In “The Secret Commonwealth” Pullmans description of the Magisterium sounds a lot like White Christian Nationalism.
Tag Archives: Philip Pullman
Pullman and White Christian Nationalists
On Lent, Dust, and His Dark Materials
In Practical Christianity, Jane Shaw uses Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” to discuss how to grapple with life and sin.
Do Not Stand by My Grave and Weep
As Slovenes this past week visited the graves of those who have passed on, I thought of Frye’s poem “Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep.”
Angels in Pullman’s Fantasy
In “His Dark Materials” Pullman turns Milton’s “Paradise Lost” on its head. The fallen angels are the good guys.
Fantasy, a Portal to the Numinous
People are often drawn to fantasy in our post-Enlightenment world because they hunger for the numinous.
A Debate about Sex, Pullman vs. Milton
This is the 20th anniversary of Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” series, which gives me an excuse for once again tilting with the fantasy author and figuring out my own thoughts on our vexed relationship with sexuality and our bodies. Once again I conclude that Milton goes far deeper into these issues than Pullman does.
Pullman vs. C. S. Lewis on the Issue of Sin
Philip Pullman loathes C. S. Lewis, despite the many similarities between “The Golden Compass” and the Narnia Chronicles. The reason may be the way handles sinning children.
Lyra’s Epic Journey To Grow Up
Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy is a frontal assault on sin-obsessed patriarchal churches. While I don’t find this depiction to be compelling, I am drawn into his coming-of-age story.
Using Lit to Predict the Weather
Last week, while discussing “The Tempest,” we experienced a literal tempest. Expect cold temperatures today as I’m teaching “Eve of St. Agnes.”

