tula posted a comment on Monday 29th January 2007 4:07am for Chapter Thirteen - Harry Goes International

Nice chapter, i like the difference between ginny/hermione in your two different versions.
Now let's talk about religion in HP for a bit:
The Potterverse as written by JKR is RIPE with religious symbols. Obviously many of those symbols are featured prominently in the common Myths also, but if you read the books carefully you can easily see the close connection to Religion also.
Sirius Black is Harry's Godfather. While the title of Godfather is also sometimes used for a Guardian (mostly by people influenced strongly by the Hollywood Film ;)) it is most of all a religious title. Being jewish instead of Anglican Faith i have no real idea if the title is even used in that church, but a truly secular couple DOES NOT DESIGNATE A GODFATHER!
So please take your idle flames elsewhere and get a clue, if you detest religion in fanfiction then don't read it, but don't try to come off as holier than thou since quite simply put, THIS is what fanfiction is about, expanding elements featured in the original.

Oh one last comment about the Pentagram:
A Pentagram is a symbol representing an occult worldview outlawed by the medieval christian church. As such it has been "adopted" by the Satanists. The reason why the medieval church outlawed it, is actually pretty complicated and has little to do with satan and much more to do with the missconceptions of the "female" in the medieval church. Therefor it is a very logical symbol to use in combination with magic since the more occult worldview fits quite a lot better than the rather strict catholic worldview.

Now that i have gone off my soapbox, let me just repeat that i love your story (very much so including the fact that you integrate religion) and hope that you continue writing it :D

Gardengirl posted a comment on Monday 29th January 2007 1:57am for Chapter Thirteen - Harry Goes International

Well said, Aaran, and nicely backed up, Kokopelli! I see no reason to leave Christianity out, and many reasons to include it in our fan fiction. I'm glad I'm not alone in doing so!!!

Oh, and I enjoyed the negotiations as well. It's always nice to see Fudge thwacked.

Keep the updates coming, please?

mad_maudlin posted a comment on Sunday 28th January 2007 3:56pm for Chapter Thirteen - Harry Goes International

In regards to your end author note I simply say Bravo! I am not a christian and at best could charitably call my self agnostics or on my bad days an out an dout atheist. However nothing annoys me more than when someone rights a truly entertaning story like yours then people complain because the don't like the religous leanings or this and that. Forgive the phrase but "MY God,' what a bunch of idiots. Just because an author expressees a religous belief in a story dosen't mean jack. If it bothers you that much then stop reading. Me personanlly, I can't stand slash stories. So I simply don't read them. I don't demand the author change them. I certainly don't complain that the author is trying to force homosexuality upon me. I except the simple fact that fanfic writers don't get paid to do so. So I in turn have no right to complain about their work.
As a friend of mine once told me, " To have the right to complain about something, One must first have paid the price to open your mouth."
So if anyone that reads this wants to order any of the fanfic writers out their to do something. I say they should first have to pay a quarter for every thing they want changed. And that quarter buys them the right to have the author actually read their complaint.

Jeff1 posted a comment on Sunday 28th January 2007 3:05pm for Chapter Thirteen - Harry Goes International

Great chapter. I must say that I love the addition of Christ to the Harry Potter world. More than once I have wanted to write a story melding my faith and the Potterverse, but find I lack the talent. Thanks for writing this story and please keep it coming.

Ken Warner posted a comment on Sunday 28th January 2007 2:57pm for Chapter Thirteen - Harry Goes International

Whether or not the story is "spicy" is of no consideration as to the quality of story telling, plot, sheer skill and dialogue which entertains and feels as though one is eavesdropping on real conversations. Please ignore the critics, and know that I for one, very much enjoy and appreciate your writing, and knowing that I can give it to my sub teen daughter or my clergyman with being ashamed or worried.
thanks so much for sharing your skills and interests in such an excellent manner.
warmest regards

Mickey posted a comment on Sunday 28th January 2007 2:21pm for Chapter Thirteen - Harry Goes International

Very nice. I especially liked your descriptions of Christianity in the HP universe, despite the fact I do not believe Christianity would have as central a position as a religion in the Wizarding world as you and Kokopelli seem to hold. I did find Harry's conversation with the Headmaster somewhat stilted but I suppose that might be simply the two of them trying to work out their new relationship.

Mickey

P.S
Who's the third author who tries to accuratly enter Christianity in their stories?

NuvaChaos posted a comment on Sunday 28th January 2007 2:06pm for Chapter Thirteen - Harry Goes International

This was a very good chapter in a very good story. Although I'm not religious myself, I don't really understand why anyone would flame someone for putting religion into a fanfic. The heavier philosophy among Christianity and other religions is something that I don't really enjoy reading in fanfic stories, so I tend not to read those ones. In the case of this story though, I don't think that religion has actually played that major a role, and in some senses it even seems reasonable to include it. There are many novels and fanfics out there that inlcude Holy Magic, or magic based on prayer as a reasonable type of magic, and I have absolutely no problem with that. If other faiths have magical symbols that are used, then there is no reason that Christianity should not. That being said, I'm certainly no expert on any religion and I hope I've not offended anyone.

Evan Mayerle posted a comment on Sunday 28th January 2007 1:20pm for Chapter Thirteen - Harry Goes International

One minor typo, "...have no been killed..." should be "...have no more been killed..."

Beyond that, a quite delightful read. I especially loved the negotiations with the Vampires. *wicked chuckle* The good Baron really missed an elementary lesson in tactics, "Be sure you know your target in detail. 'Twas the details of who his target was that cost him." I'm surprised he didn't expect preparedness on the part of one who'd seen that much combat; but arrogance will get you every time.