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We hope you enjoy reading our Harry Potter discussion weblog. Please feel free to leave a comment and return often for more discussion.



 
 
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Need to see the latest Harry Potter movie. Then ha...


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Hogwarts, Hogwarts,
Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald,
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling,
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare
And full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff.
So teach us stuff worth knowing,
Bring back what we forgot,
Just do your best
We'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot!





Victimae paschali laudes
Immolent Christiani.
Agnus redemit oves:
Christus innocens Patri
Reconciliavit peccatores.
Mors et vita duello
Conflixere mirando:
Dux vitae mortuus,
Regnat vivus.

Dic nobis Maria,
Quid vidisti in via?
Sepulcrum Christi viventis,
Et gloriam vidi resurgentis:
Angelicos testes,
Sudarium, et vestes.

Surrexit Christus spes mea:
Praecedet suos in Galilaeam.
Scimus Christum surrexisse
A mortuis vere:
Tu nobis, victor Rex,
Miserere.
Amen. Alleluia.

Thursday, June 10, 2004

Moral culpability in Harry Potter series

It seems that moral culpability in the world of Harry Potter mirrors the teachings of the Catholic Church about certain intentions being necessary for an individual to be personally guilty of an evil action. At the end of "Order of the Phoenix", Harry attempts to use the Cruciatus, an "unforgiveable curse", against Bellatrix Lestrange to avenge the death of Sirius Black. Bellatrix explains why it doesn't work "righteous anger won't do" and "you have to really want to cause pain." So in Catholic moral theology one who doesn't realize what he is doing can perform an evil action but not know or understand that it is objectively wrong and therefore cannot be held personally culpable. Harry was unable to make the curse work; likewise the ignorant person would be unable to commit a sin.

Bellatrix could be seen as the responsible party, however unlikely, for the formation of Harry Potter's conscience in this matter. It could be argued that had he attempted the Cruciatus against her again and succeeded that he would be culpable and worthy of Azkaban. However this does not happen.
posted by Pauli at 12:35 AM


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