Banned Books Week: The Golden Compass

This post is to bring awareness to Banned Books Week.

The United States was founded as a state where intellectual freedom for all was and is tantamount. That has not changed since the Founding Fathers built America. Unfortunately, more often than I’d like to admit, different individuals and groups attack that intellectual freedom and try to ban books they find objectionable—particularly unorthodox or unpopular content that is sexual in nature, anti-religiously charged, or culturally challenging.

The Founding Fathers knew the danger that existed in banning books. To give one segment of a population power to ban ideas and thoughts, to give that segment power over others who may not feel the same way, leads to fascism. They knew in a nation already as diverse as America that no one group should control the national collective—that way, no matter how small the instance, destroys liberty and freedom.

Unfortunately, there are several fantasy novels that have either been banned or discussion of banning them has been raised.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman epitomizes the problem with banning content. Since it was published in 1995, the first book in the His Dark Materials trilogy has faced controversy after controversy, most of it coming from the religious right.

It is the story of Lyra Belacqua, an orphan living at Oxford, England in an alternate universe from our own. When her best friend is stolen to the far reaches of the white north, she and her daemon Pantalaimon—an animal manifestation of her soul—go on the adventure of a lifetime to unlock the mystery surrounding her friend’s loss, who her family is, and the role she is meant to play to save multiple universes.

One of the entities in direct opposition to Lyra and her role to play is the Church, which is similarly structured to that of our Catholic Church. In The Golden Compass, the Church is shown to be manipulative and controlling, led by men capable of doing anything to keep the truth hidden and their power intact—including murder and lying.

Therefore His Dark Materials and Pullman himself have drawn a great deal of criticism—as well as hopes for banning—from those who do not like how he portrays organized religion and religion in general.

Pullman, an atheist, has said on numerous occasions the people who decry the series and wish it banned are part of the very problem he wrote about in the series.

“It’s not the presence of Christian doctrine I object to so much as the absence of Christian virtue.” —Philip Pullman

And another quote:

“I think my position would be that throughout human history, the greatest moral advances have been made by religious leaders such as Jesus and the Buddha. And the greatest moral wickedness has been perpetrated by their followers. How many millions of people have been killed in the name of this religion or that one? Burnt, hanged, tortured. It’s just extraordinary.” — Philip Pullman

Over the years, the world has seen numerous examples of religious impropriety, immorality, and downright cruelty, the latest of which is right now stemming from the Catholic Church abuse scandal and the Pope. For me, a Christian, the entire point of His Dark Materials is to illuminate two very important points:

1. Mankind is fallible and can fall prey to evil, no matter the intention.

2. Organized religion, made up by Mankind, can fall prey to the same fallibility.

It is extremely important for works like The Golden Compass to exist and be made available to anyone wishing to read them. First and foremost, the book is an adventure story. It is a story about undying friendship and sacrifice. It is a tale whose characters uphold qualities that every human being should try to emulate. If that is bannable, then what does that say about our society?

Second, the book is a warning for those who see its literary underpinnings. Pullman highlights many of the same problems organized religion has today. It is important for everyone to be reminded of points #1 and #2 above, and to remain vigilant against them—especially for those within organized religion.

For without a reminder every once in a while—in essence to ban such a book as The Golden Compass—lets evil flourish unfettered.

Those of you who wish The Golden Compass to be banned in book and movie form, I ask you to look closer at the point Pullman is making. But beyond that, you may feel banning is a great thing despite it being contrary to the founding of America. If that’s the case, you are free to express that idea and wish for the same censorship used in Iran.

But also know you kill a part of America the Founding Fathers intended.

If you have not read The Golden Compass and you wish to discover for yourself what the controversy is about—or if you just want to read a great adventure tale—click HERE to read Chapter One.

Happy reading! For all books!