Christianity

Christianity is a major monotheistic religion. Its followers, known as Christians, believe in and worship God. Christians differentiate themselves from other religions by believing that God sent His son, Jesus of Nazareth to Earth as the messiah. These events are extensively outlined in the Christian holy book, the Bible.

Christianity in the wizarding world

Wizards celebrated the two major Christian festivals, Easter and Christmas. Hallowe'en and Valentine's Day, both also of Christian origin, were celebrated.

Hallowe'en, a Christian holiday

The Fat Friar was, in his lifetime, a Roman Catholic friar who was executed for witchcraft. Lingering in the mortal world as a ghost, he would thereafter be always resentful of the fact that he was never made a cardinal.

Gloomy nuns were Roman Catholic nuns before their deaths. Lingering in the mortal world as a ghost, on 31 October 1992, they attended Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington's five-hundredth Deathday Party, where they stood around the dance floor.

Albus Dumbledore owned a copy of the Christian Bible. It is therefore possible he was a member of the Christian faith to some degree. However, given Dumbledore's worldliness, he may have kept the copy out of a desire for knowledge and not out of his personal religious devotion. That said, Dumbledore was not a practising Christian, as he did not pray.

Both the tombstones of Ariana and Kendra Dumbledore ("For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also") and of Lily and James Potter ("The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death") in the graveyard in Godric's Hollow, alluded directly to the Bible (Matthew 6:21 and 1 Corinthians 15:26 respectively). Additionally, their son, Harry Potter was christened shortly after his birth.

Sirius Black was possibly a Christian as he was appointed as Harry Potter's godfather. Likewise, Harry Potter became the godfather of Teddy Lupin, making it possible that not only he was Christian but the couple who appointed him, Remus and Nymphadora Lupin, was as well.

Christmas, a Christian holiday, being celebrated in the Great Hall of Hogwarts

It is likely that the wizards buried in the graveyard of St Jerome's Church in Godric's Hollow were Christians. Notable figures who were buried here and therefore may have been Christians included Ignotus Peverell, Ariana and Kendra Dumbledore, and James and Lily Potter.

Isobel McGonagall, a witch, married Robert McGonagall, a Muggle Presbyterian minister, who presumably raised his magic children to follow his religion.

Behind the scenes

• J. K. Rowling has admitted to injecting Christian ideals into the Harry Potter series; therefore, it is possible she intended for some of the characters to be Christians.
• In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry gouges a small cross, the major symbol of Christianity, into the tree under which he buried Mad-Eye Moody's eye. As many Christians are buried under some form of a cross, this could be an affirmation of Moody's and or Harry's faith. However, it has also been used merely as a symbol to mark a grave.
• It is rather ironic that some wizards should adhere to the Christian faith, as it was Christianity that was used as the justification for witch hunts aimed at exterminating any magical activity under the misconception that magic was the work of the Devil and using it was evil. As the society at the time then was almost uniformly Christian, it is not surprising many at least would be Christians too though. Given that the charge of gaining magic from the Devil was false, they might not see a conflict, and believe that their ability is a gift from God. Clearly the Fat Friar, who was a member of the clergy, saw no issue with it.
• It is also rather ironic that Christianity deems that witchcraft/sorcery is a sin against God, believing that they got their power from the devil. Deuteronomy also states that involving in Divination (e.g. reading tea leaves or crystal balls), interpreting omens, becoming a soothsayer, or becoming an augur is a sin. The chapter also says that consulting ghosts or spirits or seeking oracles from the dead is a sin, as what Harry did while using the Resurrection Stone.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (First mentioned) (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Mentioned only)
• Pottermore (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter (website) (Mentioned only)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (First appearance) (Appears in photographs)