On Religion and Fandom

[wook77]

A post in which I ponder religion and fanfiction and life. Before you click the link, yes, the answer is 42.



With my recent writing habits, I've started thinking about religion and fanfiction and life and all that jazz. As some who've been around my journal for a while know, I've a unique relationship with religion. At one point in my life, I walked out of my Confirmation ceremony (yes, that makes me Catholic) and then, years later, was Confirmed while at University.

The disparity between Catholicism growing up and Catholicism with an Order (in this case, the Dominicans) was huge. I fell in love with their devotion to education and the community. In point of fact, I fell so far in love with the Dominican faith that I started to study to be a nun. Once I realized that I couldn't subjugate "self" for God, I left the Convent and became a Lay Person in the church.

When I'm nervous or feeling sad or chipper or any sort of strong emotion, I've been known to burst out in liturgical songs. Christ has died, Christ has Risen, Christ will Rise again is one that I hum when I'm bored, as an example. I say the 'Hail Mary' before bed and when I'm in horrible traffic, it's easy to say the Apostle's Creed or the Our Father. I've rosaries hanging in my house though I'm not quite sure how to pray it anymore. It's been far too long since I've gone to Confession. I'm sure the conversation would go similar to - Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It's been years since my last Confession and I write gay porn about fictional characters. Sometimes, I write incestuous gay porn about fictional characters.

Religion soothes me and I've my own unique relationship with God. I like to think that He understands why I curse and swear like a sailor and He understands why I write porn. I don't know if He approves but, as a Catholic, I've got Confession and if he doesn't approve, I feel that He'd tell me and I'd repent and that would be that.

Recently, I've started adding bibs and bobs of religion into stories that I write. I do it where it's believable, where an absence of religion would, realistically speaking, stick out. An example is whenever I write Seamus Finnigan. To me, it's virtually impossible for a character from a fairly religious country to not have some sort of connection to a religion. Because I know Catholicism best, I choose to make him Catholic.

When I read a story featuring Seamus as a main character, a lack of mention of religion sticks out like a sore thumb. It's almost like the author won't consider that religion might actually exist or, more to the point, peacefully co-exist with magic.

Using Seamus as an example, his da is a Muggle and his mam is a Witch. There had to be some sort of meeting of the minds there. One (or both) had to compromise on their belief system to blend the two together. Whether that compromise was in ignoring the other's beliefs or it was a true meshing of the realms, I've enjoyed exploring so far. Somehow, I find it harder to believe that Seamus wouldn't be using "Catholic" curse words (phrases) such as 'Jesus, Mary and Joseph' than the existence of magic itself.

When I've posted stories dealing with religion, I've received comments to the effect that I'm "brave" or "edgy" for posting something dealing with religion. Is religion that much of a hot-button-topic?

When I say about realistically bringing up religion, I don't mean every character. Mostly, I'm talking about the characters that grow up Muggle. They had to have, at the least, read about wars based on religion (anyone else remember hearing about the 100 Years War for a gadzillion years in school?) or heard about the Middle East and all the various struggles there. Some characters would have more a religious base than others, surely. Padma and Parvati, for example, would believably have more of a relationship with religion than, say, Crabbe or Goyle. Seamus would believably have more of a relationship with religion than, say, Draco Malfoy.

Even Harry would have to have some sort of relationship with religion. With Vernon and Petunia being ever so conscious of the thoughts of their neighbors and appearing like good, pious and normal people, is it so hard to believe that they'd go to church on a Sunday, if just to keep up appearances? Why, then, is it so "brave" or "edgy" to mention that Harry was locked in the cupboard while the Dursleys made their way to church?

Basically, I just don't get why people are afraid to explore, to read and write and absorb, stories that deal with religion in the Wizarding World. It's a way of melding the Muggle and the Wizarding World together, possibly showing a struggle of conscience and conscious between what they know (magic doesn't exist and witchcraft is bad) to what they realize (magic does exist and hey, you can levitate a feather with it! Cool!).

