Lachance’s (2005) comments on Harry’s responsibility to make choices, because of
his hopes for a better world, are consistent with the Christian interpretation of choice rather
than just a humanist interpretation. Lachance seems to comprehend humanism in a limited
way. She seems to see it as referring to a rejection of the existence of God because humans
alone decide their fate through the choices they make. However, one can be both a humanist
and a Christian. Lachance even refers to Christian humanism when she comments that Harry
moral values correspond to Christian humanist criteria (p. 65). A Christian humanist can
believe in the power of God, who has provided humankind with freedom of choice, and also
believe that humans should not be reliant on God to save them from atrocities on earth but
that they have the power to make choices that will decide the fate of our world (Edwords,
1989, pp. 1-2). This is what Christian theologians refer to as creating the Kingdom of God on
Earth (Nolan, 1977, p. 46 and Hornsby-Smith, 2006, p. 41), where a new world order is
created based on “right relationships of justice, love and peace” (O’Murchu, 1991, p. 46).
Catholic theology would state that freedom to make one’s choice, which affects one’s
destiny, is an essential part of the Catholic faith and are shown through the freedom that God
allowed the mythical creatures of Adam and Eve to make their choices regarding picking and
eating the fruit. This Christian anthropological view of a God allowing human free choice
varies greatly to the view of God(s) found in other creation stories such as “the Babylonian
creation-story Enuma Elish, where humanity is designed to bear the burden of the
capriciousness of the gods” (Tuohy, 2004, p. 98).
Many contemporary Catholic theologians view the Fall Myth as central to the
Christian faith because it shows humans exercising their power to choose, their freedom of
choice, even if the consequences of such freedom may not always be so pleasant. It was
ancient man’s attempt to try and explain the differences between humans and other animals
that do not have the same power to make choices (Booker, 2004, p. 547). Catholic Church documents support the view that humans should exercise free choice and not rely on God to
make their choices for them:
It is, however, only in freedom that man can turn himself towards what is
good. . . . but that which is truly freedom is an exceptional sign of the image of God in
man. . . . Man’s dignity therefore requires him to act out of conscious and free choice,
as moved and drawn in a personal way from within, and not by blind impulses in
himself or by mere external constraint (Gaudium et Spes, 1965, ¶17).
“The right to the exercise of freedom, especially in religious and moral matters, is an
inalienable requirement of the dignity of man” (Catechism of the Catholic Church,
¶ 1747).
Choice, therefore, is a key component of freedom and in Christian tradition the
freedom of the human person has been linked to the belief that God has free choice, and as
we are created in God’s image, Imago Dei, then we share in the free creative activity of God
(Tuohy, 2004, pp. 97-98). We are God-like because we are able to choose. Harry Potter is
therefore following the Christian faith model as much as a Humanist one, even though
Christianity is not mentioned in the series in any important sense. Due to this interpretation it
is not possible to state that Rowling rejects the idea of faith in a supernatural being
(Lachance, p. 86).
Choice is also important because Harry needs to find the courage in himself to make
choices that correspond with his moral makeup. This is not always easy because such choices
affect those around him. Readers can learn much from the way Harry struggles with fear,
anxiety, concern and other emotions as he makes decisions. This is particularly apparent in
Harry’s guilty reaction to Sirius Black’s death: It was his fault Sirius had died; it was all his fault. If he, Harry, had not been
stupid enough to fall for Voldemort’s trick, if he had not been so convinced that what
he had seen in his dream was real, if he had opened his mind to the possibility that
Voldemort was, as Hermione had said, banking on Harry’s love of playing the hero …
(OoP, p. 723) [Italics in original].
However, through making these decisions Harry’s character and self-esteem are able
to grow. Harry, like all of us, makes mistakes but he does learn from them. He mistakenly
supports Ron in his criticism of Hermione Granger by not commenting on Ron’s verbal
attack on her:
‘It’s no wonder no one can stand her,’ he said to Harry as they pushed their
way into the crowded corridor, ‘she’s a nightmare, honestly.’
Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was Hermione.
Harry caught a glimpse of her face – and was startled to see that she was in tears. (PS,
p. 127).
Harry also chooses not to comfort Hermione when she is obviously distressed.
However, when Harry makes the choice, with Ron, to break the rules (PS, pp. 127-132) to
search for Hermione and save her from a mountain troll a strong friendship begins. “But from
that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend” (PS, p. 132).
