I’m combining today’s CFBA blog tour for fantasy author Jeffrey Overstreet’s debut novel Auralia’s Colors (see Speculative Faith for my review of the book) and thoughts about the soon-to-be-released movie, The Golden Compass.
You may wonder what the two have in common, since Philip Pullman, author of the series from which The Golden Compass comes, has take a clear, vociferous, and repeated stand against Christianity, and in particular Christian fantasy.
Overstreet, on the other hand, proudly claims C. S. Lewis as one of his inspirations, though his ideas about theme seem to differ considerably from Lewis. (But I’ll save that discussion for another time).
In a lengthy, well thought-out post, Overstreet has tackled a number of questions he’s confronted in his roles as a film critic and a fantasy novelist. I found his comments to be insightful, reasoned, and balanced, something long overdue, in my opinion, to that which contradicts a Christian’s beliefs.
Here’s a taste of what he has to say:
And, for a lot of people, whether we like it or not, the church represents fear, power, and condemnation.
The best way to make Philip Pullman’s stories look like gospel truth is to respond by acting like the villainous Christians in his stories.
The best way to expose Pullman’s lie is to respond like Christ himself: With grace and truth, not hysteria and condemnation.
If we respond with wrath, condemnation, and protest, we play right into Pullman’s naive caricature of Christianity. I’m not saying we shouldn’t point out where he is wrong. His story is deeply flawed, and his religious bigotry is shameful. We should not ignore that. But we also should not ignore the excellence of his artistry. And should speak the truth in love, as Christ commands us. We should respond with truth and grace.
For me, that quote is well worth the price of admission, but Overstreet goes on to compare a bit, the maelstrom that surrounded the Harry Potter books and the near silence about His Dark Materials:
Don’t you find it interesting that there has hardly been a whisper about these books amongst Christians in the last decade, but as soon as the movie starts getting promoted, suddenly there’s a panic? Kids have been reading these books since 1995, and Christian protesters are acting like they’ve only just arrived. What does this show us about the state of Christian engagement with the arts? Pullman’s trilogy has been making the news and winning prestigious literary awards for quite a while.
In the end, I think Jeffrey Overstreet has done what I’ve called Christians to do in reaction to these books. From Fantasy Friday the Second:
Let’s do better. Let’s write better, publish smarter, promote creatively. And if we do, the Philip Pullmans will be relegated to answering our work and not the other way around.
Clearly, Auralia’s Colors is the kind of book that is already getting attention for its quality of writing. Good.
The most disturbing part of The Golden Compass, in my opinion, is the advertisement that this is a tale of good versus evil. As Pullman writes it, the church, god, Christianity are the evil from which good—enlightenment—must save the world.
That position will stand unless we Christians write the stories to show the truth about good and about evil. If we vacate the fantasy field, we miss a pregnant opportunity.
If you’re interested in knowing more about The Golden Compass, another insightful source is Jim Hutson’s article at Culture Defense.
“What does this show us about the state of Christian engagement with the arts? Pullman’s trilogy has been making the news and winning prestigious literary awards for quite a while.”
I guess my only disagreement/concern here is that a Christian parent who allows their children, whether or not they’re in public, private, or home-schooled, to read any material in today’s world without parental supervision/discussion or elimination is very likely to be ambushed by ugly and potentially damaging material. While it may be important to be completely informed as to secular children’s literature, and I’m not convinced it is in many cases, those judging “art” within the secular context differ radically from those assessing art from a Christian worldview in terms of lasting and real value. Just being able to put lovely or dynamic words on a page doesn’t necessarily make something worthy of acclaim.
And as far as adult readers go, how engaged are Christian readers with biblical truth? How alive is it in their lives, books, films? And by this comment, I’m not suggesting Christians cannot read secular novels or view any films of their choice. I’m asking are they able to recognize the contrast between living for the Lord and living for the world and make the distinctions in their conduct?
I do agree with Jeffrey’s approach to settling the problems associated with the book/film. Rational, reasonable explanation of the error/conflict will be paid the most attention.
Comment by Nicole — November 30, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
Hello! I read Mr. Pullman’s trilogy. I’ve been curious about the rising tide of arguments against it. Parallel universes have been a staple of speculative fiction for a long time. Parallel universes with rigit authoritarian societies have been a staple for a long time.
I didn’t find this book anit-Christian so much as to be against rigid organized church beaurocries that stifle the individual in a quest to maintain their power
The history of the church (as opposed to God’s Church) is full of such examples. That is why the idea of the Remnant, both in Jewish and Christian thought, is so powerful.
