Online book store Ignatius.com now has the anti-His Dark Materials book Pied Piper of Atheism available. The book aims to inform readers of the atheism contained in the His Dark Materials trilogy and gives reasons to be wary of the trilogy's intent.
Ignatius describes the book as an examination of "the metaphysical premises and moral propositions found throughout His Dark Materials, and point out the many objectionable aspects of the book - including violence and sensuality - about which every concerned parent should know".
Read full summary and view item description here.
6 comments - Add yours
#1 This is what Phil P. is talking about
Sounds exactly something Lord Boreal would have gotten behind. Admittedly, I’m not a Christian, however I find Pullman’s work very spiritual. HDM is actually a very touching and, yes, spiritual (though not religous) story. Most people, including those who write books like this, do not come from a very philosophical background and therefore do not understand Gnosticism or, much less, athesism. Calling Pullman a “Pied Piper” is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black, don’t you think. The Bible and its countless machineries and agents have been conspiring against, opressing, and manipulating people’s imaginations for at least two thousand years. Give HDM that much time and then we can have a real discussion.
Maybe HDM will inspire some children to think for themselves rather than have a daft grown up tell them what to think. Maybe it will reinforce their spiritual beliefs and allow them to examine their old ideas in a new light. Or maybe it will just inspire them to read more books.
Children will never know if they’re not given the chance. Isn’t that what Lyra’s journey is all about?
# November 16, 2007 12:16 by consciousparticles
#2
What a pointless venture. Anyone who thinks atheism is bad is already religious; this isn’t going to change anyone’s mind about anything.
We atheists might as well “reclaim” this as a description of why the books are good.
# November 16, 2007 21:44 by DigiEmissary
#3 I agrre with you totally, DigiEmmissary
You’re absolutely right, DigiEmissary. This ‘Pipied Piper’ book isn’t a critique, it’s propaganda!
# November 17, 2007 06:17 by consciousparticles
#4
urgh, they had to publish it
# November 17, 2007 14:42 by radomu
#5
OK, so how about an ‘examination of the metaphysical premises and moral propositions’ and ‘violence and sensuality’ found throughout Christianity as applied by it’s exponents past and present?
‘God - a superhuman being or spirit, having power over nature and human fortunes; the creator and ruler of the universe; the supreme being.’ - sounds familiar!
# November 19, 2007 19:10 by custos
#6
As a pagan I have to say, no-one has the right to tell anyone what to believe, not me, not Christians, not atheists, not anyone. Pullman presents some of his ideas in HDM and lets everyone make up their own minds. This Pied Piper absurdity just tells people what to believe. You see the difference.
# November 23, 2007 00:36 by Pilgrim