6:20 pmThe Anti-C.S. Lewis
So today I got one of those Fw:fw:fw: READ THIS!!! emails that everyone sends to everyone in their email address books, clogging servers and inboxes on every continent. It was from my aunt (Hi, Joan), who usually does not send me this kind of stuff unless it’s something either really cute (ie- containing pictures of kittens in cute poses like lying stretched out, yawning in a hammock) or else something seemingly important. I opened it and read it, hoping that my virus scan would do it’s job well.
The email pertained to the new movie coming out this Christmas season called “The Golden Compass”, based on the first novel in a trilogy called “His Dark Materials” by Phillip Pullman. Pullman is called by some the “Anti-CS Lewis” in that he is a proud Atheist, hates CS Lewis, and writes children’s fantasy novels… which are kind of anti-Narnia in context. From what I have read up on thus far (though I want to make clear that I have NOT read the trilogy, so I do not know specifically or firsthand what is in it), the trilogy starts out pretty tame and watered down (with the first book being kind of borderline and not overtly anti-Christian). However, by the end of the trilogy it becomes brash and in-your-face, the third book ending with the child characters killing off the “God” character in order to do whatever they want. The child characters main struggle is with a dark secret society/church called the Magisterium (supposedly representing Christianity). Another character (an ex-nun) describes Christianity as “a very powerful and convincing mistake”. Now, I want to stress again that I have not read these books. However, finding these claims to be a little unsettling (I was planning to take my son to see this movie, not knowing much about it), I decided to do a little Google search on this Phillip Pullman guy.
The following is cut and pasted directly from his personal blog (www.phillip-pullman.com) in the “about the writing” section.
His Dark Materials seems to be against organised religion. Do you believe in God?
I don’t know whether there’s a God or not. Nobody does, no matter what they say. I think it’s perfectly possible to explain how the universe came about without bringing God into it, but I don’t know everything, and there may well be a God somewhere, hiding away.
Actually, if he is keeping out of sight, it’s because he’s ashamed of his followers and all the cruelty and ignorance they’re responsible for promoting in his name. If I were him, I’d want nothing to do with them.
Were you encouraged to be creative?
No, I was ignored. When anyone took any notice it was to point out what a twit I was, and laugh at me. This was the best possible preparation for the life of a novelist. If you have grown-ups fussing over you and encouraging you and taking an interest, you begin to think you’re important, and furthermore that you need and deserve their attention. After a while you become incapable of working without someone else motivating you. You’re much better off supplying your own energy, and writing in spite of the fact that no-one’s interested, and even learning to put up with other people’s contempt and ridicule. What do they know, anyway?
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Ummmm… this guy is a children’s writer?!? And an award-winning one, no less. Even if he is not attempting to write with overtly anti-Christian themes, it would seem to me an impossible thing for a person with such bleak, there-is-no-god-and-if-there-was-he’d-hate-you-anyway views to be able to write something positive and brilliant for children.
Has anyone read these books personally? I would love to hear more about it. But in the meantime, it’s coming off of our “Holiday Must See” movie list.
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I’ve never heard of Phillip Pullman.
I did, however, just love “The Chronicles of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis. I read the series with my parents when I was young. Those are great memories. I also enjoyed “The Screwtape Letters.”
The anti-C.S. Lewis thing doesn’t attract me.
Comment by Leslie — October 28, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Yeah, I only heard about these books when there was talk of a movie. Even though I work at a bookstore, I’m pretty out of touch with pop culture I guess. My assistant and his wife were telling me a little about the books, and they absolutely love them. They are practicing Christians and made no mention about them being anti-god or offensive in any way. I’ll ask them what they think about them for kids.
Hmmm, I’m kinda anti-C.S. Lewis too, but that’s just because I’ve read too many Tolkien biographies and I know Lewis was a hack.
Comment by kerri — October 29, 2007 @ 2:11 am
I’ve actually listened to the first one on tape and really enjoyed it. I wouldn’t call them childrens books though, definitely more along the lines of young adult, say 14, 15 year olds. I also know from Porter that the books are based off of Miltons paradise lost. Porter has read all 3 and I will see what he thinks about the anti-christian theme, although I know that at this point the books are probably lost to you. The author being an anti C.S. Lewis person and everything. =) After listening to the books on tape we had decided that we wouldn’t take Byron until we had seen the movie and screened it for young minds. The books were definitely not for little kids. Love Ya
Comment by Diana — October 29, 2007 @ 4:48 am
This email campaign saddens me - I read the books and didn’t find the books themselves to be anti-Christian. The emails I’ve received made it sound like the movie is encouraging an atheist agenda. I just don’t know. I will see the movie before the kids, just in case.
When I was a bookseller, I usually handed this book to teens, and it was in the science fiction area as well. The themes don’t lend themselves to little kids anyway; much of it would go over their heads.
So, I guess it comes down to Pullman and his comments/beliefs. I didn’t read about him before I read the books so I wasn’t looking for an agenda. I’m afraid that I will now search for this theme, where I didn’t see it before, instead of enjoying a fantasy film at Christmas. Bummer.
I doubt that helps. I sure hope I’m right, and the movie rocks. I’ve been looking forward to it.
Comment by Mama Milton — October 29, 2007 @ 6:05 am
Oh, and I always thought of Pullman as an adult author overall.
Comment by Mama Milton — October 29, 2007 @ 6:09 am