June 1, 2009
Pullman thinks Archbishop has been seeing things
Philip Pullman has responded to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s recent comments about the His Dark Materials trilogy, saying he must have “very good eyesight” to see traces of God in his work. “I am an atheist because I do not believe there is a God – but I am also a religious person, because I am interested in the questions religions deal with, such as why are we here, where do we come from, and what is good and what is evil. But that does not mean that we have to believe in God.”
Archbishop of Canterbury: Pullman helps people understand theology
Citing Philip Pullman as one of his favourite modern writers, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams said he liked his work because it took the church “seriously” at a time when theology was “drifting out” of mainstream thought. “[Pullman] takes the Christian myth, or a version of it, seriously enough to want to disagree passionately with it. It’s not just dull or remote, it’s dangerous. You’ve got to tussle with it. It’s still alive.” Dr Williams made the comments after telling the Hay Festival audience that he thought theology had become less relevant to the “intellectual mainstream” since the 19th century. Thanks to Skye.
Pullman interview and comments on a new book in Yorkshire Post
The Yorkshire Post features an interview with Philip Pullman, in which he discusses writing His Dark Materials, religious controversy, and his latest work, a retelling of the story of Jesus:
“I’m fascinated by theology. The book I’m writing at the minute is about Jesus. I did a talk at the National Theatre with the Archbishop of Canter-bury, we were talking about the theology in the books and he said: ‘You don’t mention Jesus at all’, so I put him in the next book, The Scarecrow and his Servant. Nobody noticed, so I thought I better make it clearer. … I’m writing about this very interesting character called Jesus, who is very different from the character Paul calls Christ. I’ve been reading the gospels and reading around them. It’s fascinating – and I’ve also realised it can’t all be true.”
Pullman also talks about the stage plays and the movies. “In the fullness of time, if the rights revert to me I shall go over there (he points into his library) and cut out some cardboard figures and make it myself.” Thanks to Skye.
May 23, 2009
Pullman interviewed in the Scotsman
Philip Pullman is interviewed in the Scotsman, commenting primarily on Off by Heart, but also discussing his personal life, atheism, fan mail and the His Dark Materials films. “If the studios don’t make the next two films, I might do them myself with puppets in the garden shed, like Noggin the Nog.” Thanks to Skye.
Why can’t the BBC understand that we are STILL a Christian country?
Stephen Glover wonders “why the BBC can’t understand that we are STILL a Christian country” in an article in the Daily Mail, writing “At every possible opportunity it will wheel forward one of those professional atheists who are not happy to live silently with their own non-belief but are determined to shove it down everyone else’s throats. I am thinking particularly of the biologist Richard Dawkins, the novelist Philip Pullman and the philosopher A. C. Grayling. Can you think of a Christian biologist, novelist or philosopher who is afforded one-tenth of the airtime of these militant, omnipresent non-believers?”
April 22, 2009
Bill Donahue claims Catholic boycott of TGC was a success
Bill Donahue, President of the Catholic League, yesterday cited the Catholic League’s boycott of the film The Golden Compass as evidence that he is not just giving the movie “Angels and Demons” free publicity by objecting to it, saying TGC’s sequels have not been made because of its box office failure.
April 3, 2008
Religious Debate at Oxford Festival
The Times reports on a religious debate which took place at the Oxford Literary Festival in which Philip Pullman was a participant. Amongst others taking part were Sarfraz Manzoor and Timothy Garton. Debate varied from the case of the anti-islamic Danish cartoon, to the work of Pullman himself who was unfortunately suffering from a heavy cold. Pullman was directly questioned by one audience member on the Golden Compass movie and the religious aspects found within and why New Line Cinema had seemingly played down such debate to avoid controversy. Pullman did concede that the questioner had a point and also told the audience how last year an Oxford mosque had received hate mail which had been signed by “Philip Pullman”. You can read the report in full here.
March 5, 2008
Neighbouring Catholic school boards decide differently
The Toronto Star reports that while the Halton Catholic District School Board is keeping The Golden Compass off its shelves, the neighbouring Peel-Dufferin Catholic District School Board will return the entire trilogy to its libraries but with a cautionary notes indicating that the story “in no way represent the reality of the Roman Catholic Church.” The Peel-Dufferin review board consisted of parents, students, and teachers who decided that the books should indeed be available to students. The Halton school board on the other hand ordered its principals not to distribute a Scholastic book catalog in which His Dark Materials was available. In the province of Ontario, these publicly administered Catholic schools are funded with taxpayers’ money. Read more.
February 29, 2008
Books to stay on library shelves in Dufferin-Peel Catholic schools
Last November, BttS reported the Halton District Catholic School board’s decision to review the position of The Golden Compass on its elementary schools’ shelves. Unfortunately, that review culminated with a ban. However, its neighbouring board has decided not to follow suit and the books will remain but with a disclaimer sticker warning readers that the books “in no way represent the reality of the Roman Catholic Church.” Read more.
Corrigendum (04-Mar-08): we got our school boards mixed up and originally posted that the Halton school board had retracted the ban, when it was its neighbouring board’s (Dufferin-Peel) decision to keep the books on the shelves.
Corrigendum (04-Mar-08): we got our school boards mixed up and originally posted that the Halton school board had retracted the ban, when it was its neighbouring board’s (Dufferin-Peel) decision to keep the books on the shelves.
New Christian fantasy aims to promote the power of faith
Entitled Webb Pages: The Riddle of the Cherub Blade and defining itself as “a biblical science-based fantasy,” the book will feature a boy, his wonderdog, and a cast of beastly companions seeking to stop an evil geneticist. On his adventures, the boy will learn how faith in God may be the most powerful weapon of all. The book’s message will likely be seen by His Dark Materials fans as a riposte to Philip Pullman’s trilogy, which in turn has been seen by many Christian groups as an ‘Anti-Narnia’. Whether this latest story will prove as well-written and successful as either His Dark Materials or The Chronicles of Narnia remains to be seen. The author, K. Edgar Winchester is an interdenominational minister based in Bremen, Georgia, USA who counsels people around the globe through his internet ministry. Further information can be found in the press release.