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'''''His Dark Materials''''' is a controversial trilogy of fictional fantasy novels written by [[Britain|British]] author Philip Pullman. It consists of ''The Golden Compass'' (originally published as ''Northern Lights'' in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1995), ''The Subtle Knife'' (published in 1997) and ''The Amber Spyglass'' (published in 2000). The title of the trilogy refers to a line from the 17th century poem ''Paradise Lost'' by [[John Milton]], [http://www.kirkcenter.org/bookman/44-1-bernthal.html] a line that is stated at the start of ''The Golden Compass''.

'''''His Dark Materials''''' is a trilogy of fictional fantasy novels written by [[Britain|British]] author Philip Pullman. It has caused controversy due to themes of anti-theism and the author's [[atheist]] and [[secularist]] beliefs.

 

The trilogy consists of ''The Golden Compass'' (originally published as ''Northern Lights'' in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1995), ''The Subtle Knife'' (published in 1997) and ''The Amber Spyglass'' (published in 2000). The title of the trilogy refers to a line from the 17th century poem ''Paradise Lost'' by [[John Milton]], [http://www.kirkcenter.org/bookman/44-1-bernthal.html] a line that is stated at the start of ''The Golden Compass''. <ref> ''The Golden Compass'' <ref/>

 

==Plot==

==Plot==

{{Spoiler}}

{{Spoiler}}

Will and Lyra delight in their new-found love, but they soon learn that the many holes cut by the Subtle Knife will need to be closed before the supply of Dust runs out. They also learn that staying in a different world for a long period of time will eventually cause a decline in a person's health, killing them. They make the ultimate sacrifice, deciding that they cannot stay with each other, since they have to leave one portal open to allow the dead to return to the living world. They each go back to their respective Oxfords, and resume their normal lives, basing them around teaching other people to live their lives to the fullest and not bother with [[faith]].

Will and Lyra delight in their new-found love, but they soon learn that the many holes cut by the Subtle Knife will need to be closed before the supply of Dust runs out. They also learn that staying in a different world for a long period of time will eventually cause a decline in a person's health, killing them. They make the ultimate sacrifice, deciding that they cannot stay with each other, since they have to leave one portal open to allow the dead to return to the living world. They each go back to their respective Oxfords, and resume their normal lives, basing them around teaching other people to live their lives to the fullest and not bother with [[faith]].

==Religious Views==

==Religious Views==

===God===

===God===

The character of "The Authority" is definitely the [[Judeo-Christian]] [[God]], evidenced by many of his names [http://www.amywelborn.com/reviews/pullman.html]. [[Yahweh]], one of the names referred to, is a common name for God in the [[Bible]]. The Father the Almighty is a term from the [[Nicene Creed]].

The character of "The Authority" is definitely the [[Judeo-Christian]] [[God]], evidenced by many of his names [http://www.amywelborn.com/reviews/pullman.html]. [[Yahweh]], one of the names mentioned, is a common name for God in the [[Bible]]. The Father the Almighty, another name, is a term from the [[Nicene Creed]].

Due to this, the character clearly departs from the God depicted in these sources. He is mortal and his powers are clearly limited, while the Judeo-Christian God is believed to be immortal and limitless in power.

Despite this, the character clearly departs from the God depicted in the Bible. He is mortal and his powers are clearly limited, while the Judeo-Christian God is believed to be immortal and limitless in power.

===Jesus===

===Jesus===

[[Jesus]] is only referenced directly once in the books. The character Mary Malone says near the end of ''The Amber Spyglass'', when talking of her former devotion to the Catholic faith:

[[Jesus]] is only referenced directly once in the books. Near the end of ''The Amber Spyglass'', when talking of her former devotion to the Catholic faith, Mary Malone (a minor character) says:

''"I wanted to take my whole life and offer it up.. and place it in front of Jesus to do as he liked with."''{{fact}}

''"I wanted to take my whole life and offer it up.. and place it in front of Jesus to do as he liked with."'' <ref>''The Amber Spyglass'', Ch. 33, "Marzipan" </ref>

===The Church===

===Christianity===

However, the religion started by Jesus appears many times in the books. The Church of Lyra's parallel universe is specifically stated to be a descendant of the [[Calvinist]] faith in ''The Golden Compass'':

However, the religion started by Jesus appears many times in the books. The Church of Lyra's parallel universe is specifically stated to be a descendant of the [[Calvinist]] faith in ''The Golden Compass'':

''"Ever since [[Pope]] [[John Calvin]] had moved the seat of the Papacy to [[Geneva]] and set up the Consistorial Court of Discipline, the Church's power over every aspect of life had been absolute"

''"Ever since [[Pope]] [[John Calvin]] had moved the seat of the Papacy to [[Geneva]] and set up the Consistorial Court of Discipline, the Church's power over every aspect of life had been absolute"

''{{fact}}

'' <ref> ''The Golden Compass'', Ch. 2, "The Idea of North"

==Religious Response==

==Religious Response==

Pullman's trilogy notoriously contains views that are said to be [[atheist]] [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58341], [[pantheism|pantheist]] [http://www.facingthechallenge.org/pullman.php], and [[humanist]] [http://humaniststudies.org/media/releases.html?year=2007&type=PR&id=67]. Due to this, it has come under heavy fire from several [[Christian]] groups, most famously the Catholic League [http://catholicleague.org/catalyst.php?year=2007&month=October&read=2322].

The majority of Christians online believe that the trilogy is overly [[atheist]] [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58341], [[pantheism|pantheist]] [http://www.facingthechallenge.org/pullman.php], or [[humanist]] [http://literarycatechist.blogspot.com/2007/11/his-dark-materials.html]. It has also come under heavy fire from several [[Christian]] groups, most famously the Catholic League, who called for a Christian boycott of the film adaptation. [http://catholicleague.org/catalyst.php?year=2007&month=October&read=2322].

 

[[Category: Atheism]]

[[Category: Atheism]]

[[Category: Books]]

[[Category: Books]]