The Golden Compass Controversy

“I am a story teller,” declared British author Phillip Pullman. “If I wanted to send a message I would have written a sermon.” Pullman struck back at critics who have accused his trilogy “His Dark Materials” as being “candy-coated atheism.” He declares that such accusations are “absolute rubbish.” But are they?

Pullman’s own web site states his thoughts that it is “perfectly possible to explain how the universe came about without bringing God into it.” The third book in his trilogy, “The Amber Spyglass,” portrays the “Authority” to be a senile pretender who falsely proclaims to be God, the creator of the universe. The reader finally discovers that he is not who he claims to be but is rather one of the first angels who is extremely aged and quite weak.

Compare this to the biblical account of a powerful God who spoke the worlds into existence. One of his angelic creations, Lucifer, the morning star, tried to lead a revolt to overthrow God, only to be cast out of heaven with one-third of the angels. These became Satan and his demons.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan takes the form of the serpent, and tempts Eve by twisting God’s word. He asked her, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

Eve replied, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

Satan’s reply through the serpent was “You shall not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Adam and Eve ate of the fruit. They disobeyed God. These are the “ancestors” referred to in the Golden Compass, who “disobeyed the Authority.”

This is a small sampling of the atheistic threads woven through Pullman’s trilogy. The film maker’s toned down the atheistic content of the movie to the point that secularists are complaining that there isn’t enough anti-religious sentiment.

Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society has complained, "We think this is a great shame. The fight against the Magisterium is the whole point of the book. Take that away and the most original and interesting element of the story is lost."

Pullman denies the accusation of "candy-coated atheism.” However, both secularists and the religious community recognize the symbolism and the weight of the issues contained in “His Darkest Materials.” Meanwhile, The Golden Compass presents to the world a Pandora’s Box, encouraging its viewers or readers to reject the “Authority” and discover the personal demon who will guide them through life.