When I read His Dark Materials I definitely saw a religious theme to it even though I wasn’t particularly religious. I specifically noticed the books challenging the idea of religious authorities. I didn’t see it so much as an attack on spirituality and individual beliefs as much as it was an attack on organized religion, theocracy, and authoritarianism - all of which will try to suppress individual thought in favor of telling the masses what they should think. The Magisterium was likely based off of the Catholic Church, but it could be allegory for any oppressive regime or ideology that tries to force people to think a certain way and believe what they are told by that authority.
as someone who isn’t religious at all I read it as a kid and didn’t notice the anti catholic message, I saw it more about authority that is unquestioned- that is the literal name of ine of the antagonist
I have just finished reading the books and I think that while they attack organized religion, they do nothing of the sort for spirituality, it's quite the opposite in fact. For me, spirituality is about beliefs that are formed through your own experiences and discovery, plus an important idea of spirituality is being connected to the universe and to each other, which corresponds beautifully to Dust.
I dont think the Magisterium was based on the Catholic Church specifically. There is no denomination that really stands out. All three branches of Christianity have thier own ways on restricting thier followers. The Catholics focus on the pope and vatican as the powerful priests. It is restrictive to focus on the clergy. Given how the Magisterum has great power in Lyra's world, I see the connection there. Yet other Christian groups have thier clergy too. It would have been so easy for an auther to take some other clergy and make them more powerful in thier story. Orthodox Christians have thier own powerful priests in their clergy. Protestants take a different approach. Thier clergy is a lot weaker than the other two. However they are restrictive in that they focus on the reverence for only God. There are no saints. I think Christianity would be so much better if it was more lenient on its followers. I would like there too be saints without a Vatican or similar powerful clergy.
@@sylviadailey9126 Phillip Pullman gave an interview where he a acknowledged that he based the Magisterium heavily off of the Catholic Church as well as borrowing some ideas from other theocracies throughout history. Pullman is a very vocal critic of the church, and has publicly stated that he hopes the Catholic Church and faith disappears entirely. But that aside, I see a lot of applicability outside the context of Catholicism. Any authoritarian system where the people in charge try to determine what Truth is and silences or oppresses opposing viewpoints is something to be wary of when encountered.
Ever since reading the books, I have understood Dust as being conscious particles that existed long before the earth and the other planets in our galaxy. I have understood them as the force that caused the big bang and what pushed evolution. I have understood it as the divine and the creator of divine entities (gods and goddesses) and everything that exists, has existed and will exist. It is what connects us to the divine, what connects us to past lives, ancestors, each other, nature, animals, etc. And since I have come to understand this, my religious beliefs as an omnistic eclectic pagan has begun to make much more sense to me. Things I could never really explain to myself before are explained perfectly with Dust. So when I say I believe in Dust, I truly mean it. It is part of my religion and I’m so grateful for Philip Pullman for writing such an amazing series that helped me understand the world better.
dust to me is the essense of what makes humans what wee think we are. It gives us questioning thought and creativity and passion. Things that the church HAS tried consciously to stomp out in the past. By means vicious and cruel
I loved both the book and the movie. It is impossible to capture everything in a book on a screen...and in 1 1/2 hrs. I loved Dust...the concept of Dust. What Donna Freitas and Phillip Pullman said about Dust is exactly what I thought. I read and viewed GC with an open mind and awe....even though people say that one cannot like the Chronicles of Narnia and The Golden Compass because of opposite view points on religion. I have found ...for me..that they both offer thought provoking insights into spirit and the Mystery of the Unknown...and I love that...as in my visions I ride the bear to the Northern Lights and see my ancestor on the green ray of light...and travel to a different dimension as "I looked toward the sun and walked into the sky..."
I loved this series. I feel that the point that it makes is a good one. We continue to celebrate an archaic religion which has been propagated by and continues to propagate violence and fear instead of rejoicing in the very substance of divinity all around us. What I took from it is this: One doesn't need an ancient system of mythological consequence in order to be kind and mindful of the world around us and those in it. All we need do is realize that it's just a decision we can make. When we
What I don't see is why Christians make such a big deal about not letting their kids read this because they have the right (as I know as a Catholic) to confirm whether or not they want to remain a Catholic. I think parents should let their kids be open to other religions (or no religion at all) because no parent decides their children's life for them, or at least shouldn't.
Y’all I wrote this comment 8 years ago, and I knew then, just as I know now, what Christianity is all about. My comment was meant to explore what it should be about instead.
