Pullman's uncalled-for attacks on Christian foundations?

Question

Pullman quoted in an interview that "I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief". And also stated that it was his reply to Chronicles of Narnia, which of course are constructed on the very foundations he discredits. Is his attacks uncalled for?

Answer 1

Philip Pullman is an atheist, enough said and there is a definite parallel between His Dark Materials and Paradise Lost by Milton.
If he has said that his purpose is to undermine the basis of Christian belief but also to attack the principles of the Narnia Chronicles, then I think I know what he is getting at. Accept what he's up to but also accept that he has wriiten a fantastic and very well written trilogy. I never liked the Narnia Chronicles, however Christian they might be. What is popular is a good, exciting read.
As for those who have answered this question and have stated that Christianity has held us back, I would say for how long have they been asleep? It says it all how bad the way history is taught nowadays.

Answer 2

I don't think that we should mad at the author of this series for having different beliefs. Not so many years ago there were wars in Palestine (40's) over territory. The Muslims hated the Jews. The Jews dislike the Christians. The Christians didn't like the Jews. Each of this groups killed other people in the name of their own religion.Does that mean if they all were Muslim there would have been no problems. No it doesn't mean that. People used religion as accuse to kill people. The religion is not definite then. They changed there beliefs so that it would be okay to kill other people because they did it in the name of Allah or The messiah. Those religions were created for us, they were created so that we could understand our belief and value systems better.War doesn't usally make any sense but it makes even less sense when you involve changing religons belief structure to fit your own will. I don't think that we should completely hate an author just because he has different beliefs. Yes, some people have banned his books from their libraries but that and yes some people are sending him hate mail. I

Answer 3

Well he is entitled to his beliefs. I think he is wrong, but then I also think that everyone should make up their own mind; as a Christian I am certainly not threatened by the books or film, as my faith is stronger than that. In fact I think the books pose many interesting moral and philosophical questions. The fact that Pullman is misguided is very sad, but then, there are a lot of people who are atheists in the world.

Answer 4

You know what? Christians have the right to voice their beliefs, and he has the very same right. If people are so worried about their kids dumping christianity because of a story, then they should look more closely at their own faith. Kids don't examine this. They don't sit there while reading Narnia and say "gee, Aslan is Jesus, so I'm going to believe in Jesus now...". They just read these books, as I did, for a good story. I am a christian and I enjoyed the books a great deal. People need to relax!

Answer 5

You've misunderstood his position on the Narnia chronicles. His Dark Materials is a *counter* to Narnia, not a support of it.

His position is clear, and surely reasonable. No-one attacks Narnia for having a barely-concealed Christian message: why then should they attack HDM for having a barely-concealed anti-religious message? Isn't that what free speech is all about - or should speech only be free if it doesn't go against your own beliefs?

Answer 6

Jintu,

I don't know how old you are: cf Monty Python &c - "They're all very very naughty boys -and they are not at all funny".

Pullman, for your information, is an extremely sad case: has he studied Thomas (as in 'Summa Theologica')?

Narnia? Let's have a burst on the banjo for the Screwtape Letters.

What was your question? No question = no answer.

Or: is that precisely the point.

Stay lucky,

George.

Answer 7

Sorry don't know who Pullman is !! The people who do most damage and undermine Christianity , and all the other religions of the world are those within the religion who are fanatics
At the basis of all religions is good and understanding of others .
I don't always see this displayed by those fanatics

Answer 8

Pullman is certainly waging war on the institutions of organised religion but not on belief itself. He is clearly saying that believers should make there own moral choices in life and not be obedient to an establishment.

This same belief is what sent thousands of Europeans across to what is now the USA. They were not free in Europe if they wanted to practise their religion except in the forms and doctrine of the state sponsored version.

Answer 9

Good for him, it's about time somebody did. Western civilisation (well, some parts of it anyway) is at last starting to throw off the conditioning of centuries of christian brainwashing. It's a pity the same can't be said for Islam - they're a couple of centuries behind us in the evolution of their religion. Maybe one day far in the future some very brave soul will take on the Mullahs and not be condemned to death for pointing out that all deistic religions including theirs are a load of bo11ocks

Answer 10

The problem is not with Philip Pullman, it is with the church who can not separate fact from fiction, and do not credit the human race they purport to care for with brains of their own.
The series of books are brilliant and are FICTION, not fact.
When are organised religions going to make that destinction , and allow their members to make their own minds up
I think they refer to their members as their "flock" because they think that the gerneral public do not have brains, and will follow what they are told like sheep.