Comments on: The Golden Compass http://blog.andrewlives.com/tianon/2007/12/03/the-golden-compass/ The Chronicles of Tianon's College Life Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:48:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Tianon http://blog.andrewlives.com/tianon/2007/12/03/the-golden-compass/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Tianon Sun, 09 Dec 2007 19:17:49 +0000 http://blog.andrewlives.com/tianon/2007/12/03/the-golden-compass/#comment-41 While I realize that Pullman himself may have been stabbing at God and Religion, I know how to enjoy a good story. My favorite painter, <a href="http://www.jonathonart.com/" rel="nofollow">Jonathon Bowser</a> (whose work, "<a href="http://www.jonathonart.com/fmist.html" rel="nofollow">Forest Mist</a>" is currently hanging above me on the wall), believes certain things about the women he paints in his <a href="http://www.jonathonart.com/mythnat.html" rel="nofollow">Mythic Naturalism</a> series. What he believes, however, does not in any way hinder my enjoyment of his artistic work, since I have a thinking, reasoning brain of my own. What matters is what it means to <b>me</b>, because <i>that</i> is the interpretation I have to live with. While I realize that Pullman himself may have been stabbing at God and Religion, I know how to enjoy a good story.
My favorite painter, Jonathon Bowser (whose work, “Forest Mist” is currently hanging above me on the wall), believes certain things about the women he paints in his Mythic Naturalism series. What he believes, however, does not in any way hinder my enjoyment of his artistic work, since I have a thinking, reasoning brain of my own.

What matters is what it means to me, because that is the interpretation I have to live with.

]]> By: PixelFish http://blog.andrewlives.com/tianon/2007/12/03/the-golden-compass/comment-page-1/#comment-38 PixelFish Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:22:37 +0000 http://blog.andrewlives.com/tianon/2007/12/03/the-golden-compass/#comment-38 I really really wish that I could see the whole context of the "My books are about killing God" quote. All I keep finding are countless people using it as the headliner quote in Why The Movie Is Teh Evil. In any case, part of the novel I'm working on, features a scene where the predominant God creature of the world I've created gets killed AND eaten. (The eating is actually VERY important.) And technically, one of the main themes running through the story is how people relate to religion. There are characters that run the gamut from non-believers, to reluctant believers, to fanatic believers who use their beliefs to justify terrible behaviour, to good people who believe and find comfort, to people who wanted to believe but eventually came to realise that the culture around them was screwing them over. Much like the Pullman universe the powers that be have corrupted, but it's a fantasy novel. And yes, God (or a god-like creature) does get killed/dies at the end of Pullman's trilogy, but I think the important thing he was trying to say is that love, respect, free will, etc are all necessary....and that if a God-like being would try to contravene those in any way, it wasn't worth worshipping just because it was God. I really really wish that I could see the whole context of the “My books are about killing God” quote. All I keep finding are countless people using it as the headliner quote in Why The Movie Is Teh Evil.

In any case, part of the novel I’m working on, features a scene where the predominant God creature of the world I’ve created gets killed AND eaten. (The eating is actually VERY important.) And technically, one of the main themes running through the story is how people relate to religion. There are characters that run the gamut from non-believers, to reluctant believers, to fanatic believers who use their beliefs to justify terrible behaviour, to good people who believe and find comfort, to people who wanted to believe but eventually came to realise that the culture around them was screwing them over. Much like the Pullman universe the powers that be have corrupted, but it’s a fantasy novel.

And yes, God (or a god-like creature) does get killed/dies at the end of Pullman’s trilogy, but I think the important thing he was trying to say is that love, respect, free will, etc are all necessary….and that if a God-like being would try to contravene those in any way, it wasn’t worth worshipping just because it was God.

]]> By: Secret-Whisp3r http://blog.andrewlives.com/tianon/2007/12/03/the-golden-compass/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Secret-Whisp3r Sat, 08 Dec 2007 09:40:39 +0000 http://blog.andrewlives.com/tianon/2007/12/03/the-golden-compass/#comment-36 While you are right, and there is much more to "The Golden Compass" than anti-religious themes, the author does not hide the fact that his book, is in fact, anti-God. "Pullman has left little doubt about his books' intended thrust in discussions of his works, such as noting in a 2003 interview that 'My books are about killing God' and in a 2001 interview that he was 'trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.'" If you do enough searching around you will find an LA Times interview with Pullman where it has more specific info of his rejection of organized religion. While this is true, I do think it is narrow minded to reject a story of any value just because of some of it's religious undertones (that one is not required to agree with in the first place!). After all, it was John Taylor who said: "If there is any truth in heaven, earth, or hell, I want to embrace it, I care not what shape it comes in to me, who brings it, or who believes in it, whether it is popular or unpopular. Truth, eternal truth, I wish to float in and enjoy" So I do agree that people who reject these amazing books just because of the religious themes are narrow minded. Thanks- Secret-Whisp3r http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A23371-2001Feb18? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Pullman While you are right, and there is much more to “The Golden Compass” than anti-religious themes, the author does not hide the fact that his book, is in fact, anti-God.

“Pullman has left little doubt about his books’ intended thrust in discussions of his works, such as noting in a 2003 interview that ‘My books are about killing God’ and in a 2001 interview that he was ‘trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.’”

If you do enough searching around you will find an LA Times interview with Pullman where it has more specific info of his rejection of organized religion.

While this is true, I do think it is narrow minded to reject a story of any value just because of some of it’s religious undertones (that one is not required to agree with in the first place!).

After all, it was John Taylor who said:
“If there is any truth in heaven, earth, or hell, I want to embrace it, I care not what shape it comes in to me, who brings it, or who believes in it, whether it is popular or unpopular. Truth, eternal truth, I wish to float in and enjoy”

So I do agree that people who reject these amazing books just because of the religious themes are narrow minded.

Thanks-

Secret-Whisp3r

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A23371-2001Feb18?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Pullman

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