When the Golden Compass movie came out in 2007 there was a huge outcry from some Christian groups protesting the movie and book series [His Dark Materials] for it's anti-Christian/ pro-atheist themes. So of course I read the book trilogy to see what all the fuss was about.
[Warning: there are spoilers in this article.]
And I loved the series.
That doesn't mean that I necessarily agree with everything Phillip Pullman states or believe things in exactly the way he does, but it is a transfixing series. The storytelling is imaginative yet realistic, inspiring yet gripping in its suspenseful twists and turns of the plot; you never can predict what is going to happen next and every character is a shade of gray. I adore that in the books I read. Pullman is a fantastic author and it pains me that some people would miss out on fantastic writing because it differs from their beliefs.
But the strange thing I noticed is that though Pullman is promoting atheism by flat-out stating that the Christian God (called "the Authority") is a lie and that there is no God, I saw my God all through the books in the form of Dust. The world in which the protagonist Lyra lives is a parallel world in which there was no protestant reformation, John Calvin became the Catholic Pope and dissolved the papacy creating the Magisterium and Consistatorial Court. These leaders are corrupt and use the Christian religion to try and subjugate all humans in this world through fear, manipulation, guilt, shame and lies. The Authority is portrayed as a decrepit, ancient angel who didn't create anything but assumed power over everything, distorting the true nature of all the worlds and his followers in every world (including ours) are intent on upholding the regime to retain power. Those following the Authority are trying to destroy Dust.
Dust is the conscious energy of the universe that clings to that which has knowledge. For those who seek dust, it tells them the truth and leads them in universe-saving harmony and balance. Those to whom the Dust clings the most are full of wisdom, and are the ones who help Lyra and Will bring peace and balance to all the worlds by saving the Dust. Though my ideas of God are not exactly the same as the Dust depicted in this book, the idea and purpose of Dust is a main component of it. Lyra has to enter a meditative type state to talk to Dust through the instrument called an alethiometer, which reminds me of the state of mind I tend to work towards when I pray and "listen to God." The connection to the universe that the character Dr. Mary Malone feels when she is out in nature, helping others and around Dust is how I describe being "in the presence of God." The joy and wholeness I feel when fully in relationship with the love of my life, whether that be sex, intimacy, deep discussion, or even just being in his presence with my heart open makes me feel like God is surrounding our relationship and reminds me of how Lyra and Will are surrounded by a radiant aura of Dust when they realize that they love each other.
Pullman maybe holding up a mirror to criticize much of the religious organization called Christianity- and let's face it, horrible things like the Crusades, the Inquisition, castration, and other atrocities among judgmental and shame inducing beliefs were created and committed in the name of the Christian God- but that mirror does need to be held up. We Christians are humans and we get things wrong. Plenty of Christians have held up similar mirrors to Christianity and were thanked for it generations later though persecuted for it at the time. We as people constantly need to challenge our beliefs in order to truly make them our beliefs.
It may not be an exact parallel, but Pullman's ideas about the truth in the universe and the purpose of humankind matches up with the ideals I uphold as a Christian. Love, hope, tolerance, compassion, equality, free-will, altruism, peace, harmony, balance, human connection... All these are the building blocks of my faith and seem also to be the foundation of Pullman's atheistic message.
I feel like Pullman is stating that he doesn't believe in shoes because Christians wear steel-toe military boots. Yet Pullman also states that he believes it's good to have things on your feet, to give them protection, versatility and a better quality of walking; what you put on your feet should be light, form-fitting, pleasurable and functional, in harmony with your body and the earth you walk on. In essence, its like Pullman believes in the purpose and idea of shoes while stating he doesn't believe in shoes.
What isn't given any credence by Pullman is that there are many Christians wearing shoes exactly like that which he describes and are just as saddened by the Christians who don't realize their shoes' full potential, distorting the design of them to manipulate and control. Those Christians are glad that Pullman is purporting the idea of wearing the correct shoes and happy that as long as people are creating and wearing the right shoes, the true purpose is being spread. However those Christians are also disappointed that some people have had to leave the church (or religion in general) in order to find those shoes when that should be the church's main focus: putting the correct shoes on people's feet!
Not getting the analogy? What it boils down to is this:
Love.
Pullman believes in the power of Love to make the world better. Jesus' main message in the New Testament is about Love. The true message about God is Love. So, if Love is what people believe in -whether atheist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, agnostic, etc.- and if Love should be the purpose of all life, then the rest is just semantics. Love is how I see God.
So make this world a better place through love.
Study what love is and practice how to exhibit love to everyone.
Live a life of love by whatever resonates with you.
Love is the true purpose.
Love is how the world can be renewed.
Love is how lives can be fulfilled.
Just Love.