Oh wow. I just finished rereading the series last night. I did find a new interpretation. This series isn't just anti Christian. It can promote a better kind of divinity. I like to view God as an omnipresent being that doesn't intervene with humanity directly. The image of the old bearded man in the clouds doesn't give it justice. The series has thinly vielded parallels to the bearded man and the Church. These parallels are framed in a very negative way. So it is easy to to conclude this series is anti religion. However there is a more subtle parallel between Dust, and my view on God. This is a lot more positive. So this may have a message of promoting a better kind of spirituality. I wondered whether I was reading too much into this. Now I see I am not alone. The interviewer caught on too. It is nice for Phillip Pullman to support the view. This is so nuanced.
Which is how I see faith. Love this age. Sure we still have our problems. But it's fantastic to see people mentally evolve and project their own truth without being lynched. A shame about the movie being cancelled, but it's still brilliant that we live in a time where a writer like this can use his creativity to bring such a beautiful story to his audience. In books and clips, et cetera.
I read an interview of Philip Pullman, and h implied that dust was the manifestation of consciousness and independent thought (which is why the Church fears it, because they don't want their loyal followers leaving them). I agree with this because in the last scene where Lyra and Will are close (and they reach sexual maturity), their dust settles.
It isn't fear; it is love of the non-thinker that compels one to call others to examine the underlying presuppositions which are the foundation to a captivating story. Good stories can make the greatest enemies or the greatest friends.
I love stories that use abstract concepts of what it is that makes us and the entire life force (universe) tick, and is being projected beautifully without shaping it too much and forcing an opinion about it too much. It reminds of my fav book serie (The Death Gate Cycle), I just ordered His Dark Materials, and hope that I will enjoy it as much if not even more as I enjoyed the film. A shame they cancelled it. But Im happy I am still able to read this story.
Dust is lust, among other things. It is the apple of knowledge in the Garden of Eden, whose consumption leads to self-awareness, including self-awareness regarding our animal instincts.
Dust is something ethereal and it represents both past creations and current creations both which we have little understanding of but we are certain and acknowledge of its existence.
spewdaddy12, You are the type of religious person which deserves respect and can be reasoned with. Unfortunately more people don't see things like you and that creates alot of the problem.
When I saw it as a kid knowing nothing about it, my jerk stepmom was like “so what do you think dust is?” Thinking it would be over my head. My answer was one word. Sin. She just said “oh” and nothing else. Hearing his description I’m not sure my answer is quite correct- BUT the fact that Lyra is told “dust is bad” I see how I got to that conclusion.
I've only seen this movie and have never read the books. From his description and my thoughts, I think dust is our humanity and the human spirit. (From what I picked up on, there's an undeniable connexion between dust and daemons, like dust is what makes up their daemons. When they took away Billy's daemon, they basically took away his person, everything that made him Billy, and just left behind his shell.) From what Mrs. Coulter was saying, the reason they're trying to destroy dust is because it makes people "bad." But this isn't true. Dust is what makes people people - their goodness, their flaws, their curiosity, their stubbornness, their insight and intuition, and above all their individuality and humanity. Take away their dust, and humans become mindless, empty shells. (I know what being a shell is like on a personal level, so does anyone who has ever been abused by a narcissist and eventually succumbed to the brainwashing.) www.cheshirewithoutabuse.org.uk/biderman-chart-of-coercion
So what you’re saying (and correct me if I’m wrong because I may be projecting) is dust is like serotonin. Without it we are depressed and susceptible to manipulation and brain washing.
I saw that some people saw dust as sin? Which would make sense to me because that would be why children can see it and adults can't because children are innocent and therefore do not sin? Atleast as far as adults. But I myself always saw it as a seperate entity or consciousness just from reading the books. I wasn't always sure of what it was but that it was almost like another being that could talk and think
If you read the books you'd see the religious themes... It's a great trilogy, if you enjoyed the film you'll probably enjoy the books, too (they're so much better than the movie!)