Through his choices Harry gains greater understanding because sometimes his choices
help others and sometimes they cause others to suffer, the ripple or consequences effect of
choice. Through Harry’s choices students are able to experience the emotions that come with
both successful and disastrous consequences based on one’s choices. As stated previously
Harry feels guilty for the death of Sirius Black and this is because Harry dreams that Sirius is being tortured by Lord Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic’s Department of Mysteries and
believes it is true. “ ‘It’s time you learned the difference between life and dreams, Potter”
(OoP, p. 690), state his enemies. Harry chooses to lead a band of student wizards to the
Ministry of Magic thinking that he will be able to rescue Sirius Black (OoP, pp. 640-673).
The students are attacked by Death Eaters, and members of the Order of the Phoenix,
including Sirius Black, arrive to save them. The end result of this action is the death of Sirius
Black (OoP, pp. 710-711). Harry is heartbroken by his death, loses his temper and causes
destruction in Dumbledore’s office:
‘I know how you’re feeling Harry,’ said Dumbledore very quietly.
‘No you don’t,’ said Harry, and his voice was suddenly loud and strong; whitehot
anger leapt inside him; Dumbledore knew nothing about his feelings. . . .
Harry felt the white-hot anger lick his insides, blazing in the terrible emptiness,
filling him with the desire to hurt Dumbledore for his calmness and his empty words.
. . .
‘I DON’T CARE!’ Harry yelled at them, snatching up a lunascope and throwing
it into the fireplace. ‘I’VE HAD ENOUGH, I’VE SEEN ENOUGH, I WANT OUT, I
WANT IT TO END, I DON’T CARE ANYMORE-‘ (pp. 725-726) [Capitals in
original].
Harry is also free to make choices to disobey set rules, just as Jesus chose to disobey
the Jewish rule of not labouring to get food on the Sabbath when he picks and eats corn
(Matthew12: 1-8). Both Harry and Jesus are considering the greater good. Harry and Ron
leave their dormitory against Professor McGonagall’s instructions to get some vital
information to Gilderoy Lockhart in CoS (pp. 218-219) in the hope that he can save Ginny
Weasley from the monster in the Chamber of Secrets. In OoP Harry breaches the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery (pp. 29-30) by using a Patronus Charm
because he is trying to save both Dudley and himself from the Dementors (pp. 20-23).
his hopes for a better world, are consistent with the Christian interpretation of choice rather
than just a humanist interpretation. Lachance seems to comprehend humanism in a limited
way. She seems to see it as referring to a rejection of the existence of God because humans
alone decide their fate through the choices they make. However, one can be both a humanist
and a Christian. Lachance even refers to Christian humanism when she comments that Harry
moral values correspond to Christian humanist criteria (p. 65). A Christian humanist can
believe in the power of God, who has provided humankind with freedom of choice, and also
believe that humans should not be reliant on God to save them from atrocities on earth but
that they have the power to make choices that will decide the fate of our world (Edwords,
1989, pp. 1-2). This is what Christian theologians refer to as creating the Kingdom of God on
Earth (Nolan, 1977, p. 46 and Hornsby-Smith, 2006, p. 41), where a new world order is
created based on “right relationships of justice, love and peace” (O’Murchu, 1991, p. 46).
Catholic theology would state that freedom to make one’s choice, which affects one’s
destiny, is an essential part of the Catholic faith and are shown through the freedom that God
allowed the mythical creatures of Adam and Eve to make their choices regarding picking and
eating the fruit. This Christian anthropological view of a God allowing human free choice
varies greatly to the view of God(s) found in other creation stories such as “the Babylonian
creation-story Enuma Elish, where humanity is designed to bear the burden of the
capriciousness of the gods” (Tuohy, 2004, p. 98).
Many contemporary Catholic theologians view the Fall Myth as central to the
Christian faith because it shows humans exercising their power to choose, their freedom of
choice, even if the consequences of such freedom may not always be so pleasant. It was
ancient man’s attempt to try and explain the differences between humans and other animals
that do not have the same power to make choices (Booker, 2004, p. 547). Catholic Church documents support the view that humans should exercise free choice and not rely on God to
make their choices for them:
It is, however, only in freedom that man can turn himself towards what is
good. . . . but that which is truly freedom is an exceptional sign of the image of God in
man. . . . Man’s dignity therefore requires him to act out of conscious and free choice,
as moved and drawn in a personal way from within, and not by blind impulses in
himself or by mere external constraint (Gaudium et Spes, 1965, ¶17).
