Pullman vs Lewis

With America's newfound interest in Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials series (better known as The Golden Compass which is the first in the series) many people find his work to be the dark anti-Christ of C.S. Lewis's the Chronicles of Narnia. Many people's first reaction when they read these books or hear about the controversy is that Pullman despises Lewis, but I think this is far from the truth. It is true that Pullman is an avowed atheist and wishes to undermine Christian belief. I however contend that Pullman respects C.S. Lewis perhaps even envies the man.

C.S. Lewis had been an atheist from the time that he was fifteen years old. It was a sixteen year journey (from 15 to 31) of skepticism and resistance that finally led C.S. Lewis to fully become a Christian. When many think of C.S. Lewis they envision the playfully beautiful land of Narnia, but this is far from the epitome of Lewis's work. The Chronicles of Narnia are a compilation of mere children's stories that summarize Lewis's belief in Christianity and the lessons it holds. All of his other works are adult material, many are philosophical in nature that are the result of years of questioning religion. Some of his works (i.e. Mere Christianity and Miracles) entire purpose was to argue the philosophy and science of Christianity and why it must be true. In Miracles for instance Lewis argues the compatibility of miracles and “the natural mode of human thought” with the natural state of the universe without divine intervention. Lewis's religious works were not mere propaganda as many argue the Narnia series was, rather they were full of arguments in philosophy and scientific conjecture (which is as close as one can get to proof in the debate of religion.) Even Lewis's fictional tales such as the Screwtape Letters, a series of letters between agents of hell, is full of cultural parallels and philosophical argument for Christianity.

The young Lewis described himself “as being paradoxically very angry with God for not existing”. Though he desired a divine force to exist he struggled against reason and logic until he could find a logic that not only permitted religion but supported it. As it stands Pullman is an atheist who seeks to critique the works of C.S. Lewis. It is my belief that Pullman is envious of Lewis for having found god, something that Pullman is unable to accept. Whether or not this is true I must argue that it is not a great achievement having struck such a blow to C.S. Lewis's work. The Chronicles of Narnia was a series of mere children's stories whose purpose was to sum up Christian values to make them accessible to children. Pullman's series, though proclaimed as children's stories as well, should not even be classified as such for they are filled with adult themes and subtle but constant and pervasive attacks on good Christian morals. This is truly a low blow to C.S. Lewis but a powerful one considering the popularity of the Narnia series. But if the Chronicles of Narnia are propaganda as Pullman and other atheists claim then The Golden Compass and Pullman's entire series are one in the same. The real battle is to be fought over philosophy. If Pullman is willing to argue philosophy and science and attempt fictional works outside the realm of children then he might have a point. But I believe until that time, though Pullman's works are delightful fantasy for young adults, they hold no merit in debunking Christianity because they fail to contend the proof that Lewis provides in his other works (instead he picks a fight with a fable.)

I would like to note that I am neither Christian or atheist; I am currently agnostic and still in search of life's answers. I merely observe what I see. I do not wish to show Pullman's works in an unfavorable light either; I thoroughly enjoy his books as works of fiction. My singular point is that Pullman's His Dark Materials series cannot viably argue against Christianity, for it does not seek comparison to a work that itself seeks to prove Christianity (only to share its Christian values.)