Pullman is a smart guy, if I was 15-20 years old, I would actually love the concept and idea behind the books. But I'm 37 and honestly, over the past several years have been through such a lot, I don't really care right now to spend energy on disproving people's beliefs if they mean me no harm. Or antagonizing. It is important that someone like this is out there, doing this work, but it's not bad to just want to feel good, you know? Not deconstruct everything, especially if you're older and you already understand what's what and why it's there in society, including our various beliefs. The whole movie and the concept is kinda going against itself. It wanted to be a super successful, huge fantasy that makes money on Christmas, but it also wanted to question the Church. That's pretty much an impossible combination, it's destined to fail not because it is thematically or otherwise uninteresting or flawed, but because you're going against what the audience wants from a movie like this. And that doesn't mean the audience is ignorant, or isn't open to some other ideas or theories than their own, but when they go watch a nice fantasy film, they don't want to delve into ruminations about our society. It's well-intended and smart, but it is destined to get a mixed reaction.
ok I'm afraid I wrote this too quickly and the syntax is all off but the meaning is there all the same. Find me on facebook if you want to talk about it
@alliterativeaudrey How could he not know the future? He is omnipotent, not to mention omniscient. It is in the definition of both of those that he must know literally everything. Luckily, he doesn't actually exist.
do this, we find that things are better and more conducive to life and life giving ways of being. I don't need to fear hell in order to treat the world and those around me well. I do so because I want a sweeter existence in a world capable of condoning life in a giving way with ease, joy and glory. I'm not renouncing God. I am renouncing the bedtime stories people have been making up about him for the last several thousand years.
Good piont. It is very importnat to keep an open mind when talking about tese ideas, you can't be tyranical or absolute. P.S. dont be to open minded your brain might fall out.
I always saw Dust as a more complex idea of creation. That creation is not one single perfect being controlling everything (God) but rather, several conscious forces that are driving the universe around us. (Driving space-time, the laws of physics, evolution, consciousness, etc) and that we should not be afraid of these forces. The magisterium/church wants a more simple, comforting idea that everything is controlled by one single Authority. Comforting yes, but also rather absolute and totalitarian. Like dictatorships themselves. There’s even a later villain that takes the role of “God” but you find out he is false and untrue. There are still angels who are the good guys, but they are not supposed to be under the fascist dictatorship of one single ruler. You could then also see Dust as “sin.” Religious people have this creepy concept called “sin” that they use to demonize everything they disagree with. (Like being gay, being left-handed, women being powerful and liberated, and even... masturbation.) depicting sin as GOOD is a great message that what makes us human is not something that we should be ashamed of, or is our fault. Religion teaches kids that they are being punished for being human. That we are wrong and twisted just because a woman (ahem) ate an apple. Atheism teaches that we are not evil just for being born. We are who we choose to be; our actions and our words.
Phillip Pullman an atheist? No. He sees the world and reality in a different way. I don’t believe in God in the same way as Christians and Catholics or other religions do but rather in my own way. I believe there is a higher power. A power that we’re all affected by but we can’t see, touch, smell, hear or taste or maybe we can but don’t realise it when it happens. Reality has a construct and the fact that reality is even perceivable in the first place is a miracle in of itself.
"Almighty God. Dear heavenly father in thy name let us now in pious spirit begin our instruction, enlighten us. Teach us all truth, strengthen us in all that is good, lead us not into temptation, deliver us from all evil in order that, as good human beings, we may faithfully perform our duties and thereby, in time and eternity, be made truly happy. Amen." -Adolf Hitler
I don't think so. I think that those with preconceptions about the man will see whatever they want to see. Conspiracy theories aside, I don't see which event or idea in the book is anti-Christian.
"A athiest cannot truthfully respect a religous persons view." That's because a religious view isn't based on fact and observable reality. It's an individuals belief system.
Replace the word 'Dust' with 'God'... I kept coming away from the movie (and then the book) that it was more 'pro-religion' or at least 'supporting a personal relationship between humans and god'. "Maybe (God) is good."
The Government of the Reich, who regard Christianity as the unshakable foundation of the morals and moral code of the nation, attach the greatest value to friendly relations with the Holy See and are endeavouring to develop them." -Adolf Hitler, in his speech to the Reichstag on 23 March 1933
IMO. " dust'" is sin. In the first movie,That lady with the blond hair ( nicole kidmen ) said something like " our ansestors ( adam and eve ) did something very bad. And thats when the authority ( god ) sent dust ( sin ) into the world. Thats what i thought about that conversation. It just made sense. But im probably wrong.
@@slimeperiodt8412 The church regard it as original sin. It is experience. That's is the reason why Adam and Eve became self aware of their nakedness once they ate the apple, they gained experience from it.
