PHILIP PULLMAN AND JESUS

Having read Philip Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials a number of years ago, it has been interesting to read the reviews of his latest book, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ. The title alone is enough to get the blood boiling but I think that is his intention, But it also grabs my attention, as I expect it will for others, and demands that I explore what he is writing about. Too often Christians are known for what they are against and it is all too easy to simply dismiss the book by its cover rather than delve into it and be in a better position to talk about it.

Many people will read it there is no doubt and if I don't then I will be in no position to talk about what I believe in response. It was the same with Harry Potter. We mustn't just moan about it, be frightened by it, be afraid of it, we must understand why it has been written and then make our case for what we believe with other people who will read it. Perhaps that is the problem, we don't feel confident about what we believe to 'give a reason for the hope we have.'

This is from Philip Green's review (Evangelical Alliance Public Theology Research Assistant)

'The premise of this novel is a common one: Jesus was a good man, a wise teacher who helped lift the spirits of the poor and oppressed. He never wanted any more than this. However, others took the stories and used them to create an earth-changing and people controlling movement. Some parts were tweaked, other aspects were exaggerated, while several components (including Jesus’ divinity and resurrection) were completely fabricated. To this end, Pullman has not produced anything new. However, the way he has done it is altogether fresh, unique and engaging.'

Now Pullman is a bit negative about organised religion to put it mildly, but it does seem that he has a grudging respect for the man Jesus and, try as he might, he cannot get away from the fact that Jesus was a pretty amazing person. Even in this book there is something that will get other people thinking and Jesus is big enough to be able to handle someones attempt to knock him down. He has a habit of getting up again, a great track record of rising again!

Why not get the book, read it and then let's see if we could use it to help people encounter the real Jesus. We don't need to be afraid, just equipped. Perhaps in the process we too might learn something new that will strengthen our faith in the public sphere as well as the private space.

I'm ordering mine now!