginny Weasley 55% Albus Dumbledore 50% Harry Potter 50% Draco Malfoy 40% Lord Voldemort 35% Your Harry Potter Alter Ego Is...? created with QuizFarm.com

HOgwarts ROCKS!

WEll on my way for my holiday projects. I read up to the Prisoner of Azkaban from the library and then took the plunge. Went to Chapters yesterday and bought a box set of the first 5 books. When Half-BLood Prince comes out in paperback then I will get it. Told myself I was buying them for the girls but....

ANyway, back to mother-in-law's to approach the second challenge in the Triwizard Tournament...

THe HAt has Spoken...

I'm a Ravenclaw!

In honor of starting to read the books I thought I would get sorted. Sure glad it isn't Slytherin.