I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, but I obviously can’t sign off on everything humanity has done in his name; one would have to be an absolute enemy of God to do so. That being said I came to this video for some understanding of what fueled this author’s imagination, not to evangelize, but either way that doesn’t change the fact that I feel inspired to do so now. “God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ. And through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in Heaven and on Earth by means of Christ blood on the Cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20) Cry out to your maker who came and dwelt with us, and he lived for us. He loves us all so much he willingly gave himself up as a sacrifice for sin that all who believe on the name of Jesus will never die. God loves you as you are and he will take you wherever you’re at stop waiting there’s a life with God for you better than ANYTHING you could’ve EVER imagined... call on the name above ALL names the name of JESUS!!!
He is not lost! What do you think lies behind the frequently quoted christian term 'dust to dust'? And what's the deal with trying to assert that there are more christians than atheists? Is this a competition?? There is more truth in His Dark Materials, than in the bible.
Re-watching the movie. By 30 minutes in it's obvious to me why a 2nd movie was never made. Lyra's character alone is something 'the establishment' will never tolerate. "We need guns. Lots of guns." - Neo
Substituting God with something else is literally the definition of idolatry. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." ~Matthew 5
You apparently have bad listening comprehension skills because he makes no such argument in this video. You are in particular missing the part where he concludes that dust must be good because people are doing bad things to get rid of it.
omfg its juz a movie guys..an entertainment...n also a fantasy..if pullman hates god then leave him be...u choose ur own decision wether to believe there is god or no.... movie=entertainment,not change of beliefs!!!
Pullman's logic: People have been doing frightful and terrible things in the name of getting rid of Saddam Hussein. These people who have being doing wicked things say that Saddam was bad. Therefore Saddam must have been good!
I think Nazism actually goes to show why religion is such an awful thing (ironically). Nazism was the belief in a fallacious ideal, pursued with the vigour of fundamentalist religious fanatics. The real problem is going beyond reason, and relying on emotive rallying (such as in religion and nazism).
@fronzman8 That depends on the side, I see on the other side the atheist much fear of Christianity, I welcome Pullman for one can not feel the strength of temptation if one does not resist it and overcome it so the temptation to doubt if resisted may lead you to knowledge to assure you of the truth.
You're point seems popular, but that doesn't make it true. It's a sad fact that the most glib and meaningless comments get the most recognition. We are not all the same, and simply saying so will not gloss over the anornous problems caused by the clashing of peoples fundamental beliefs. A athiest cannot truthfully respect a religous persons view.
I DO trust jesus as our saviour, the problem is that we condemn Lucifer for freeing us from Yaweh, a God that was a control freak and wouldn't let us humans live our lives together in peace (see tower of Babel). Fortunately times have moved on but we forgot Lucifer did us a favor. And THAT is why Jesus had to die for our sins. Now lets put all this behind us and join the New World Order. Follow the light, follow Lucis Trust.
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When I read His Dark Materials I definitely saw a religious theme to it even though I wasn’t particularly religious. I specifically noticed the books challenging the idea of religious authorities. I didn’t see it so much as an attack on spirituality and individual beliefs as much as it was an attack on organized religion, theocracy, and authoritarianism - all of which will try to suppress individual thought in favor of telling the masses what they should think. The Magisterium was likely based off of the Catholic Church, but it could be allegory for any oppressive regime or ideology that tries to force people to think a certain way and believe what they are told by that authority.
as someone who isn’t religious at all I read it as a kid and didn’t notice the anti catholic message, I saw it more about authority that is unquestioned- that is the literal name of ine of the antagonist
I have just finished reading the books and I think that while they attack organized religion, they do nothing of the sort for spirituality, it's quite the opposite in fact. For me, spirituality is about beliefs that are formed through your own experiences and discovery, plus an important idea of spirituality is being connected to the universe and to each other, which corresponds beautifully to Dust.
Well, to be fair, I wouldn't call Catholics true "Christians"
I dont think the Magisterium was based on the Catholic Church specifically. There is no denomination that really stands out. All three branches of Christianity have thier own ways on restricting thier followers. The Catholics focus on the pope and vatican as the powerful priests. It is restrictive to focus on the clergy. Given how the Magisterum has great power in Lyra's world, I see the connection there. Yet other Christian groups have thier clergy too. It would have been so easy for an auther to take some other clergy and make them more powerful in thier story. Orthodox Christians have thier own powerful priests in their clergy. Protestants take a different approach. Thier clergy is a lot weaker than the other two. However they are restrictive in that they focus on the reverence for only God. There are no saints. I think Christianity would be so much better if it was more lenient on its followers. I would like there too be saints without a Vatican or similar powerful clergy.
