Philip Pullman and His Dark Materials - is Dust God?
Several people responding to this feature have put forward the idea that the real parallel in 'His Dark Materials' isn't between 'the Authority' and God, but between Dust and God. For example:
Having read the books from a Christian perspective, I've come to the conclusion that the Authority portrayed in the books is most certainly not God. Instead, the Authority represents all of the cruelties and atrocities commited over the years by people 'in the name of God', such as the Crusades or the Spanish Inquisition. The Authority displays what mankind has turned the idea of God into - a tool for mankind's use. Pullman has also portrayed the true God, in the form of Dust. Dust is the unseen but always present representation of love, conscious thought, and free will. It is what makes us human beings.
Of course at one level, this is (or may be) true. Dust is closer to what followers of Christ believe about God than the Authority is. And certainly, to read the books in this light will make them much more comfortable reading for followers of Christ.
But is this a legitimate way to interpret 'His Dark Materials'? In other words, do we have any right to take the story this way?
There are many people today who claim that we can interpret a story however we want. We can read whatever we want to into it.
We disagree.
We think that when an author (-any author-) writes something, they do have some definite intention in mind in what they write. And we think that what they intend does matter.
Philip Pullman clearly also believes this, because he criticizes C. S. Lewis for his intentions in writing the Narnia stories. Now if the author's intention doesn't matter, it's meaningless to criticize the author for having a particular intention that you don't like.
[In practice, even the people who write literary works about reader-response theory do actually believe that the author's intention means something - they have a particular meaning in mind when they write, and they're trying to convince us by what they write. So even those who deny authorial intent in theory still practice it in reality.]
If you disagree with the things we've written on this site, you're showing that you also believe the author's intention does matter - because you believe we intend something specific by what we've written (and you disagree with what we intend - but that's another story).
So the question is: does Philip Pullman intend Dust to represent God?
And the answer must be that it depends what you mean by the word 'God'.
If you mean anything like the kind of God that's described in the Bible, and that followers of Christ believe in, then no, Pullman doesn't intend Dust to represent God. He's made it clear many times that he's agnostic about whether God really exists. In the books, he makes a clear connection between the God described in the Bible and 'the Authority.'
On the other hand, if you identify Dust with some kind of cosmic life-force (more like 'the Force' in Star Wars), then yes, Pullman does intend Dust to represent this kind of god. However, this is a pantheistic vision of god (god is everything and everything is god) - not a Biblical vision.
It's quite possible to have a meaningful discussion about whether God is there at all, and what God is like - but this takes us outside the discussion of 'His Dark Materials', and outside this special feature.
From this, it appears that if we take Pullman's intentions seriously (as we must), it doesn't do justice to his ideas to identify Dust with God.
Want to comment on this feature?
You can comment on 'Philip Pullman and His Dark Materials' here. If you disagree with what we say, please tell us why - politely. Comments are moderated. We will post comments that disagree with us. We won't post comments that are abusive or use bad language, or that just repeat points we've already responded to in the FAQ.
People often disagree with what we say on these pages. This is OK. However, if you read these pages carefully, you'll see that we aren't recommending that the films should be censored, or that Pullman's books (or Pullman himself) should be burned, or that people should be otherwise prevented from watching the films and reading the books. We disagree with what he says; not with his right to say it. We uphold the right of free speech, even - especially - for views we disagree with. Will you do the same if you disagree with us?
Web Sites
The Golden Compass - the official web site of the movie.
His Dark Materials web site, containing many interviews and news stories.
The Bridge To the Stars - a 'His Dark Materials' fan site, with the latest news and info on the HDM books, movie and stage version, as well as an active discussion forum
The Truth in 'The Golden Compass' - a video from Tony Watkins, Culturewatch
'Dark Matter: a thinking fan's guide to Philip Pullman', by Tony Watkins - a collection of resources including Tony's book about Philip Pullman and a briefing paper for churches on The Golden Compass.
'Hollywood Jesus' Philip Pullman resource center
Pullman vs. The Magisterium, by Terry Mattingly
The
Golden Compass: Pointing in the Wrong Direction - Steve Cable, Research
Associate of Probe Ministries, gives his response to The Golden Compass.
The
Golden Compass - Christianity Today contributor Peter T. Chattaway's
review of the movie.
Thinking
Christian Blog Tom Gilson's blog review of the His
Dark Materials trilogy.
The
Golden Compass: A Briefing for Concerned Parents - Dr
R. Albert Mohler, Jr outlines the worldview and
the agenda that lies behind the His Dark Materials trilogy.
The
Golden Compass: A Primer on Atheism - Russ Wise explains The Golden
Compass as a primer of Atheism, and presents suggestions of how Christians,
especially parents, can respond.
Atheism
For Kids - Gene Edward Veith examines the attack on C.S. Lewis and
The Chronicles of Narnia as the behind the scenes passion of author Philip
Pullman.
'The most dangerous author in Britain'? Article from 'The Mail on Sunday', 27th January 2002. "Philip Pullman is being hailed as the new C. S. Lewis after being awarded the Whitbread Book of the Year prize for his latest novel aimed at children: The Amber Spyglass. The judges described it as visionary, but Peter Hitchens reveals that the author appears to have his own sinister agenda..."
See also: 'A labour of loathing.' Peter Hitchens on the worship of Philip Pullman, who has set out to destroy Narnia. From 'The Spectator', 18 January 2003