Golden Compass author Philip Pullman calls critics "nitwits"

American Papist ^ | November 28, 2007 | Thomas Peters

[NYer]

I've been noticing an ongoing stream of headlines relating to the Golden Compass in recent weeks (it opens Dec. 7th), and also to the Catholic League's initiative to boycott the film because it is based on Philip Pullman's anti-Catholic series, His Dark Materials.

I blogged about this story back in August ("The Golden Compass is pointing towards anti-Catholicism") and composed a short summary of what you need to know about the film back in October ("The word is getting out about The Golden Compass").

Now, with the movie's release immanent, and the fate of films two and three hanging on how this first one performs (New Line Cinema has more riding on this series, it has been reported, than it did on Lord of the Rings), series author Philip Pullman has broken his silence, saying "it causes me to shake my head with sorrow that such nitwits could be loose in the world". The nitwits in question are those who are calling for a boycott of the film.

To give the Catholic League credit, their reasons for the boycott seem reasonable to me:

The author of this children's fantasy is Philip Pullman, a noted English atheist. It is his objective to bash Catholicism and promote atheism. To kids. "The Golden Compass" is a film version of the book by that name, and it is being toned down so that Catholics, as well as Protestants, are not enraged.

The second book of the trilogy, The Subtle Knife, is more overt in its hatred of Catholicism than the first book, and the third entry, The Amber Spyglass, is even more blatant. Because "The Golden Compass" is based on the least offensive of the three books, and because it is being further watered down for the big screen, some might wonder why a boycott is warranted.

The Catholic League wants Christians to boycott this movie precisely because it knows that the film is bait for the books: unsuspecting parents who take their children to see the movie may be impelled to buy the three books as a Christmas present. And no parent who wants to bring their children up in the faith will want any part of these books.

Friends of mine have read part or all of this series, and tell me that the books are both well written, and very dark (torture, etc.) Certainly not suitable for younger children, they said (noting sensualism, etc.). And they confirm the CL's claim that the books' anti-Catholicism becomes more blatant with each succeeding volume.

The anti-Catholic message of His Dark Materials, and Pullman's intention to compose atheistic propaganda are, from my reading, really beyond any dispute. One need only look at the Ignatius title "Pied Piper of Atheism: Philip Pullman and Children's Fantast" or read through Carl Olson's many and excellent posts on the topic to admit this point. Alternately, Chris Blosser wrote a megapost on Pullman vs. C.S. Lewis in June at Against the Grain. Finally, prominent secularists are actually criticizing New Line Cinema for not including Pullman's full anti-religious venom in the movie! Honestly, he has no defense. And it makes his protestations all the more hypocritical.

Donohue responded thusly to Pullman's protestations recently:

"In the current Newsweek, Pullman lashes out at me saying, [How could Donohue know that I'm a militant atheist, and that my intention is to convert people?] That’s easy—I just quote him: ‘I’m trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.’"

Let's take a look at what Pullman exactly said, so we can bask in his excellent use of English prosody:

"To regard it as this Donohue man has said - that I'm a militant atheist, and my intention is to convert people - how the hell does he know that?" - UK Times

I agree with Pullman - how the hell isn't he a good influence on kids?

Update: Rebecca Davies of the UK Telegraph movie blog royally doesn't get the point:

It is blatant attempts such as these to control personal choice and shirk scrutiny that have led to criticism of the Catholic [sic] in the first place.

And they’re only lucky that some independent filmmaker didn’t come along and take them to the cleaners with a full-blown anti-Catholic Golden Compass, complete with Pope Benedict lookalike.

In terms of crossing the line, I think that was a pole-vault. So let me get this straight: Pullman's writing of a subversive novel to "control" the "personal choice" of kids - that's okay. But Catholics' decrying of Pullman's attempt to control the personal choice of kids - that's wrong?

To paraphrase Davies in my own words: "It is blatant examples such as this to apply a double-standard to anti-Catholic activists that has led to my recurring criticism of the mainstream media in the first place."

"And she's rather unlucky that the AmP, an independant blogger, decided to come along and take her to the cleaners with a full-blown anti-double-standard stance, complete with direct quotations."

There, I think that works nicely.

[NYer]

My local Borders has provided a large display for the Trilogy. They placed it next to the Children’s section.

[netmilsmom]

We saw trailers for The Golden Compass before Enchanted. My older daughter wants to see it so badly, she is ready to burst.

