Anyone who’s read the Golden Compass has a pretty good idea how author Phillip Pullman feels about the Catholic Church. Pullman’s personal beliefs have been more opaque, at least before now, with the publication of his newest work, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ.
Slate reviews the book, which is describes as strange, although given they don’t recognize Pullman’s rewrite of Mathew’s exhortation to his followers to be modest in their displays of belief, I’m not sure I would put much stock in that opinion without picking up a copy first. It looks to me like Pullman’s making an obvious distinction between the wise, humble Christ of the bible, and the ostentatious Christ of the Church:
“Think of the advantages if there were a body of believers, a structure, an organization already in place. I can see it so clearly, Jesus. … Groups of families worshiping together with a priest in every village and town, an association of local groups under the direction and guidance of a wise elder in the region, the regional leaders all answering to the authority of one supreme director, a kind of regent of God on earth. …Won’t you join me in this? Won’t you be a part of this most wonderful work and help bring the Kingdom of God to earth?”
