Phillip Pullman To Write Alternative History Of Christ
Now, I have to say that as a Christian for over 10 years, this story irked me a little bit. However, unlike a lot of my Christian brethren, I am tolerant of other people’s views. But there are several pieces of this which annoy me no end. First of all the title “The Good Man Jesus And The Scoundrel Christ”. Well, that is just a cheap shot. How about we call it The God Delusion – Children’s Edition?
Then there is the timing. Pullman is planning to release this book at Easter. Uh huh. There is another cheap shot right there. As an Athiest, I expect Phillip Pullman thinks it’s funny to put out an Athiest book at Easter. That’s ok, that’s fine. But would be find an attack on himself so funny on a significant day of his life? Maybe if someone smashed all the windows in his house on his birthday?
According to Pullman, St Paul wrote the story of Christ, using “The Good Man” Jesus as a basis for a character in a story. He claims he was a creative genius of the first class. He really must have been, because this “Scoundrel” Jesus came up with a lot of factual information which he couldn’t possibly have proven in his time. Stars and grains of sand come to mind.
However, regardless of how much Phillip Pullman makes from this little jaunt, his publishing company are more than earning their money. The publisher’s spokesperson said that Pullman has written a book of genuine importance, and that it is an ingenious retelling of a story. He also claims it strips Christianity bare and makes people question their faith.
Sadly, I don’t think it will. I think it will cause a generation of children to say “Wow…the guy who wrote His Dark Materials said Jesus is a fairy story. It must be true”.