Moving beyond the realm of Harry Potter, I've recently joined the Boondock Saints fandom - where the characters are overtly religious in canon. They have a specific prayer and they believe they're on a mission from God (no, it's not the same one as the Blues Brothers). Yet, when I read stories in that fandom, the word 'Catholic' barely ever appears in any of the hundreds of stories I've read. Actually, the only religious thing the authors continuously mention are the rosaries and those are used more as jewelry for the characters than actual religious implements. Why, in the name of God (yes, bad joke here), would you ignore such overt religious symbolism and devotion? I'm not talking about PWP stories but about long plotty stories where the religious ramifications of incest and homosexuality should be dealt with. It's not like the Catholic Church is all happyhappyjoyjoy about gays, let alone gay incestuous brothers.

When the stories (and I've only found one) do attempt to deal with Catholicism, you can tell (as a Catholic) that the author isn't Catholic and barely did any research other than what's in the movie or available on the wiki. Is it that hard to do a bit of research to find out the difference between Masses or how to pray the Rosary (ok, I'll give them that one having actually done it at some time in the past and not really remembering it now)? Really, the Church's opinion on gays and sex outside of marriage and women and the laity and loads of other issues are all out there for someone to utilize.

The last rant bit has more to do with my thirst for canon compliance than religion but… it also goes to show that a reluctance to touch on religion in a story is not just a Harry Potter phenomena. It's in multiple fandoms out there. Hell, in the Andromeda fandom, it's hard to find a fic that touches on what it means to be a Nietzschean and relate to the non-Nietzscheans. In Dead Like Me, it's hard to find stories that touch on the Reapers relationship with God other than a "woe-is-me-why-me" sort of way.

Perhaps it's because I do have a fairly strong relationship with religion that I notice the lack. Then again, perhaps I just have a religion!kink to go along with my foreign language!kink or my plot!kink or bdsm!kink. I'm not sure.

The only thing I'm sure of is that I'd like to see more of it.

Comments

[coffeejunkii.livejournal.com]

hhmm. i don't want to see more religion in hp fic unless it's appropriate for a character. for example, i've been reading a few snupin fics recently and in several of them [by the same author], remus and/or severus attend the church of england, to which my immediate gut reaction was "wtf?". to me, organized religion like the church of england is a thoroughly muggle institution that those raised in the wizarding world might not even be aware of [i mean, if wizards don't even know what electricity is...]. so the inclusion of that really threw me.

i think seamus is a good example of a character where i wouldn't be quite as suprised because ireland does strike me as a country that is still imprinted by catholicism fairly strongly, even if i also think many irish aren't religious at all. but they'd be familiar with catholicism, imo. i don't think i'd notice the absence of religion as a lack in a seamus-centric fic. i mean, what if seamus father wasn't religious at all? he might have no interest in introducing his son to religious traditions, esp. if he is fully integrated into the ww. i think for me it would be more of a question of whether or not seamus was exposed to muggle culture, not that his father is an irish muggle.

finally, i'm not sure that "proper=going to church on sunday" holds for the dursleys. that equation strikes me as rather american, but since i'm not from the uk, i shall withhold judgment. it doesn't hold in germany, though [except for small pockets of the country that are still very religious].

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

finally, i'm not sure that "proper=going to church on sunday" holds for the dursleys. that equation strikes me as rather american.

That was my reaction, too. If the Dursleys were American, particularly Americans living in the south or midwest, they would totally be the type to go to church just for show, because it's proper, etc. But I really don't think that same attitude holds true in English. There religion is much more a private thing, and whether you went to church or not wouldn't be considered anyone's business but your own. I'm not from the UK, either, but that has been my overwhelming impression from those who are.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

I've had a bit more of a mixed bag when it comes to knowing people but I'm sure that's human nature at work right there. I've friends that don't go to church and their family or their neighbors are harping on them to go. I've other friends that don't give a crap one way or the other if people go or not.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

That's basically my point... that where appropriate, I don't think that it's 'edgy' or 'brave' to bring up religion. I can actually see the Remus attending a church if the author believably sets him up as half-and-half or Muggleborn. (I don't think it's been confirmed that he's Pureblood, has it? *mental note to research*) I read a story where Mrs. Black was Catholic and that had me going BWA? simply because it wasn't believable in the set-up the author used. (add to it that said author had no clue about the Catholic faith and, well, it was painful)

It's more that there's a lack of the subtle religious identifiers as well, like the cursing. I've found that the "Jesus, Mary and Joseph" thing, for example, is said by practicing and non-practicing Catholics. They say it by routine not religion (if that makes sense).

