Wherein I become a total Fundie

[aeditimi]

So my thoughts on Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, which includes The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass.

First, I can't believe this, but it's true: I've finally found a series of books that I would recommend people not read for religious reasons. I don't mean like Narnia and Left Behind, which are Christian

Comments

[pykors]

*bites tongue*

I found it to be an insightful tale of oppression > rebellion (which isn't much better) > a chance to live peacefully, with well paced exploration of moral ambiguities. But then again, I also can't stand Harry Potter and think Samuel Beckett is the best dramatic poet of our age, so there's no accounting for taste.

I do think the reaction that His Dark Materials gets from religious people is unfortunate, though, because I think religion is complete besides the point of the books. In their world The Authority exists, and Dust exists, and nobody ever really has any question about either - whereas existence of the supernatural is what's at the heart of real world theist / atheist debates. Authoritarianism is what's at the heart of it all. Lyra's world is a bit oversimplified, but his portrayal of ours displays many sources of societal control from the police to academia to wealth, and finally the Catholic church. At most Pullman believes that religion is particularly well suited for controlling people's beliefs. Why he chose to emphasize that point so strongly seems like a personal issue of his that I'm not qualified to comment on.

[aeditimi]

no need to bite your tongue. If I didn't want to foster discussion, I wouldn't put ideas out into the blogosphere (or I'd disallow comments at least!).

Now disliking Harry Potter, that can get you blocked... ;)

I agree that the arc of the story is a move from oppression and ignorance to freedom and wisdom, even from hatred and fear to love and courage. Told by a more skilled author, it might be a good story. The problem I have outside the writing, though, is that I don't think religion is beside the point. I think the author sets 'the church' up as the primary oppressor in the two human worlds he details and, even assuming that Will's world is our own, this might not be such a stinging condemnation because it's not far from the truth (or it might sting all the more because of that). But additionally, the opressor is The Authority and Metatron, described even in Asriel's vision with the same language as the Judeo-Christian-Muslim God, with passages (and reimagined passages) out of Genesis, and the use of Enoch out of both Genesis and Jewish mysticism. It is that being's corruption and oppression that is the issue. Seems like the author has a personal bone to pick with the god he doens't believe in. I think, basically, that if there's a god-- not a person, but a force, and entity, not unlike Star Wars' Force (or Pullman's Dust) that is the source and life breath of all, it is good (or at least morally neutral), but human attempts to define and live into it are flawed and often evil. Had Pullman gone there, he'd have had an interesting thesis. But he stops short, because you see that's still belief in a *something* out there, and it can't be worshiped or loved, even if it is good.

Now, religious leaders and reviewers who reject these books, or Harry Potter, or Left Behind for that matter without having at least read one or two are pretty despicable. Those who go into the books expecting to find evil and satanism will of course find it there, and that's despicable too. My hope is that in reading Harry Potter (which I love), Left Behind (which I hate), DaVinci Code (which was entertaining but very inaccurate and pretty predictable), and His Dark Materials to name a few, I am at least forming my opinion based on having read and in fact tried to like the books (okay I didn't try too hard to like Left Behind. That's good because it'd be nearly impossible).

[pykors]

> I think, basically, that if there's a god-- not a person, but a
> force, and entity, not unlike Star Wars' Force (or Pullman's Dust)
> that is the source and life breath of all, it is good (or at least
> morally neutral), but human attempts to define and live into it are
> flawed and often evil. Had Pullman gone there, he'd have had an
> interesting thesis.

It sounds like we mainly disagree on the strength of Pullman's execution. What you described is pretty much exactly what I got out of reading His Dark Materials.

The Authority definitely does get the short end of the stick, probably because Pullman views real life Christianity as a particularly flawed human construct. However, I think his treatment of The Authority serves a valid literary purpose. There needed to be an obvious 'bad guy' in the beginning so it could be slowly revealed how most everything else, from Asriel, to the bears, to the witches, are about as imperfect. Actually, I think the only societies that came off well are the gypsies and the rolling aliens. A bit of an anarchist preference in the end.

As far as the rest goes, I thought Pullman interwove the main theme well with the coming of age tale and that while his characterization was occasionally unsettling, it was because it was too true to life. I can't say that it was perfect, but I liked it a lot better than fantasy novels that just stick to the usual formula.

I think His Dark Materials could be particularly helpful for young people who are having atheistic doubts. In that frame of mind it's really easy to identify with the portrayal of The Authority and, as evidenced by the behavior of people I like to call "internet atheists", adopt an Asriel like attitude. His Dark Materials does a good job of leading people in that state of mind past mindless rebellion to a hopefully healthier view on society and personal responsibility; considering how little support structure there is for young atheists raised by religious families, I think that's a pretty useful purpose. I wish I'd read it about 12 years ago. Maybe our difference of opinion comes from the different directions we approach the text. from.

[aeditimi]

It's a helpful point of view to consider, coming at it from another angle, so thank you for pointing out another way to consider it. If it can serve to lead people to a healthier view that I guess that's something.

I'm not really seeing it that way, because I'm responding to what I perceive as a lot of anger and pain on the author's personal part being viacariously vented through the destruction of God, the Church, and all things religious and authoritarian and hurtful to him. It almost feels like he's trying too hard to move to a healthy place the he can't yet go. I hope there's a better resource for free thinkers and atheists and non theists and non religious people out there, but I don't know what it might be. Not something I've spent much time looking for. But I hope this isn't as good as it gets.

[pykors]

I think that to help someone who is feeling that kind of pain you first have to show a deep understanding for it before you can try to lead them out of it. If you want to know how intercission feels, try imagining what it would be like to be an 8 year old child desperately trying and failing to convince themself that God exists and then deciding to pretend they believe anyway since they can't stand alone against everyone they've ever met. That's the kind of person who needs these books. There are certainly plenty of books available that avoid the initial negativity, To Sail Beyond the Sunset comes to mind, but I think that it's helpful to explicitly show people what their pain and anger is like and how it's really not worth darkening their spirits with it. It, like The Authority, should be allowed to peacefully dissipate so everyone can get on with their lives.

Yeah, ugly emotions are portrayed, but good literature often has to do that. For instance, reading Dostoevsky (at least as much as I could bear) made me want to weep for humanity, but I'm glad I did. I think life ought to be taken as a whole and cherished for what it is. Anything less is missing out.

btw, just read your Narnia rant. That's some good theology.