I’m not criticizing “high” church, nor exposing “low” church structures, nor free-wheeling charismatic styles of worship – merely noting the Mr. Pullman’s books do reflect difficult periods of the christian church that were characterized by selfish and unloving attitudes towards others, both in the church and outside the church. Best regards.
Michael A. Heald
Comment by Michael A. Heald — December 2, 2007 @ 3:53 am
Michael, your comments about the church ring true. However, I think the protest for the film/books lies in the outspoken hatred toward God and everything to do with Him, not just the forms of church or worship. Mr. Pullman called the Chronicles of Narnia the “most poisonous” work because of its Christian symbology and hatefully described C. S. Lewis’s writing as some of the worst he’s ever read. Mr. Pullman is a bitter, agenda driven writer whose atheism has made him very unappealing as a person and as a writer to those who value Christianity.
Comment by Nicole — December 2, 2007 @ 9:52 am
I went into reading the Golden Compass (several years ago) completely ignorant of these issues. A Christian friend had recommended it, so I eagerly read. The first book was … interesting, but by the third I was deeply troubled. The story pulled me in such that I *wanted* it to make sense with my worldview – it just wouldn’t. I had no idea about Pullman’s own belief system at that point and distinctly recall reading the final chapters with a growing rock in my gut. Just the wrongness of it all.
This has nothing to do with your post, of course, except that Truth is there (or rather, lets you know when it’s *not* there), even when you’re not looking for it.
Comment by Rebecca — December 3, 2007 @ 10:05 am
Rebecca wrote: “The most disturbing part of The Golden Compass, in my opinion, is the advertisement that this is a tale of good versus evil. As Pullman writes it, the church, god, Christianity are the evil from which good—enlightenment—must save the world.”
Crazy, ain’t it, how misguided and dark some “enlightenment”is?
Luke says it, too: “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness,” Luke 11:33-35.
I’m praying that Pullman and others will no longer be blinded by a false light in the hands of false guides, but will see the truth in all its blazing fullness.
Meantime, I’ll be working on my own life, that I reflect God’s truth with accuracy, and keep writing fiction that I pray pleases Him.
Comment by Keanan Brand — December 3, 2007 @ 10:59 am
Right on Becky!!!
Comment by SolShine7 — December 3, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Nicole you said: I guess my only disagreement/concern here is that a Christian parent who allows their children, whether or not they’re in public, private, or home-schooled, to read any material in today’s world without parental supervision/discussion or elimination is very likely to be ambushed by ugly and potentially damaging material.
Overstreet was very careful to encourage parents to read the books and not let kids try to navigate this minefield alone. I realized today that I didn’t give the link to the article. It is Golden Compass Questions.
Michael, I think your point is interesting. The thing is, as I understand them, Pullman’s stories give the impression that this abusive, autocratic structure is ALL Christianity is, that it is NOTHING but a mistake. And as Nicole points out, this leads to a false idea about God. There in lies the real problem with his work.
Rebecca, great comments. Yes, when you’re looking for truth—and fantasy lends itself to the revelation of eternal truth so easily—the absence, the contradiction, is glaring.
Keanan, you said: Crazy, ain’t it, how misguided and dark some “enlightenment”is? That reminded me of what I was GOING to post over at Spec Faith today. I’d forgotten. Pullman is so against the Narnia series because of, among other things, what happens to Susan in the end. She experiences this “enlightenment,” which Pullman thinks is her embracing adulthood, particularly her sexuality. He finds it horrendous that she should then be locked out of Narnia.
As I’ve read his remarks in interviews and articles, I couldn’t help but think about Eve partaking of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Somehow knowing good and evil, as Satan said to entice her, would make her like God.
This, I believe, is the enticement to which Pullman submits.
Karen, thanks so much for your encouragement.
Becky
Comment by Rebecca LuElla Miller — December 3, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
I hope that my article on the movie was informative to everyone who desires to hear what the meaning behind the story that is on-screen is about……
Pullman is the athetist’s answer to Lewis and Tolkien……and his style is the style that opponents to Christ and His followers are following in today’s society.
A little misinformation, a little controversy, and the Christians will shut up because they don’t want to appear intolerant……….
Just my thoughts (JMT)
Senior Chaplain Jim Hutson
Meadowbrook Chapel
Novi, MI
Comment by Chaplain Jim — December 12, 2007 @ 4:33 am