For Seamus and the exposed to the Muggle world - his da's Muggle... he'd have to be at least partially exposed to the Muggle world if just to visit his da's family, yeah?

I'm very embarrassed that my American is showing *blushes*. Thanks for pointing that out with the church on Sundays thing... *blushes again*

[tamerterra.livejournal.com]

i'm not sure that "proper=going to church on sunday" holds for the dursleys. that equation strikes me as rather american

*nod* I'm English, and (in town, at least - it might be different in large-area small-population parishes) the tendency seems to be more like: It's your own business, but a person obviously talking about it to people who don't go to his church, or unwanted evangelising, are big warning signs about that person's agenda.

YMMV, of course - I have a small sample size.

[jehnt.livejournal.com]

I've sort of been wondering that as well. I'm not even remotely religious, but I'm curious as to how religion fits into the HP 'verse, and since I use fanfiction to explore other things I'm curious about, it confuses me that I can't really look at this. I'm also thoroughly, thoroughly confused by the lack of religion in Boondock Saints. Crazy.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

The Boondock Saints one is what really inspired this because HELLO!They're the Hammers of God... you'd think someone would bring that up and would sound like they know what they're discussing. /ranty tone

I'd just like to see more people being willing to say "God" or "Christ" instead of "Merlin" or "Circe". GOOOOOOODDDDD GOD those last two really annoy the piss out of me.

But, getting away from the rants... things like saying "God" when you really mean "bloody buggering fuck" is more of a routine thing than a religion thing. That's where I boggle, why people actually go out of their way to remove the religion. Is it that unbelievable that a Muggleborn would use a phrase such as "goddammit" instead of "Merlin's balls"?

[chaeldub.livejournal.com]

I was going to start with saying "Amen." - but I thought that would be a bit much. *grin*

First up I will have to respectfully disagree with coffeejunkii in regards to the what if Seamus's father was not religious - unfortunately this is Ireland we are talking about acountry so religoius they had a referendum to add into their constitution an ammendmant on the right to life of an unborn fetus... this only comes about through their religious beliefs that are so thoroughly woven into who they are. Even if Seamus's father wasn't religious his granparents wqould be and therefore he would be too - it's almost inescapable, like not being religious in say India, the Phillipines or Italy - it just isn't going to happen.

As for being raised in the WW with no knowledge of Religion - yes that I can understand. But for muggle born and half-blood wizards I would find it hard to believe that at least one of their parents had not been exposed to religion, especailly in Seamus's case and other areas of the UK which are quite religious. The wizards that know nothing of the muggle world are moe than likely Pure-born - ie the Weasleys, Malfoy's are have it bred out of them like the Blacks.

Mud-blood families I would hazard to guess would have to integrate themselves into both worlds, as they couldn't very well leave the muggle world behind, or may not even want to leave it at all.

I had a falling out with the church after my father died. God and I parted ways, so to speak. That's not to say I don't know anything about religion, in fact I make a concerted effort to know as much as I can about as many religions as I can, because they fascinate me... that however is a topic for my own journal I suspect.

I'm like you, I find it interesting that in the world of fandom that writing a fic that contains religious tones is "edgy"or "brave" and yet writing about incest between brothers, student/teacher relationships and underage sex is par for the course.

So maybe for me Seamus and religion are the same as, like you said, the Patil's - it's a logical assumption. Why JKR chooses not to explore this in the book is probably more a decision based on the market and who she's writing for and that the story is based on HArry and not one of the other students.

As for religion in my fics - well - that's the way I see Seamus so I can't imagine writing him any other way. As for other writers - again it depends on whether they are trying to please themselves or the masses - it's a personal choice.

Thanks for the insightful and interesting thoughts on the topic by the way.

*skulks off to do his Jedi meditation* - *snirt*

[coffeejunkii.livejournal.com]

well, just because there is a constitutional amendment against abortion doesn't mean that every person living in ireland is religious. in my experiences in ireland, religion is a presence, but not necessarily a defining presence.

i also think that there's a difference between being exposed to religion and being taught its basics and being a religious person. one doesn't necessarily entail the other.

