“The Christian religion is a very powerful
and convincing mistake, that’s all.”
(The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman)

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This is a companion to a very detailed analysis I wrote of Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” series. It is a brief introduction covering points that Christian parents may be interested in knowing about the series.

It is formatted so that it can also be used as a bulletin insert for churches. In this way, pastors can succinctly bring their members up to speed about the issues.

Note, the content of the bulletin itself is cut and pasted below.

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TECHNICAL NOTES: Just print off the document, which is in PDF. Make copies totaling half the amount of bulletins you’ll need. Flip it over and make the same amount of copies, but copy to the other side. Now, cut right down the middle on the center line provided. Problems? Contact Sntjohnny.

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A Christian Parent’s Guide to Philip Pullman’s “The Golden Compass”

“The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that’s all.”*

What is all the fuss about?

While there was some debate among Christians about Harry Potter, there is no need for debate about Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials.’ Pullman’s anti-Christian agenda is abundantly clear. The first movie, “The Golden Compass” is coming out in December of 2007.

Writing for children, Pullman casts a vision of a world where there is no transcendent God and thinking there is one leads to all sorts of horrible things. For example, in one interview he says, “Our home is not somewhere else. There is no elsewhere. This is a physical universe and we are physical beings made of material stuff. This is where we live.”

While Pullman himself denies trying to single out Christianity for ridicule (all monotheistic religions are basically the same, he says), the values promoted and the themes explored are definitely opposed to Christianity. God is an evil tyrant whom many of the characters set out to kill… sound like an innocent children’s book to you?

*The Amber Spyglass, page 441.

How Should Christians Respond?

Though the Pullman series is positively hostile to Christianity and its values, it still provides the Church with the opportunity to explain and clarify just what Christianity is all about. We should not act as though we are afraid of these books.

• Parents should get the books from the library to see what they teach.
• Parents should research topics that emerge so they can speak about them.
• Parents should research Christian responses to the challenges the books contain.

Some Quotes from the Series:

“Somewhere out there is the origin of all the Dust, all the death, the sin, the misery, the destructiveness in the world. Human beings can’t see anything without wanting to destroy it, Lyra. That’s original sin. And I’m going to destroy it. Death is going to die.” (The Golden Compass, pg 377)

“…it’s my belief he turned away from a rebellion against the Church not because the Church was too strong, but because it was too weak to be worth the fighting.” .. “I think he’s a-waging a higher war than that. He’s gone a-searching for the dwelling place of the Authority Himself, and he’s a going to destroy Him.” … “He’s a-going to find the Authority [God] and kill Him.” (The Subtle Knife, pg 46-47).

“And the answer came back- no. No one will. There’s no one to fret, no one to condemn, no one to bless me for being a good girl, no one to punish me for being wicked. Heaven was empty. I didn’t know whether God had died, or whether there never had been a God at all.” (The Amber Spyglass, pg 445).

Reasons Christians Should Be Concerned about “His Dark Materials”

*It is written from a distinctly atheistic worldview in an effort to promote that worldview.

*It makes use of content that is promoted heavily in science classes, like evolution and quantum mechanics, suggesting his ideas are plausible.

*It promotes values that Christians would reject and rejects values Christians would uphold.

*It dismisses important doctrines like ‘original sin’ as power ploys by the Church.

*The ‘God’ in the Pullman series is nothing like God as Christians understand Him, but young readers will probably not know this.

The Series in Nutshell

“The Golden Compass” begins with Lyra, a young girl living in another, parallel universe. She is accompanied everywhere by her daemon (pronounced: “demon”), which is in fact just her soul. In the second book, a character named Will emerges from our own universe. Lyra is shocked that Will’s daemon is inside him. The ‘soul’ is just a physical reality that in our evolved universe resides within us.

At the end of the Golden Compass, Lyra’s father breaks out of his universe in his quest to find and kill God, and tear down the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ and erect the ‘Republic of Heaven.’ Lyra and Will have special instruments that factor into their own mission. Lyra has a ‘symbol reader’ and Will has a ‘subtle knife.’ The ‘symbol reader’ always tells the truth and the knife cuts through to other universes. With these tools in hand, Lyra and Will set out to open a way out of the realm of the dead. This first requires that they ‘die’ but once they succeed, they are able to re-unite with their daemon-souls.

In the final book, “The Amber Spyglass,” Lyra’s parents succeed in bringing down the ‘Kingdom of Heaven.’ Lyra and Will ‘save the universes’ after a character, Mary Malone, tells how she gave up being a nun because she couldn’t believe anyone could condemn her for wanting sexual pleasure.

