HP religion debates (drifting OT)

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 8381

Keith wrote:

>However, I haven't heard anything about fundamentalist groups trying to ban 
>[His Dark Materials]! I don't know precisely how popular it is, but I 
>certainly haven't heard a murmur against it.

As a huge HDM fan,* I've wondered the same thing.  I think the answer is 
that HP is SO popular that it awakens a response while other, less popular 
books (even ones as acclaimed and widely read as HDM) escape notice to a 
large extent.

OT:  There *have* been murmurs against Pullman's trilogy, however, which 
does indeed put God (at least a certain conception of God--"the Authority") 
on the side of evil.  Pullman sees that God as wanting us to remain in 
ignorance.  As Pullman says, "I hold the Fall to be the best thing that 
happened to us, not the worst...and I venerate Eve as a benefactor."  I 
agree with his view of the Fall, but needless to say, many think this is 
nothing short of Satanic!  I don't recall what Roman Catholic organization 
dubbed them extremely dangerous books.  Does anyone know if the RC Church 
still has the Index (=list of books good RC's shouldn't read)?

Amy

*For the record, I'm a minister.  But not a Christian.  (Not a Satanist 
either <g>.)  But I have heard of committed Christians who nevertheless love 
HDM, either because they disregard Pullman's theology, welcome the challenge 
it poses, or think it poses a challenge only to certain incarnations of the 
Church and not to the essence of Christianity.
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