If you’re “lucky enough” to receive the all-too-often forwarded emails, then I’m sure you’ve seen the one sounding the alarm for parents to be aware of a new children’s movie coming out this Christmas (2008). The Golden Compass is the first installment in a trilogy, and is based on Philip Pullman’s children’s books, His Dark Materials (consisting of The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass). There is also a companion volume by Pullman called Lyra’s Oxford. If you’re not familiar with it, this series has been a huge publishing success. In a 2003 article appearing in the “Christians Research Institute” (referred to below), the author points out that while Tolkien’s classic The Lord of the Rings sold 900,000 copies in 2002, Pullman’s writings were a close second with nearly 750,000 (the Harry Potter books came in third through sixth in sales). So, what’s the big deal about all this?

Nearly all reviews of Pullman’s books (whether they ultimately agree with his message or not) extol him as a master storyteller. He seems to understand the power of narrative to grab the imagination and subversively communicate ideas. And like all authors, he employs his gift of writing in attempts to persuade. In fact, I greatly respect him for his forthrightness in publicly recognizing his motives behind his storytelling.

Worldview
Pullman holds to a common atheistic worldview. And like many people who are passionately sold-out to their worldview perspectives (Christians, atheists, or otherwise), he also has a desire to sway his hearers and win over converts. Such a desire to evangelize through persuasion is certainly legitimate. Fortunately, we live in a society in which this sort of speech is not only allowable but also protected. And I’m glad for that. Therefore, those who chose to read his books (or see the movie versions) must simply be aware of the philosophical underpinnings of his worldview, and recognize that such ideas will undoubtedly be a part of the fabric of the narrative (much as Lewis’ and Tolkien’s were). Therefore, let’s just come to terms with the idea that Pullman believes (and he is not the first to do so) the biblical God to be a mythical cosmic killjoy. Pullman wants to convince others that atheism is both true and more liberating to the human experience. Again, nothing all that new within the history of ideas.

Having said all this, I don’t want to give the impression that Philip Pullman’s worldview does not need to be answered by thoughtful Christian responses. Pullman believes that the church has propped up the imaginary figure of God as a trump card with which to suppress human sexuality, creativity, and happiness (not entirely different from Dan Brown’s power-hungry distortion of the church in The Da Vinci Code). Pullman presents a caricature of the Christian God as life-denying rather than life-affirming. In Pullman’s story Yahweh is only the first created being who tricks all later beings into thinking that he had given them life, and therefore, that they were bound to give him their devotion. By the third story this tired, senile, ancient being of God, who is being held captive in a glass coffin, is finally released in almost an act of mercy-killing. God then dissolves and returns to the “dust” which makes up the whole of the universe. There are many allusions to the creation story of Genesis in the garden, but with significant reinterpretation. While he sees the Garden of Eden story as a fiction, Pullman reinterprets the serpent’s deception as an act of benevolence. After all, Pullman reasons, it was only by humanity rebelling against Yahweh that they could achieve the knowledge of good and evil.

A criticism of Pullman outside of his writings
Being a huge fan of C. S. Lewis myself, one of the more bothersome elements about Philip Pullman is his unwarranted attack on a far superior fantasy writer (I should note that this element of criticism of Pullman is not related to his children’s books, but to his public statements). Pullman is famous for his disparaging comments about Lewis, labeling his stories as sexist, and leaving the reader who is unfamiliar with Lewis with the belief that Lewis was an uptight moralist of the Victorian era. However, even a cursory reading of Lewis’ chapter on “chastity” in Mere Christianity informs any reader that Lewis was anything but uptight. Instead, he clearly affirmed and welcomed a more open view on sexuality in culture.

How to respond?
There is so much more that could and should be said here (more is said in the links below). A huge element which I haven’t addressed is how Christians, specifically parents of young children, should act toward the books and soon coming films. However, for the most part, I’ll leave this open to you. Aside from my comment that we must understand and be able to evaluate the ideas within Pullman’s worldview, whether or not you pick up his book or walk into the theater is a matter for each of us to thoughtfully consider.

I’ve heard of some parents who, knowing their children will unavoidably be in conversations with others at school about the books/films, have decided to read through the books with their children. These parents want to be able to help their children to compare, contrast, and assess Pullman’s worldview in light of a biblical worldview, in order that their children can offer a compelling and winsome answer to their friends. Still, I know other parents who, desiring to be selective of the influences in their children’s lives, chose to forgo the reading or viewing of such “dark materials.” I believe that both these responses are valid and up to the parents.

Because of the young ages of my three children, I don’t have to deal with this yet myself. Therefore, I’d really be interested to hear from some of you on how you’ll approach this particular issue. And while I’m most curious to hear from those with kids who are the intended audience of such books and films, please offer your take on this all even if you don’t have children (See discussion questions below).

Helpful reviews & summaries:
If you’d like to see a couple very helpful Christian critiques of some of the major worldview issues involved in the Trilogy, His Dark Materials, check out the following two sites:
Christian Research Journal
Breakpoint

“Atheism For Kids,” by Gene Edward Veith:
Leadership University
“A Primer on Atheism,” by Russ Wise:
Leadership University

For an impartial plot overview of the Trilogy check out the following site:
Spark Notes.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. If you are a parent with children old enough to enjoyed these sorts of books/movies, how will you deal with this particular movie release?
2. What do you think is the best way for the church and/or Christians to respond when influential books/movies with competing worldview ideas have strong cultural sway? Why?
3. Do you like fantasy literature? Why or why not? If yes, what is your favorite piece fantasy literature?