Hogwarts: Union of Youth or Convent of Monks?
Since c. 993, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, founded by Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin, was a birth-of-consciousness kind of place for all wizard youth of the United Kingdom. Neither wealth nor religion of their parents ever was cause for discriminating students in any way.
Overall, for the last couple of years, the Ministry of Magic and the Chief of the Department of Mysteries, Ms. Romilda Vane in person, have started to insist on introducing the study of the Laws of Source of Sorcery into school curriculum. Some of the parents were highly concerned, when this time they got their usual school letter for the upcoming year containing a list of books including the Book of His Theurgy, Meaning and Practical Lessons by Ariana Goldstein.
The parents’ concern is also boosted by last summer’s scandal involving Senior Advisor of the Minister for Magic, Arch-Reverend Father Domicius Jorkins. The latter has been discovered using Legilimens during his private consultations with young wizards, enrolees to Hogwarts OWLs. Thorough inquiry made by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement has found out that ARF Jorkins almost succeeded in removing the Dark Mark from his arm, but still believed in Voldemort`s return. Now the author of a new learning program is imprisoned in Azkaban, awaiting a final decision of the Wizengamot.
Of course, witches and wizards all over the world are worshiping Him-Who-Is-The-Source-of-Sorcery, but some rituals and details are very different throughout magical communities. Levitation-Over-the-Water Day, dedicated to His Son`s memory, with its obligatory roasted toad`s legs and homemade butterbeer, is the best respected holiday during Easter vacations.
However, some families, including Middle East and East-European wizards, usually celebrate this day one or two weeks earlier than the Western tradition. In addition, some orthodox wizarding families object to the introduction of this subject, as well as to the L-Day celebrations because of its belonging to the external side of Divine essence. A lot of wand waving, disputes about whether the “five small barley loaves and two small fish” were the breaking of the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration or just an augmentation of food and some such.
On the other hand, most wizards accept His Laws and consider them a base for all humans, Magic folk and Muggles both. They believe that one of the causes of Voldemort`s downfall was his trying to refute the principle of His governing of souls – “the One who can destroy the soul”. Tom Riddle, with his excessive pride, is deluded enough to try and destroy his own soul – to release his spirit and gain immortality. The soul, however, is home to the spirit, not a prison, and to destroy the spirit also mean to destroy all connection between spirit and essence – but as two well-known Muggles have said, “it is a different story”.
Therefore, what is more important – all these “Don`t kill”, “Don`t steal”, “Don`t coerce by magic” etc., or special rituals and signs on hats and robes?
For me, as an absolutely secular person from a secular family, every church, whether wizard`s or muggle`s, is only the reflection of His power on Earth, but not the power itself. However, I`d much prefer worshiping Him than serving anybody else.