“The right to the exercise of freedom, especially in religious and moral matters, is an
inalienable requirement of the dignity of man” (Catechism of the Catholic Church,
¶ 1747).
Choice, therefore, is a key component of freedom and in Christian tradition the
freedom of the human person has been linked to the belief that God has free choice, and as
we are created in God’s image, Imago Dei, then we share in the free creative activity of God
(Tuohy, 2004, pp. 97-98). We are God-like because we are able to choose. Harry Potter is
therefore following the Christian faith model as much as a Humanist one, even though
Christianity is not mentioned in the series in any important sense. Due to this interpretation it
is not possible to state that Rowling rejects the idea of faith in a supernatural being
(Lachance, p. 86).
Choice is also important because Harry needs to find the courage in himself to make
choices that correspond with his moral makeup. This is not always easy because such choices
affect those around him. Readers can learn much from the way Harry struggles with fear,
anxiety, concern and other emotions as he makes decisions. This is particularly apparent in
Harry’s guilty reaction to Sirius Black’s death: It was his fault Sirius had died; it was all his fault. If he, Harry, had not been
stupid enough to fall for Voldemort’s trick, if he had not been so convinced that what
he had seen in his dream was real, if he had opened his mind to the possibility that
Voldemort was, as Hermione had said, banking on Harry’s love of playing the hero …
(OoP, p. 723) [Italics in original].
However, through making these decisions Harry’s character and self-esteem are able
to grow. Harry, like all of us, makes mistakes but he does learn from them. He mistakenly
supports Ron in his criticism of Hermione Granger by not commenting on Ron’s verbal
attack on her:
‘It’s no wonder no one can stand her,’ he said to Harry as they pushed their
way into the crowded corridor, ‘she’s a nightmare, honestly.’
Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was Hermione.
Harry caught a glimpse of her face – and was startled to see that she was in tears. (PS,
p. 127).
Harry also chooses not to comfort Hermione when she is obviously distressed.
However, when Harry makes the choice, with Ron, to break the rules (PS, pp. 127-132) to
search for Hermione and save her from a mountain troll a strong friendship begins. “But from
that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend” (PS, p. 132).
Through his choices Harry gains greater understanding because sometimes his choices
help others and sometimes they cause others to suffer, the ripple or consequences effect of
choice. Through Harry’s choices students are able to experience the emotions that come with
both successful and disastrous consequences based on one’s choices. As stated previously
Harry feels guilty for the death of Sirius Black and this is because Harry dreams that Sirius is being tortured by Lord Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic’s Department of Mysteries and
believes it is true. “ ‘It’s time you learned the difference between life and dreams, Potter”
(OoP, p. 690), state his enemies. Harry chooses to lead a band of student wizards to the
Ministry of Magic thinking that he will be able to rescue Sirius Black (OoP, pp. 640-673).
The students are attacked by Death Eaters, and members of the Order of the Phoenix,
including Sirius Black, arrive to save them. The end result of this action is the death of Sirius
Black (OoP, pp. 710-711). Harry is heartbroken by his death, loses his temper and causes
destruction in Dumbledore’s office:
‘I know how you’re feeling Harry,’ said Dumbledore very quietly.
‘No you don’t,’ said Harry, and his voice was suddenly loud and strong; whitehot
anger leapt inside him; Dumbledore knew nothing about his feelings. . . .
Harry felt the white-hot anger lick his insides, blazing in the terrible emptiness,
filling him with the desire to hurt Dumbledore for his calmness and his empty words.
. . .
‘I DON’T CARE!’ Harry yelled at them, snatching up a lunascope and throwing
it into the fireplace. ‘I’VE HAD ENOUGH, I’VE SEEN ENOUGH, I WANT OUT, I
WANT IT TO END, I DON’T CARE ANYMORE-‘ (pp. 725-726) [Capitals in
original].
Harry is also free to make choices to disobey set rules, just as Jesus chose to disobey
the Jewish rule of not labouring to get food on the Sabbath when he picks and eats corn
(Matthew12: 1-8). Both Harry and Jesus are considering the greater good. Harry and Ron
leave their dormitory against Professor McGonagall’s instructions to get some vital
information to Gilderoy Lockhart in CoS (pp. 218-219) in the hope that he can save Ginny
Weasley from the monster in the Chamber of Secrets. In OoP Harry breaches the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery (pp. 29-30) by using a Patronus Charm
because he is trying to save both Dudley and himself from the Dementors (pp. 20-23).
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