@@sylviadailey9126 Phillip Pullman gave an interview where he a acknowledged that he based the Magisterium heavily off of the Catholic Church as well as borrowing some ideas from other theocracies throughout history. Pullman is a very vocal critic of the church, and has publicly stated that he hopes the Catholic Church and faith disappears entirely. But that aside, I see a lot of applicability outside the context of Catholicism. Any authoritarian system where the people in charge try to determine what Truth is and silences or oppresses opposing viewpoints is something to be wary of when encountered.
Ever since reading the books, I have understood Dust as being conscious particles that existed long before the earth and the other planets in our galaxy. I have understood them as the force that caused the big bang and what pushed evolution. I have understood it as the divine and the creator of divine entities (gods and goddesses) and everything that exists, has existed and will exist. It is what connects us to the divine, what connects us to past lives, ancestors, each other, nature, animals, etc. And since I have come to understand this, my religious beliefs as an omnistic eclectic pagan has begun to make much more sense to me. Things I could never really explain to myself before are explained perfectly with Dust. So when I say I believe in Dust, I truly mean it. It is part of my religion and I’m so grateful for Philip Pullman for writing such an amazing series that helped me understand the world better.
It’s known as Chaitanya in Sahaja Yoga and eastern religions. At least your interpretation equates to that. Translated as ‘ the breath of the Divine’.
In the theme for the show, I’ve heard someone compare the very first few seconds (visually) to the Big Bang.
Wow, so that's the man behind the best trilogy that I've ever read
dust to me is the essense of what makes humans what wee think we are. It gives us questioning thought and creativity and passion. Things that the church HAS tried consciously to stomp out in the past. By means vicious and cruel
Free will
I loved both the book and the movie. It is impossible to capture everything in a book on a screen...and in 1 1/2 hrs. I loved Dust...the concept of Dust. What Donna Freitas and Phillip Pullman said about Dust is exactly what I thought. I read and viewed GC with an open mind and awe....even though people say that one cannot like the Chronicles of Narnia and The Golden Compass because of opposite view points on religion. I have found ...for me..that they both offer thought provoking insights into spirit and the Mystery of the Unknown...and I love that...as in my visions I ride the bear to the Northern Lights and see my ancestor on the green ray of light...and travel to a different dimension as "I looked toward the sun and walked into the sky..."
I loved this series. I feel that the point that it makes is a good one. We continue to celebrate an archaic religion which has been propagated by and continues to propagate violence and fear instead of rejoicing in the very substance of divinity all around us. What I took from it is this: One doesn't need an ancient system of mythological consequence in order to be kind and mindful of the world around us and those in it. All we need do is realize that it's just a decision we can make. When we
What I don't see is why Christians make such a big deal about not letting their kids read this because they have the right (as I know as a Catholic) to confirm whether or not they want to remain a Catholic. I think parents should let their kids be open to other religions (or no religion at all) because no parent decides their children's life for them, or at least shouldn't.
Heapster45 Because religion is about control.
Not if they all think once you drop out of their cult you'll burn eternally in hell
Y’all I wrote this comment 8 years ago, and I knew then, just as I know now, what Christianity is all about. My comment was meant to explore what it should be about instead.
I love this universe
Oh wow. I just finished rereading the series last night. I did find a new interpretation. This series isn't just anti Christian. It can promote a better kind of divinity. I like to view God as an omnipresent being that doesn't intervene with humanity directly. The image of the old bearded man in the clouds doesn't give it justice. The series has thinly vielded parallels to the bearded man and the Church. These parallels are framed in a very negative way. So it is easy to to conclude this series is anti religion. However there is a more subtle parallel between Dust, and my view on God. This is a lot more positive. So this may have a message of promoting a better kind of spirituality. I wondered whether I was reading too much into this. Now I see I am not alone. The interviewer caught on too. It is nice for Phillip Pullman to support the view. This is so nuanced.
Which is how I see faith. Love this age. Sure we still have our problems. But it's fantastic to see people mentally evolve and project their own truth without being lynched. A shame about the movie being cancelled, but it's still brilliant that we live in a time where a writer like this can use his creativity to bring such a beautiful story to his audience. In books and clips, et cetera.
I read an interview of Philip Pullman, and h implied that dust was the manifestation of consciousness and independent thought (which is why the Church fears it, because they don't want their loyal followers leaving them). I agree with this because in the last scene where Lyra and Will are close (and they reach sexual maturity), their dust settles.
It isn't fear; it is love of the non-thinker that compels one to call others to examine the underlying presuppositions which are the foundation to a captivating story. Good stories can make the greatest enemies or the greatest friends.
