THE GOLDEN COMPASSTHE GOLDEN COMPASS

THE THE DISCUSSION DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS THAT NEEDS TO HAPPENTO HAPPEN

He is the He is the best-selling author best-selling author of of His Dark Materials, a trilogy of His Dark Materials, a trilogy of fantasy novels, and a number of fantasy novels, and a number of other books. Northern Lights other books. Northern Lights (aka The Golden Compass) was (aka The Golden Compass) was published in 1996 and won the published in 1996 and won the Carnegie MedalCarnegie Medal, one of the most , one of the most prestigious British children's prestigious British children's fiction awards, and the fiction awards, and the Guardian Guardian Children's Fiction Award.Children's Fiction Award.

PHILIP PULLMANPHILIP PULLMAN

It is argued that Pullman has an It is argued that Pullman has an anti-Christian agenda. He is anti-Christian agenda. He is quoted as saying, quoted as saying, "I'm trying to "I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian undermine the basis of Christian belief. Mr. (C.S.) Lewis would think belief. Mr. (C.S.) Lewis would think I was doing the Devil's work.”I was doing the Devil's work.”

Columnist Peter Hitchens states, Columnist Peter Hitchens states, “He is the anti-Lewis, the one the “He is the anti-Lewis, the one the atheists would have been praying atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed.”for, if atheists prayed.”(The Mail on Sunday, 2002/01/27)(The Mail on Sunday, 2002/01/27)

THE CONCERNTHE CONCERN

““But I'm not in the business of But I'm not in the business of offending people. I find the offending people. I find the books upholding certain values books upholding certain values that I think are important. Such that I think are important. Such as that as that this life is immensely this life is immensely valuablevaluable. And that this world is . And that this world is an extraordinarily beautiful an extraordinarily beautiful place, and we should do what place, and we should do what we can to increase the amount we can to increase the amount of wisdom in the world.”of wisdom in the world.”--Washington Post, 2001/2/19--Washington Post, 2001/2/19

PULLMAN’S VALUESPULLMAN’S VALUES

The trilogy is The trilogy is about 11-year-old about 11-year-old Lyra Belacqua, a Lyra Belacqua, a half-wild orphan half-wild orphan who is being who is being raised at an raised at an Oxford college.Oxford college.

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Lyra's Oxford is very different from the one in our Lyra's Oxford is very different from the one in our world. In this other world, every human has a world. In this other world, every human has a "daemon," an animal familiar that serves as the "daemon," an animal familiar that serves as the embodiment of a person's soul.embodiment of a person's soul.

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The golden compass The golden compass is a truth-telling is a truth-telling "alethiometer," "alethiometer," which Lyra uses in which Lyra uses in her journeys to the her journeys to the frozen North to frozen North to rescue her best rescue her best friend and other friend and other kidnapped children kidnapped children from terrible from terrible experiments being experiments being carried out by the carried out by the church.church.

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This is the story of the Fall presented not as a bad This is the story of the Fall presented not as a bad disaster, but as a coming of age for the human race. disaster, but as a coming of age for the human race. Lyra is the new Eve as she sets the children free.Lyra is the new Eve as she sets the children free.

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1.1. Life has a sense of awe Life has a sense of awe and mystery.and mystery.

2.2. Wisdom is good.Wisdom is good.Wisdom is liberating.Wisdom is liberating.

3.3. The needful decay of The needful decay of hierarchal authority into hierarchal authority into nothingness.nothingness.

4.4. Emphasis on faithful love.Emphasis on faithful love.

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The Golden Compass brings opportunity The Golden Compass brings opportunity for for a valuable discussion. Isn’t it okay to a valuable discussion. Isn’t it okay to question “the church” and to be critical of question “the church” and to be critical of hierarchal religious institutions?hierarchal religious institutions?

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What would Jesus What would Jesus say about today’s say about today’s “church”?“church”?

How would he feel How would he feel about how religious about how religious people use his people use his name? name?

How might he view How might he view organized religion?organized religion?

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What do you think What do you think about today’s about today’s “church”?“church”?

How do you feel How do you feel about how Jesus’ about how Jesus’ name is used? name is used?

What is your view of What is your view of organized religion?organized religion?

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Jesus was critical of Jesus was critical of “the church” of his “the church” of his day. day. Why?Why?

Religious leaders did Religious leaders did not like Jesus. not like Jesus. Why?Why?

Certain religious Certain religious leaders and Bible leaders and Bible scholars wanted him scholars wanted him dead. dead. Why?Why?

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Matthew 23:13-15 (The Message Bible)Matthew 23:13-15 (The Message Bible)(Jesus said) "I've had it with you! You're hopeless, (Jesus said) "I've had it with you! You're hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God's kingdom. You refuse to lives are roadblocks to God's kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won't let anyone else in either.  You're enter, and won't let anyone else in either.  You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You go halfway around the world to make a Frauds! You go halfway around the world to make a convert, but once you get him you make him into a convert, but once you get him you make him into a replica of yourselves, double-damned.” replica of yourselves, double-damned.”

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Perhaps PHILIP PULLMAN Perhaps PHILIP PULLMAN is attempting to is attempting to underscore what Thomas underscore what Thomas Paine once said:Paine once said:

"Any system of "Any system of religion that has religion that has anything in it that anything in it that shocks the mind of a shocks the mind of a child, cannot be a true child, cannot be a true system."system."

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