Moral Horror and Moral Maturity: Philip Pullman's Theological Anthropology for a Godless World

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy challenges Christianity in many ways, most strikingly in its fundamental rewriting of what goodness means. Pullman's counter-institutional moral vision relies on individual creativity and curiosity - figured in Dust, and realised in characters�...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Literature and theology
Main Author: Burton, Emanuelle (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Oxford University Press [2016]
In: Literature and theology
RelBib Classification:AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
CA Christianity
NBE Anthropology
NCA Ethics
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy challenges Christianity in many ways, most strikingly in its fundamental rewriting of what goodness means. Pullman's counter-institutional moral vision relies on individual creativity and curiosity - figured in Dust, and realised in characters' self-appointed tasks - to counter the stultifying and murderous Church. It also requires those who would fight the Church to engage in similarly violent, destructive deeds. This engagement with evil is part of the protagonists' moral education: in Pullman's world, full moral responsibility requires an encounter with horror, and goodness can only be defended by those willing to do evil for its sake.
ISSN:1477-4623
Contains:Enthalten in: Literature and theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1093/litthe/frw011