I love stories that use abstract concepts of what it is that makes us and the entire life force (universe) tick, and is being projected beautifully without shaping it too much and forcing an opinion about it too much. It reminds of my fav book serie (The Death Gate Cycle), I just ordered His Dark Materials, and hope that I will enjoy it as much if not even more as I enjoyed the film. A shame they cancelled it. But Im happy I am still able to read this story.
They finished the television show, it’s brilliant and visually spectacular in its entirety!
One of best authors of our time!
Dust is lust, among other things.
It is the apple of knowledge in the Garden of Eden, whose consumption leads to self-awareness, including self-awareness regarding our animal instincts.
Dust is something ethereal and it represents both past creations and current creations both which we have little understanding of but we are certain and acknowledge of its existence.
spewdaddy12,
You are the type of religious person which deserves respect and can be reasoned with. Unfortunately more people don't see things like you and that creates alot of the problem.
When I saw it as a kid knowing nothing about it, my jerk stepmom was like “so what do you think dust is?” Thinking it would be over my head. My answer was one word. Sin. She just said “oh” and nothing else.
Hearing his description I’m not sure my answer is quite correct- BUT the fact that Lyra is told “dust is bad” I see how I got to that conclusion.
the movie didnt capture the awe of the books.
it was a good movie, but seemed like a preveiw of the book, if that.
it's disappointing that they left out the ending (like crossing into the parallel world)
Charlotte Marnee yes
Charlotte Marnee bit why they didnt make part 2 ??
*the games told a parrelell story to the movie that completed it wierdly*
I always saw dust as particles of consciousness?
Didn't he base Dust on the Dark Matter that scientists are trying to figure out?
Dust or Rusakov Particles in Lyra's world, Shadows, Shadow-particles or dark matter in Will's world
matter questioning itself, this is dust, it’s our consciousness, and it’s peak when we connect with other sentients and create stories.
I've only seen this movie and have never read the books. From his description and my thoughts, I think dust is our humanity and the human spirit.
(From what I picked up on, there's an undeniable connexion between dust and daemons, like dust is what makes up their daemons. When they took away Billy's daemon, they basically took away his person, everything that made him Billy, and just left behind his shell.)
From what Mrs. Coulter was saying, the reason they're trying to destroy dust is because it makes people "bad." But this isn't true. Dust is what makes people people - their goodness, their flaws, their curiosity, their stubbornness, their insight and intuition, and above all their individuality and humanity. Take away their dust, and humans become mindless, empty shells.
(I know what being a shell is like on a personal level, so does anyone who has ever been abused by a narcissist and eventually succumbed to the brainwashing.)
www.cheshirewithoutabuse.org.uk/biderman-chart-of-coercion
So what you’re saying (and correct me if I’m wrong because I may be projecting) is dust is like serotonin. Without it we are depressed and susceptible to manipulation and brain washing.
Look up children seeing sparkles.. dust exists
I highly recommend reading the book Killing the Imposter God, by our Donna up there. One of the best books on His Dark Materials around.
They should make another one
I have read all three books. This comment is based on what he says in the first book and repeats in the video. Perhaps you should watch it again.
Dust is the same as independent thought, and thus it should not be feared but cherished.
I saw that some people saw dust as sin? Which would make sense to me because that would be why children can see it and adults can't because children are innocent and therefore do not sin? Atleast as far as adults. But I myself always saw it as a seperate entity or consciousness just from reading the books. I wasn't always sure of what it was but that it was almost like another being that could talk and think
After the release of the show, this is pretty spot on.
In dust we trust.
My fav books really, i'm going to write a continuation. obviously with Philip Pullman's permission
How's that going?
To me the dust represents the end of life and the unknown afterlife..could be why the adults fear it and the children do not.
I watched this film years ago with my young daughter and enjoyed it..I didnt see a religious theme to it, just a fantasy...Im a christian too.
If you read the books you'd see the religious themes... It's a great trilogy, if you enjoyed the film you'll probably enjoy the books, too (they're so much better than the movie!)
My daughter has read the books :) she really enjoyed them.
perhaps the concept of god that we were given by religious leaders and not the real Source, Creator, the Divine ....the spirit that is all one
Pullman is a smart guy, if I was 15-20 years old, I would actually love the concept and idea behind the books. But I'm 37 and honestly, over the past several years have been through such a lot, I don't really care right now to spend energy on disproving people's beliefs if they mean me no harm. Or antagonizing. It is important that someone like this is out there, doing this work, but it's not bad to just want to feel good, you know? Not deconstruct everything, especially if you're older and you already understand what's what and why it's there in society, including our various beliefs.
