Community and Relationships

Over and over we are told in the bible to find community and to live in that community with one another; or in friendship. I have found this concept to be overwhelmingly present in Harry Potter as well as in Christianity. Galatians 6:2, which says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” And Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” This verse proves that there are countless advantages to being in community with one another; to living in unity. This is seen in many situations throughout the Harry Potter series. We see examples of community everywhere. The Houses are an example of this community. The students are grouped together based on a certain criteria and are encouraged to bond in community with these people. We see this ultimately in the fact that Voldemort could have never been defeated without the banning together of Harry Potter and his friends. Harry finds a community made up of his friends, professors, and mentors in addition to the entire community of wizards and witches who claim good rather than evil. They work together towards the common goal of defeating evil and Lord Voldemort. It is essential for our youth to realize that life cannot be lived alone. Reliance on other individuals is sometimes seen as weakness, when in actuality it requires strength and courage. This also goes against what culture says about independence. While independence is admired in culture and certainly has its significance, there is something to be said about living with one another. In Christianity this is stressed because it’s recognized that one cannot reach their full potential of goodness without the encouragement and accountability of fellows. Recognizing that dependence is acceptable by young readers is important. The collaboration between Harry, Ron, and Hermione provide that example that they can strive towards. They could not accomplish all that they did without the support of one another.