Lyra and Will head off into the trees… and all is well. The Universes are saved.

The two eventually part, but look forward to building ‘the Republic of Heaven’ in their own universes.

Pullman and CS Lewis

One of the things that has bothered many Christians is how it seems that Pullman is writing with the specific intention of being the anti-Lewis. In an interview, he has even said that he ‘loathes’ the Chronicles of Narnia. This attitude clearly reflects the fact that Pullman has an entirely different way of looking at the world.

Quick Fact:

As the series progresses it becomes more hostile towards ‘God’ with book one containing little more than hints as to what is to come in future books.

For Additional Information, Go here: www.sntjohnny.com/pullman

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“You should be baptizing me…”

Selected readings this week:

• Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
• Epistle: Romans 15:4-13
• Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

Have we found John the Baptist’s Home in the Desert?

Probably not. However, the cave, announced in 2004 to the world as possibly being used by John the Baptist, still helps us understand how ritual immersion was performed in ancient Judea. As an explicit corroboration of a Biblical person or event, there is little to go on in this case to be too certain. Research continues, and new discoveries have tended to support the accuracy of our Scriptures. Our faith is well founded.

The Root of Jesse

It may be recalled that the Jews during Jesus’ time were aware of certain prophetic clues that would help them understand who the promised Messiah was and when he would arrive. That the Messiah would come from the root, or ‘stump of Jesse,’ is one such example.

Jesse was the father of King David (Ruth 4:22, 1 Sam. 16). God promised a savior as early as Genesis 3:15. Later, the promise was refined and of the 12 tribes of Israel, Judah was selected (Gen. 49:10). This prophecy in Isaiah narrows it further, to one family within the line of Judah: Jesse’s. And Jesse’s line was no ordinary line. His was a royal line, the line of David.

By the first century, Jews were on the lookout for signs of the Messiah, and it was emphasized that Jesus met the requirements. For example, the importance of Jesus’ lineage and birthplace are given positions of prominence in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt. 1-2).

In 70 AD Jerusalem and its temple was destroyed and there followed a great dispersion of the Jews. In a Divine Irony, this monumental event wiped out many of the ways the Jewish people could have recognized the Messiah. One wouldn’t be able to verify that someone was in the line of Judah, or from Bethlehem, etc. There can be no other candidates for the Messiah because their credentials can’t be tested. If it is not Jesus, it is no one.

Many Jews today no longer look for a warrior-king, but have different ideas. For example, some suggest that the state of Israel itself could be the Messiah.

Thomas Aquinas on the Objection that John the

Baptist Ought Not to Have Baptized.

I answer that, It was fitting for John to baptize, for four reasons: first, it was necessary for Christ to be baptized by John, in order that He might sanctify baptism; as Augustine observes. Secondly, that Christ might be manifested. Whence John himself says “That He,” i.e. Christ, “may be made manifest in Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.” For [as Chrysostom observes] he announced Christ to the crowds that gathered around him …

Thirdly, that by his baptism he might accustom men to the baptism of Christ; … Fourthly, that by persuading men to do penance, he might prepare men to receive worthily the baptism of Christ… (Aquinas, Summa Part 3, Q38).

Written c. 1270 AD. Source: NewAdvent.com

The River Jordan

The river Jordan played an important role in the events of the Bible and is still important in the region today. In fact, water in general shaped and continues to shape events in the region. The Jordan river connects the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, separated by about 65 airline miles, but the river itself makes the journey over 200 miles. The river descends to the lowest point on earth, dropping at about 40 feet per mile, making it an extremely fast flowing river. The Sea of Galilee is a fresh water lake but its waters, by the time they get to the Dead Sea, become the most ‘salty’ lake on the planet. The oceans have a salinity of 3.5%, and the Great Salt Lake in Utah is 18%. The Dead Sea is 26-35%.

One begins to see the symbolism involved in being baptized in the Jordan. The rushing waters tear away at you, scouring away your dirt, depositing it into the Dead Sea. Today, the river is much slower because of water management projects. Its value as symbolism has diminished, but it still retains its importance as the countries of Syria, Israel, and Jordan all rely on it.

Primary Sources: The Moody Atlas of the Bible.

From an Ancient Author:

Jewish historian Josephus, writing in 93 AD, describes the death of Herod and John the Baptist, thus corroborating the New Testament accounts in many respects.

“Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod’s army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; …. Now when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were very greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had, … thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod’s suspicious temper, … and was … put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God’s displeasure to him.” (Josephus, Antiquities Bk. 18) [See Matt 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-29, Acts 12:19-22]

The Promised One Comes!

Jesus told his disciples to be ready at any time and also warned them about false ‘Christs.’ There had already been some (eg, Acts 5:33-38). Like the flood (Matt 24:37), the coming of the real Christ will be impossible to miss.

Selected readings this week:

• Old Testament: Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122
• Epistle: Romans 13:11-14
• Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44

What is Advent?

In many places today the terms the Church uses can be confusing or appear archaic.  ‘Advent’ is a word we still use today, as in “The advent of the computer changed the world…”  ‘Advent’ means ‘coming’ or ‘arrival.’  During the Christmas season it is easy to see that the ‘arrival’ being celebrated is Jesus… God…. Coming to save the world.

However, as the texts for this day indicate, it is not only a celebration of Jesus’ arrival as an infant, but also a hopeful expectation of Jesus’ return, as he promised to do.  He came once in weakness, he will come again in glory.  God promised a savior, and the savior came.  Jesus promised to return, return he will.

There have been many differences of opinions in the Christian church about the nature of Jesus’ second coming.  Our passages for this week suggest one thing that all can agree on:  Jesus calls us to be ready.  What does ‘be ready’ mean?  For one thing, it means to behave as though Jesus might come this very hour.

Because he might.

Marana tha!*

*1 Corinthians 16:22,

Aramaic for “Come, O Lord.”

Biblical Language Insight:

Matt. 24:42 ‘keep watch’

grhgoreite (gray-gor-yoo’-o)

to watch, to take heed lest some destructive calamity suddenly overtake you.

Source: Crosswalk.com

The Church Fathers Said…

St. Augustine Describes his Conversion after opening to Today’s Reading in Romans 13:11-14
“I was saying these things and weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when suddenly I heard the voice of a boy or a girl I know not which–coming from the neighboring house, chanting over and over again, “Tolle, lege; tolle, lege; pick it up, read it.” Immediately I ceased weeping and … damming the torrent of my tears, I got to my feet, for I could not but think that this was a divine command to open the Bible and read the first passage I should light upon. So I quickly returned to the bench where … I had put down the apostle’s book … I snatched it up, opened it, and in silence read the paragraph on which my eyes first fell: “… not in sexual immorality or debauchery… Rather clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ…” I wanted to read no further, nor did I need to. For instantly, as the sentence ended, there was infused in my heart something like the light of full certainty and all the gloom of doubt vanished away.” Augustine’s Confessions. Bk 8, chp 7.

The Old City of Jerusalem

Both of the Old Testament readings talk about Jerusalem, or Mt. Zion. In Isaiah 2:3 we read the beckoning, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.” In fact, the Scriptures often talk about going ‘up’ to Jerusalem. This is because Jerusalem is situated on a high hill surrounded by several deep valleys, the Hinnom, Kidron, and Tyropoeon. The Mt. of Olives, where the Garden of Gethsemane was located, was on the other side of the Kidron Valley, and Jesus would have been able to see the torches of the men coming to arrest him from a distance.

Jerusalem was called the “Mountain of the Lord’ but this wasn’t merely because it was a difficult city to overcome, but because the temple was built there and was where God was present.

Jerusalem seems to have always been associated with the presence of God. As early as the 19th century BC the city appears in Egyptian and Semitic records as Urusalim, or ‘uru’ (city) and ‘salim’ (a Divine name). This was long before David captured the city. Indeed, it was out of Salem that the priest and king, Melchizedek brought out bread and wine to Abram after Abram rescued Lot (Genesis 14:18, also see Psalm 110 and Hebrews 5).

Primary Sources: The Moody Atlas of the Bible.

The House of David Inscription.

For years and years Christians have had to put up with claims rolling out of various academic institutions insisting that the historicity of the Bible simply cannot be trusted. For example, who could believe that David captured Jerusalem (2 Sam 5:6-9) when David didn’t even exist? Of course, David was just an invention of nationalistic Jews many centuries later! Not so fast. In 1994, an Assyrian, 9th Century BC stone listing Assyria’s enemies listed the ‘house of David’ as one of them. We should be skeptical of the claims of scholars who have their minds made up to distrust the Bible before they even start their work.

Malachi 3:1-4 or Baruch 5:1-9

Luke 1:68-79

Philippians 1:3-11

Luke 3:1-6

Jeremiah 33:14-16

Psalm 25:1-10

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Luke 21:25-36