The whole movie and the concept is kinda going against itself. It wanted to be a super successful, huge fantasy that makes money on Christmas, but it also wanted to question the Church. That's pretty much an impossible combination, it's destined to fail not because it is thematically or otherwise uninteresting or flawed, but because you're going against what the audience wants from a movie like this. And that doesn't mean the audience is ignorant, or isn't open to some other ideas or theories than their own, but when they go watch a nice fantasy film, they don't want to delve into ruminations about our society.
It's well-intended and smart, but it is destined to get a mixed reaction.
ok I'm afraid I wrote this too quickly and the syntax is all off but the meaning is there all the same. Find me on facebook if you want to talk about it
Okay, thats one way to think about it, i guess.
I've been trying to figure out if he believes the stuff he writes about and so far it's looking like does.
There's now a Book of Dust fyi
Where? By all means, give me a quote from the book that man wrote.
@alliterativeaudrey
How could he not know the future? He is omnipotent, not to mention omniscient. It is in the definition of both of those that he must know literally everything. Luckily, he doesn't actually exist.
I agree 100%
do this, we find that things are better and more conducive to life and life giving ways of being. I don't need to fear hell in order to treat the world and those around me well. I do so because I want a sweeter existence in a world capable of condoning life in a giving way with ease, joy and glory. I'm not renouncing God. I am renouncing the bedtime stories people have been making up about him for the last several thousand years.
Good piont. It is very importnat to keep an open mind when talking about tese ideas, you can't be tyranical or absolute.
P.S. dont be to open minded your brain might fall out.
I always saw Dust as a more complex idea of creation. That creation is not one single perfect being controlling everything (God) but rather, several conscious forces that are driving the universe around us. (Driving space-time, the laws of physics, evolution, consciousness, etc) and that we should not be afraid of these forces. The magisterium/church wants a more simple, comforting idea that everything is controlled by one single Authority. Comforting yes, but also rather absolute and totalitarian. Like dictatorships themselves. There’s even a later villain that takes the role of “God” but you find out he is false and untrue. There are still angels who are the good guys, but they are not supposed to be under the fascist dictatorship of one single ruler.
You could then also see Dust as “sin.” Religious people have this creepy concept called “sin” that they use to demonize everything they disagree with. (Like being gay, being left-handed, women being powerful and liberated, and even... masturbation.) depicting sin as GOOD is a great message that what makes us human is not something that we should be ashamed of, or is our fault. Religion teaches kids that they are being punished for being human. That we are wrong and twisted just because a woman (ahem) ate an apple. Atheism teaches that we are not evil just for being born. We are who we choose to be; our actions and our words.
Phillip Pullman an atheist? No. He sees the world and reality in a different way. I don’t believe in God in the same way as Christians and Catholics or other religions do but rather in my own way. I believe there is a higher power. A power that we’re all affected by but we can’t see, touch, smell, hear or taste or maybe we can but don’t realise it when it happens. Reality has a construct and the fact that reality is even perceivable in the first place is a miracle in of itself.
"Almighty God. Dear heavenly father in thy name let us now in pious spirit begin our instruction, enlighten us. Teach us all truth, strengthen us in all that is good, lead us not into temptation, deliver us from all evil in order that, as good human beings, we may faithfully perform our duties and thereby, in time and eternity, be made truly happy. Amen."
-Adolf Hitler
I don't think so. I think that those with preconceptions about the man will see whatever they want to see. Conspiracy theories aside, I don't see which event or idea in the book is anti-Christian.
"A athiest cannot truthfully respect a religous persons view."
That's because a religious view isn't based on fact and observable reality. It's an individuals belief system.
Replace the word 'Dust' with 'God'...
I kept coming away from the movie (and then the book) that it was more 'pro-religion' or at least 'supporting a personal relationship between humans and god'.
"Maybe (God) is good."
isn't dust kind of like a rip off of Aether en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aether_(classical_element)
When I read about Aether, it sounds like proof the ancient people had a theory about dark matter.
rock on sanguine
The Government of the Reich, who regard Christianity as the unshakable foundation of the morals and moral code of the nation, attach the greatest value to friendly relations with the Holy See and are endeavouring to develop them."
-Adolf Hitler, in his speech to the Reichstag on 23 March 1933
Who’s here from HBO show?
What? I always thought Dust was a coded reference to his hidden coke habit!
