In my correspondence with the friend for whom I wrote (in large part) last week’s “Is Rowling ‘Spiritual Not Religious’?,” I attached an essay about the choice Rowling made to place the pivotal moment in Wizarding World history in 1692. My point was that the choice seemed to reflect Rowling’s view that the fictional wizards and witches who went underground at that time were the real Christians, the Spiritual Seekers of the Radical Reformation or hermetic magi, who went underground in the real UK of that time consequent to the laws suppressing all non-conformist faith groups after the Glorious Revolution. That being the case, I tried to suggest, Rowling’s ‘spiritual not religious’ posture with respect to devotional church life was perfectly understandable.
My correspondent replied that this essay was new to her (it was published in the Smart Talks essay anthology that few people have read, alas) but that she had seen the YouTube video of the 2020 fandom conference talk I’d given on this subject. I had no idea that the event had been recorded and uploaded to that platform, but, sure enough, someone captured it on their phone and you can watch it above if you’re interested.
Some good news today, for which we thank God. Elizabeth Baird-Hardy, Deputy Headmistress of HogwartsProfessor.com and dear friend to Potter Pundits and Serious Strikers everywhere, wrote this evening to let us know that she and her family were well. They live way, way up in the mountains of western North Carolina, an area devastated by Hurricane Helen this week and, as the days passed without hearing from her, I was afraid their beautiful home, situated as it is on something like a cliff face, had been washed away. You can read her brief note after the jump — and please feel free to join the HogwartsProfessor faculty in prayers of thanksgiving for her family’s being spared and in petitionary prayers for all those still without homes, power, or clear roads.
Thank you, my dear friends.
Our power and phone/internet just came back on, and we are all well, but our county is a war zone.
All we have lost is just stuff and some gray hairs from cleanup. Many others are not doing so well.
Thankfully, we are in the hands of a good God, and His people have shown their worth. Supplies are rolling in, and devoted first responders from all over are helping with locating people.
[She attached seven photos.]
These images are just a glimpse of what has happened (the one that looks like a creek was my driveway! Then our wonderful neighbor ran his tractor over it today, so it’s a driveway again! )
We are blessed and thankful, and so grateful for your prayers.
Blessings to you all,
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