I told her that she is allowed to want.

[ConorMacNessa]

We’re not letting our children see it.

[B-Chan]

"thusly"

AAAARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHH

3. Word Choice: New Uses, Common Confusion, and Constraints

§ 282. thusly
The adverb thusly was created in the 19th century as an alternative for thus in sentences such as Hold it thus or He put it thus. It appears to have been first used by humorists, who may have been echoing the speech of poorly educated people straining to sound stylish. The word has subsequently gained some currency in educated usage, but it is still often regarded as incorrect. A large majority of the Usage Panel found it unacceptable in an earlier survey. In formal writing, thus can still be used as in the examples above; in other styles, expressions such as this way and like this are more natural.
— The American Heritage® Book of English Usage. Copyright © 1996 by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

Sorry. Pet peeve. I know it's not your usage, but still...

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Well no one put the man in jail for writing the books. But parents have a right to be informed don’t they?

[NYer]

My older daughter wants to see it so badly, she is ready to burst.

Has she read the books? It's inevitable that at some point in time, she will see the movie at a friend's house. Before that happens, perhaps you and she should sit down and discuss the books and movie. If she is in the least bit sensitive, she would be very upset to learn that atheists don't believe in Jesus Christ and these books encourage children to feel the same way.

[Aquinasfan]

"In the current Newsweek, Pullman lashes out at me saying, [How could Donohue know that I'm a militant atheist, and that my intention is to convert people?] That’s easy—I just quote him: ‘I’m trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.’"

In case anyone was still wondering, there's this from Pullman himself.

[AnAmericanMother]

As I told my daughter, when the books first came out (she was about seven): "This man hates Jesus, and he wants other people to hate Jesus too."

That was enough.

She prefers So You Want to Be a Wizard, which although a very odd book (she likes odd books) with a similar theme, has a Christian worldview (at one point in the book the Archangel Michael is trying to persuade Lucifer to see the error of his ways). But she didn't read it until she was 12 or so.

[netmilsmom]

She won’t find it at any of her friend’s houses. Trust me. I had to convince moms that Enchanted was fine.

One of the moms took her 10 and 18 year olds to see Hairspray. When Prudy Pingleton throws the Holy Water on her daughter Penny and yells “Devil child, Devil child”, the 18 year old leaned into her mother and said, “That’s you!” The people we hand around are a bit over the top!

But you are absolutely correct. I need to discuss these books and the movie with her. It’s forbidden fruit until we talk about it and I want her to see it all from the proper perspective. Thanks!

[netmilsmom]

That sounds marvelous!

I think she will be getting it for Christmas!

[wideawake]

The best policy toward Pullman is to ignore him, and to caution people we know that his books are unsuitable for children.

Negative word of mouth is the way to go.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Hannady and Combs will be discussing it tonight.

[twntaipan]

This is from the same Hollywood liberal thought machine that won’t say a single negative thing about Islam, but feels fine about producing movies that are blatantly anti-Christian.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Hannady and Combs will be discussing it tonight.

[marshmallow]

It's remarkable how much of the current impetus towards secularism, atheism and godlessness is coming out of Britain. There's a true hatred of religion which is evident. What's interesting to me is the progression which seems to be occurring. Over the past 3-4 decades there has been a noticeable apathy and indifference to Christianity in Britain but that now seems to be giving way to a positive hatred and assault on religion.

Apart from Pullman, another British atheist, Richard Dawkins is also striving with all his might to ride roughshod over Christian principles. Add to this the cloning industry and the push to criminalize any sort of criticism of homosexual behavior which are in advanced stages over there and it makes for a very unhappy picture.

Certain individuals have been used by Satan to further his ends throughout history, but it's an inescapable fact that certain countries have also been used for the demonic agenda. Britain seems to be under an awful curse.

[diamond6]

As if we don’t have enough anti-christian garbage to contend with, then this comes out.

Unnghhhh!!!

[Pyro7480]

Britain seems to be under an awful curse.

Martyrs of England and Wales, pray for us!

[Little Ray]

On the plus side, I was a poster for Prince Caspian. Wanna bet the next Narnia movie out-grosses Pullman’s screed 3-1?

[ArrogantBustard]

I’ll go see a Narnia movie ... I won’t be seeing Pullman’s ... “stuff”.