Yeah he looked well peeved.
IMO. " dust'" is sin. In the first movie,That lady with the blond hair ( nicole kidmen ) said something like " our ansestors ( adam and eve ) did something very bad. And thats when the authority ( god ) sent dust ( sin ) into the world.
Thats what i thought about that conversation. It just made sense. But im probably wrong.
same thought myself.
@@slimeperiodt8412 The church regard it as original sin. It is experience. That's is the reason why Adam and Eve became self aware of their nakedness once they ate the apple, they gained experience from it.
The lady is Mrs. Coulter. She is a liar. What she said about Dust is the false belief of the Magisterium. The video explains what dust is really like.
The tv show carried off of the source material, if you haven’t read the books since then
I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, but I obviously can’t sign off on everything humanity has done in his name; one would have to be an absolute enemy of God to do so.
That being said I came to this video for some understanding of what fueled this author’s imagination, not to evangelize, but either way that doesn’t change the fact that I feel inspired to do so now.
“God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ. And through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in Heaven and on Earth by means of Christ blood on the Cross.”
(Colossians 1:19-20)
Cry out to your maker who came and dwelt with us, and he lived for us. He loves us all so much he willingly gave himself up as a sacrifice for sin that all who believe on the name of Jesus will never die. God loves you as you are and he will take you wherever you’re at stop waiting there’s a life with God for you better than ANYTHING you could’ve EVER imagined... call on the name above ALL names the name of JESUS!!!
prove it.
He is not lost! What do you think lies behind the frequently quoted christian term 'dust to dust'? And what's the deal with trying to assert that there are more christians than atheists? Is this a competition??
There is more truth in His Dark Materials, than in the bible.
Re-watching the movie. By 30 minutes in it's obvious to me why a 2nd movie was never made. Lyra's character alone is something 'the establishment' will never tolerate.
"We need guns. Lots of guns." - Neo
Substituting God with something else is literally the definition of idolatry.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." ~Matthew 5
replace dust with god
This is an evil man, he will fit right in Hollywood
You apparently have bad listening comprehension skills because he makes no such argument in this video.
You are in particular missing the part where he concludes that dust must be good because people are doing bad things to get rid of it.
omfg its juz a movie guys..an entertainment...n also a fantasy..if pullman hates god then leave him be...u choose ur own decision wether to believe there is god or no....
movie=entertainment,not change of beliefs!!!
but Dust isnt a person...
how do you even know it was satan? it just said it was a serpent.
coming from the guy with the word 'freak' in his name
Pullman's logic: People have been doing frightful and terrible things in the name of getting rid of Saddam Hussein. These people who have being doing wicked things say that Saddam was bad. Therefore Saddam must have been good!
I think Nazism actually goes to show why religion is such an awful thing (ironically). Nazism was the belief in a fallacious ideal, pursued with the vigour of fundamentalist religious fanatics. The real problem is going beyond reason, and relying on emotive rallying (such as in religion and nazism).
Nazism was centered around a Darwinian belief in a superior race, not religion you idiot.
@fronzman8 That depends on the side, I see on the other side the atheist much fear of Christianity, I welcome Pullman for one can not feel the strength of temptation if one does not resist it and overcome it so the temptation to doubt if resisted may lead you to knowledge to assure you of the truth.
fasfsadaa
He’s so woke
He looks like he's thinking "Who is this crazy religious freak-o woman and all her spirtual Dust/God weirness?" lolz
You're point seems popular, but that doesn't make it true. It's a sad fact that the most glib and meaningless comments get the most recognition. We are not all the same, and simply saying so will not gloss over the anornous problems caused by the clashing of peoples fundamental beliefs. A athiest cannot truthfully respect a religous persons view.
A religious person cannot truly respect anyone else’s point of view…none of you see the hypocrisy, it’s wild.
I don't want to be insensitive, but where does the bible ever say that God knows the future?
Can Atheists go to a place that doesn't exist? ie hell?
did anyone else find this conversation hilarious?
Umm, why would God know the future? That doesn't make sense.
What's with all the religious comments? This book is anti-Christian.
Omg you are so brooding and annoying.
I DO trust jesus as our saviour, the problem is that we condemn Lucifer for freeing us from Yaweh, a God that was a control freak and wouldn't let us humans live our lives together in peace (see tower of Babel). Fortunately times have moved on but we forgot Lucifer did us a favor. And THAT is why Jesus had to die for our sins. Now lets put all this behind us and join the New World Order. Follow the light, follow Lucis Trust.