KILLING GOD?

"Well, where is God,” said Mrs. Coulter, “if he’s alive? And why doesn’t he speak anymore? At the beginning of the world, God walked in the Garden and spoke with Adam and Eve. Then he began to withdraw, and he forbade Moses to look at his face. Later, in the time of Daniel, he was aged—he was the Ancient of Days. Where is he now? Is he still alive, at some inconceivable age, decrepit and demented, unable to think or act or speak and unable to die, a rotten hulk? And if that is his condition, wouldn’t it be the most merciful thing, the truest proof of our love for God, to seek him out and give him the gift of death?"

The above is a direct quote from THE AMBER SPYGLASS, the third book in the trilogy, His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman. It anticipates the death of God, which happens like this: Between them they helped the ancient of days out of his crystal cell; it wasn’t hard, for he was as light as paper, and he would have followed them anywhere, having no will of his own, and responding to simple kindness like a flower to the sun. But in the open air there was nothing to stop the wind from damaging him, and to their dismay his form began to loosen and dissolve. Only a few moments later he had vanished completely, and their last impression was of those eyes, blinking in wonder, and a sigh of the most profound and exhausted relief.

This is the death of god. Pullman’s “god” is nothing more than a mere literary effigy, a caricature, an imagined cartoon figure of the true Biblical Judeo-Christian God—quite laughable, to say the least. It is only natural for such a god to die, for he was no real GOD to begin with. To take this “god” seriously is to give credit where no credit is due.

Another Character of interest is Mary. She is the tempter in the story; but her role as “tempter” is positive. As the story unfolds, we grow to like Mary and want her to succeed in her efforts. She does, and it is fitting that she does; and we are pleased. Yet, she was once a nun and, having lost her faith in the “Christian” God, she calmly explains her loss of faith by saying: The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that’s all. Obviously Pullman uses this character to drive home his own opinion about Christianity, doing so through a supporting character.

Then there is Metatron. Though the story makes no overt connection between Metatron and Jesus Christ, most Christian readers will see a link. But, here again we are presented with just another caricature—a false likeness to Christ—an effigy we are actually glad to see defeated.

In real life, the average reader would normally have some degree of respect for the following: God, Christ, the church and its religious teachers and leaders. In Pullman’s saga, the reader is led to dislike or have little respect for these same characters, as portrayed in the story.

Subtle as this may seem, Pullman no doubt has his real world supporters. There are many in today’s world that have been so disappointed, hurt, dismayed, and/or abused by religion, the church, and its leaders, that they have lost most if not all respect for religious types of any kind, especially clergy, the church, and its teachings. Thus, in Pullman’s tale, major religious characters are inverted, turned upside down. We want them defeated and taken out. And so, Metatron, the character most likely to be identified with Jesus, is a ruthless lord and certainly no savior—definitely not someone before whom we’d willingly bow down and worship. And the reader can only pity god for what he really is—in the tale. Anything but true, good, righteous, just, and all-powerful, he’s old, weak, and frail, and a sad victim of his own creaturely attempt to be GOD. In short, he is actually no worse, nor better, than any human we know of in the real world. Such is the death of god.

So if you are confident in your faith and know Jesus, true God of true God, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and if you understand the true nature of God, the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, let your children read these books and then have a great, enlightening theological discussion with them. Compare the Biblical God with that of human imagination, fantasy, and mythology. Show how the Biblical God defines Himself, what He says about “who He is” and His role in the story of the human race and what He actually expects from humanity.

Discuss Jesus and the church. Tell them what you know about church history and the sins of its past. You may want to refer to the book of Revelation, chapters two and three. Talk about how and why people have been hurt by the church (everything from the crusades to clergy misconduct). Yet, point out that it was Jesus who established the church. Why did He? Show how the true church is supposed to be “the Bride of Christ” and how Jesus is the Head of the Church.

Then talk about our need to make a choice. Who and what are we going to believe? Why is faith important and necessary? What are our faith choices? How can we be sure that we are making good, wise, and true choices? Also point out the difference between being religious and being in a genuine relationship with God, through Christ, by means of the Holy Spirit? Show how and why. And above all, do all of this with the least bit of anxiety, worry, and fear. Demonstrate the strength of your own faith. Speak with conviction that Jesus is Lord and Savior, that God the Father is Creator, and that His Spirit is the revealer of the Word of Truth.

Humanity’s true story, our very own human saga, is an epic tale found in the Biblical narrative from Genesis’ “Adam & Eve” to Apocalypse’s Judgment Day.

Remember: the greatest story ever told is the truest one ever heard.

Below are more direct Quotes from Book Three, THE AMBER SPYGLASS, of the trilogy, His Dark Materials:

He meant the Kingdom was over, the Kingdom of Heaven, it was all finished. We shouldn’t live as if it mattered more than this life in this world, because where we are is always the most important place.

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She said that all the history of human life has been a struggle between wisdom and stupidity. She and the rebel angels, the followers of wisdom, have always tried to open minds; the Authority and his churches have always tried to keep them closed.

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The Authority, God, the Creator, the Lord, Yahweh, El, Adonai, the King, the Father, the Almighty—those were all names he gave himself. He was never the creator. He was an angel like ourselves—the first angel, true, the most powerful, but he was formed of Dust as we are, and Dust is only a name for what happens when matter begins to understand itself.

*

Mrs. Coulter says: How can it be? The Authority created the worlds, didn’t he? He existed before everything, how can he have come into being? King Ogunwe says: This is angelic knowledge. It shocked some of us, too, to learn that the Authority is not the creator. There may have been a creator, or there may not: we don’t know. All we know is that at some point the Authority took charge, and since then, angels have rebelled, and human beings have struggled against him, too.

If anyone is wondering, yes, I do plan to see the movie when it comes out. Meanwhile, blessings to all--grace, love, and peace.