[best-of-five.livejournal.com]

Even if Seamus's father wasn't religious his granparents wqould be and therefore he would be too - it's almost inescapable, like not being religious in say India, the Phillipines or Italy - it just isn't going to happen.

i can sorta see your point as a matter of general impression but i would have to disagree to the analogy to the patils in india. it's a secular country with a majority religion that is not monotheistic. there is certainly a strong presence of agnostics and atheists in india. for eg. some states have democratically elected governments that are parties that identify politically as atheists. just my 2 cents.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

I'm like you, I find it interesting that in the world of fandom that writing a fic that contains religious tones is "edgy"or "brave" and yet writing about incest between brothers, student/teacher relationships and underage sex is par for the course.

That really sums up why and where my mind boggles.

As far as the Purebloods, I can see that they wouldn't have a relationship with Muggle religions. But those that are living in two worlds, there has to be some sort of relationship with it because they would, just by watching the telly, be exposed to religion.

I'm with you on the Seamus - I simply can't see him any other way and that might have more to do with the romantic version of Ireland and religion that I was fed as an Irish American.

I wasn't expecting nearly this response, quite honestly. I'm very glad that there's so much discussion in here. It's really very very cool :).

[chaeldub.livejournal.com]

If the answer is 42, then the question must be - How many roads must a man walk down? or is it "what do you get if you multiply six by nine?"

I'm currently listing to the Guide from the BBC Radio shows - abso-fookin-lutely brill

[oconel]

I fairly agree with you. It doesn't matter if Seamus is from Ireland or from Northern Ireland (people use to forget there are differences!), religion was probably a part of his life in some way, maybe he's not even Catholic (or protestant), but he'd know about religion and probably influence his life. Living in a Catholic country (which doesn't mean everybody is Catholic, of course), we do have a relationship with religion: festivities, cursing, sayings... all that is related, and it's a part of our tradition (even though some people is starting to deny it). It's also part of our culture: whether in paintings, Cathedrals or Castles.

I can understand Harry not being religious, since the Dursleys don't seem religious at all, and he seems to have been pretty removed from the "outside world".

I think Rowling has purposely avoided the issue of religion in her books, but what we do with fanfiction is to explore other aspects of the books, and religion is an interesting angle to look at them.

you can tell (as a Catholic) that the author isn't Catholic and barely did any research other than what's in the movie or available on the wiki.

Let's face it, authors in general don't bother to research about what they are writing. Very few of them post questions at hp_britglish (for example) and I could tell you about the inaccurate Spanish or Spain related things I've read in fics (and what's worse in published and awarded books such as "Bel Canto").

[masteroftrouble.livejournal.com]

The bad authors don't bother to research. A serious writer would, whether it's on wiki or actually attending the church for a while to get a feel of it.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

You've said my point in a much more concrete manner than I was able. There'd be little things like mentioning a holiday or saying God instead of Merlin.

I agree that just because you're from a Catholic or Muslim or Hindi or Babylonian (*winks*) state doesn't mean that you practice the state religion. But there would still be some sort of influence that the state religion would have.

And I also agree with you on the research. Heck, in this post alone, I did a goof. My American was definitely showing and ceej was kind enough to point that out.

I hate that lack of research (and yes, I realize the hypocrisy there but I'm embarrassed by it and will not repeat the mistake). If there's one thing that has annoyed me from the very beginning of my interactions in any fandom, it was a lack of research by the author/artist.

[tamerterra.livejournal.com]

and I could tell you about the inaccurate Spanish or Spain related things I've read in fics (and what's worse in published and awarded books such as "Bel Canto").

My fandom goes one-up on that - Bablefish Spanish for a character from Brazil who always speaks English in canon. *facepalm*

OTOH, there is a point where you've got to stop looking things up and start writing. Volcanoes that don't exist in reality may have to exist in the fic-verse. ;)

[masteroftrouble.livejournal.com]

I'm half and half on this subject, mostly because I have a bit of a tiff with religion and the churches.

I can trace my mom's side of the family to both sides of Ireland (North and South), so my family has had a really big influence in religion. That is, until my mom was born. She grew up religious and once she married, she just stopped doing religious things. She hates Ireland, won't tell me anything about my family (same with my grandma on her side) and thus I honestly can't tell you anything but I know I'm from both sides.

