Cohen Explores Harry Potter and Religion in Fleer Lecture

BY KEAGAN O’RILEY, ’23

Central Methodist University saw author and religion enthusiast Dr. Signe Cohen come to campus to present her talk on “The Missing Room at Hogwarts: Harry Potter and Religion” for the 2023 Fleer Lecture.

Central’s Dr. Kevin Carnahan, professor of philosophy and religion, introduced Cohen as the featured speaker for the night, remarking on her background in Asian religion studies and interests in popular culture and religious diversity in Missouri.

Cohen began the lecture with an intriguing observation about the Harry Potter series. Among all the fantastical additions Hogwarts possesses that normal boarding schools don’t, there are a few things she found absent in the school of witchcraft and wizardry that would be normal to see at regular boarding schools. Among these Cohen listed math, English or language curriculum, physical education, and a chapel of any kind.

“We never hear, in any of the novels, about anyone going to church, to mosque, or to temple,” Cohen noted. She went on to add that, “Hogwarts students do get time off for Christmas and Easter every year, but there is little religious content in the Christmas celebration.”

Aside from a few mentions of Christian holidays like Christmas or biblical quotes on gravestones, Cohen pointed out that the novels appear to be free from the influence of religion. While acknowledging this apparent lack of religion, Cohen argued that there are indeed religious elements throughout the series that manifest through symbolism.

Cohen explained that when looking at religious figures such as Jesus or Buddha, parallels can be found in the main protagonist of the series, Harry Potter. Likewise, the antagonist, Lord Voldemort, can be seen as the representation of the Christian devil or as a representation of the Buddhist view of human nature and suffering. The professor went on to describe many other instances of religious symbolism throughout the seven-book series before wrapping up the lecture with a Q&A session.

Cohen is an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Missouri. Her published work includes Text and Authority in the Older Upanishads, The Upanishads: A Complete Guide, and articles on subjects that range from Buddhist robots to alchemical themes in the Harry Potter novels.

The Gil and Ruth Fleer Lecture Series on values-based education is sponsored by former faculty member Dr. Gilbert Fleer, ’55, and his wife, Ruth, ’58. Fleer was an assistant professor of religion at Central from 195965. He then spent many years counseling young adults in unconventional settings as a United Methodist counselor. The Fleers’ strong support of leadership training led them to fund the Gil and Ruth Fleer Fund for Excellence in Values-Based Education at CMU.

The entirety of Cohen’s lecture can be viewed at https://vimeo. com/815515040.