My Fiction professor Monday told us, "If you don't know it, avoid it." Which I think is actually good advice. Just because religion isn't IN a fic doesn't mean that it isn't in the background. Just because it isn't mentioned that a character goes to church or prays doesn't mean that he doesn't do it.

With Seamus, it is assumed that the Good Irish Boy has religion in him, people assume that of all Irish, but what if he doesn't? What if his father wasn't religious and therefore his mother wasn't? It can happen. My grandma let it slip one day that her grandparents weren't religious and they were 100% Irish blood. Her mom was only religious after she married her father, who was religious (and they were the ones that came from the North and South). So while it's assumed he's religious, he could be one of the rare ones that isn't religious.

What it all comes down to is the author's preferences. I personally don't write religion (I hate it, to be honest, and there's nothing that I've seen that could change my mind) unless I absolutely have to. Like if I would write Seamus now, he wouldn't be religious. BUT, if it were canon in the books and Rowling explored that instead of focusing on how much Harry wants Malfoy, then I would write it in, I'd just ask a lot of dumb questions to see if things would be in character for the religion.

On the subject of Boondock Saints -- I love the movie WAY too much to actually get into the fandom of slashing them. I don't know why, but I just like seeing them and the relationship they have there. I think if I realy the slash fandom, it would ruin it for me. Hell, I'll slash them in my head during certain scenes (deleted scene where they're rolling around naked anyone?), but other than that I just love seeing them as the close brothers that they are.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

My Fiction professor Monday told us, "If you don't know it, avoid it."

I'll agree with that to a point. The thing that gets me about this is that people choose to write about a character and they completely ignore what could be a huge (or minor) influence in their life. For example, seeing Muggleborns (or,ok, anyone but that's more a pet peeve) going "Merlin" instead of "God" annoys the piss out of me. They grew up saying "God", it's a routine and an ingrained habit.

It's more that I boggle at the absence of any religion, especially for characters such as Seamus. The culture of the region that he grew up with would have certain gives that are completely absent in most fanfiction with him in it. It's that very absence that has me confused. It's like the writers specifically write to ignore the cultural heritage.

I understand why JKR doesn't include it. What I don't understand is, as chael wrote above, why it's run-of-the-mill to write incest or teacher/student or dub-con but not religion. Why is religion "edgy" and an author "brave" when twincest is accepted?

Re: BDS - yeah, I've heard that from loads of people but I'm enjoying the process of breaking down their relationship with God to the point where they might cross that line. and omg, that scene where they're rolling around naked? *ded*

Although, I do have a question geared specifically for you cause I know you like the Weasley Twincest... what's the difference in your head? Why one and not the other?

[minisinoo.livejournal.com]

As a professor of history and religion, this is a topic of interest. ;>

I might point out one thing that's been hinted at and alluded to in some of the comments -- the importance of religion varies, depending on country. Here in the US, religion occupies a fairly prominent position, either positively or negatively, and there's quite an array. You'd have a similar issue with a character from, say, Israel, or Iran, or Brazil, or areas of Africa.

But in other places, religion is more of a non-issue, particularly 'mainstream' types. Britain is one of those places. From conversations with British friends, it's a fairly agnostic country and it would actually be a bit odd for most British characters to make a big deal about their religion. Now, if you wanted to make a character a member of a minority group, such as say, a Methodist in England, or a Pakistani Muslim, that's an active choice against the main, and religion might be more important to such a character.

So while the inclusion of religion should be present, and I tend to get impatient with authors (fan or pro) who ignore it when it shouldn't be (and that goes for some professional fantasy authors as well), it should also be culturally appropriate. I wouldn't expect Harry or Hermoine to be religious any more than I'd expected Ron to be. But yes, Seamus may have grown up with religion present.

Another word of caution, though. Religion can be present, and people may identify as believers, without actively attending church. Modern Greece is a wonderful example of this. The rate of professed belief in God and the church among Greeks is actually HIGHER than it is in the US. It's not uncommon to see Greeks wearing crosses, or for them to have icons in their homes. But on any given Sunday, about the only people you'll find at liturgy are old women and children. Nobody else goes. So church attendance is much lower in Greece than in the US.

By contrast, Greek immigrants in the US attend liturgy more regularly because it becomes a central way of maintaining culture, not just religion. And that's OFTEN why religion becomes more important to immigrant or minority groups. It's keyed into cultural maintenence, not just belief.

So that's what I mean by verifying HOW religion is expressed in any given culture. :-)

[flamewarrior.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I'm Pagan, but when I came to write about Draco learning inner peace and forgiveness (inShriven (http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=13463)) it seemed more believable to me that he'd learn it, albeit in an indirect way, from a Catholic priest than from hanging out with sidhe or wood nymphs. On LJ I had positive comments, but over at The Hex Files I had comments from more than one person who could not accept that a Catholic priest could be compassionate (even though he was based directly on a real priest of my acquaintance - had those people never heard of liberation theology? Probably not...).

[tree_and_leaf]

I agree with you that it would be interesting to see more good HP fics involving religion (as long as it's not either 'Fundamentalist! Mary Sue goes to Hogwarts and converts everyone' or, alternatively, a religion-bashing fest, both of which are immature in exactly the same way). There are one or two good ones out there - Lupinslittlesis wrote a beautiful fic about Sirius and religion (with background R/S implies); Weymms' H/D novels have a certain amount about the Wizarding church in the background; a-t-rain's backstory for Remus involves family conflict between his Muggle-born mother and her brother which has a lot, although not exlusivly to do with a percieved conflict between Hp-magic and the church. Although there's nothing about religion in the books (apart from the fact that Harry has a godfather, which implies baptism), I don't think that necessarily means that there's no religion in the wizarding world. There was never much talk about religion at my old school, outside RE (which was on the 'look at the pretty festivals' level, anyway), but there were still practising Christians, Jews and Muslims among the satff and pupils.

Of course, as far as the Dursleys going to church goes, it's worth remembering that churchgoing is much less prevalent in the UK than in suburban America. This has the consequence that there's a lot less going for appearance's sake - but I wouldn't say havng the Durselys do it was 'brave' - and it could be made to fit in quite nicely with their fear of magic.

[a-t-rain.livejournal.com]

Although there's nothing about religion in the books (apart from the fact that Harry has a godfather, which implies baptism), I don't think that necessarily means that there's no religion in the wizarding world.

I second this. To the extent that we do see external religious trappings in the wizarding world, they're Christian in nature -- hospitals named after saints, suits of armor charmed to sing "O Come All Ye Faithful" at Christmas, that sort of thing. My sense is that there are few, if any, significant religious differences between wizarding and Muggle Britain, although JKR has carefully avoided going into depth about religion in the wizarding world because it isn't relevant to Harry's journey and because it would open up a whole can of worms that she doesn't particularly want to deal with.

I work on the assumption that the wizarding world contains a similar mixture of views and beliefs about religion as the Muggle world, apart from the absence of hard-core fundamentalists willing to believe that magic is inherently evil. The one major difference that I see is that the existence of the soul and some sort of afterlife are canon facts in the wizarding world, rather than matters of individual faith -- but this doesn't necessarily imply that wizards are in agreement on other spiritual matters.

(As an utterly random side note, I'm always amused when people interpret Fudge's "Merlin's beard!" as evidence that wizards consider Merlin a religious figure, because you could just as easily conclude, on the same evidence, that Americans worship a deity named Gosh. I think it's more likely a euphemism that people use specifically to avoid real blasphemy.)

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Do you have links for those stories you mention? I would love to read them!!!! The Remus one sounds especially interesting!

Re: The Dursleys - My American was definitely showing on that one. *blushes*

I think, my main thing is, where believable, I don't see why it's so "edgy" to write about religion when fandom regularly has twincest and non-con and mass murder as a status quo.

[lavinialavender.livejournal.com]

Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It's been years since my last Confession and I write gay porn about fictional characters. Sometimes, I write incestuous gay porn about fictional characters.
I LOVE YOU.

(*grew up Southern Baptist and still calls herself a Baptist, of the non-crazy variety*)

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

I agree with you! There are reasons for Rowling to keep her books religion-free (they are loaded with religious symbolism, but she seems to be trying hard (1) to be inclusinve and (2) not to be heavy-handed). But there is *no* reason for fanfic authors who are dealing with the intersection of the Wizarding and Muggle worlds to avoid religion entirely. I do have religious references in my latest fic, and it's gotten less notice than any of the others, which goes to prove your point, I think.