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Post by june on Mar 28, 2010 22:01:44 GMT
Religious Fanatics Threaten Atheist Philip Pullman With Death - over the title of his latest book which they say is blasphemous. He tells them 'tough luck!' From the Times: The novelist Philip Pullman has been threatened by religious zealots over his new book, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ. He has received scores of letters condemning him to “eternal hell” or “damnation by fire” and accusing him of blasphemy. “Many refer to the title itself, for which there is clearly a passionate objection from some out there,” said Pullman. It's just like Life Of Brian! and I thought Christianity was about tolerance
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Post by june on Mar 30, 2010 21:28:51 GMT
Here is what the author says on the book, I am struggling to see the offensive bits:
About six years ago, i had a conversation on the stage of the National Theatre with Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury. In the course of talking about "His Dark Materials", he said that he was curious to know why, although the story was plainly about a form of the Christian church, there was nothing about Jesus in the book.
I said that he was right, there wasn't, and that I'd deal with Jesus later in another book.
Well, the time has come. "The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ" will be published next April by Canongate as part of their Myths series. I've always been fascinated by the two parts of the name of Jesus Christ, and by the difference between them. Another thing that's interested me for a long time is the way in which the Christian church began to formulate its beliefs and establish a canon of scripture: there were many more gospels than four, but why were those four chosen and others left out? When did Paul begin to write his epistles? Was what he said different from what the gospels say? Do the gospels even agree with one another? Was there a difference between Jesus and Christ?
My version of the Jesus story doesn't attempt to solve these questions, but I hope readers will find it interesting. There will be various events and readings connected with the publication and I'll let you know all about them when the dates are settled.
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Post by beth on Apr 1, 2010 1:41:19 GMT
I'm glad to see no particular church is objecting, and it's just the usual wing nuts who seem to take up things like this as an avocation. There actually might be some basis for objection that he is adding a book about Jesus Christ to the Canongate Myth Series, which, I think, is intended for books about ancient mythical characters. But, even so, it shouldn't be the business of religions to try to regulate atheists' contributions to literature. Phillip Pullman has had a long and distinguished career. We loved His Dark Materials books. It sounds like this one might be interesting - something I'd like to read.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2010 8:56:00 GMT
The "death threats" against Pullman are of a different nature to the fatwa against Rushdie, aren't they?; The religious zealots here are warning him that God will make him burn, not threatening to set fire to his house. And if you don't believe that, why should you worry?
I'm sure if every word in the Bible is true, I am bound for a very warm reception.
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Post by mouse on Apr 1, 2010 10:46:41 GMT
now which pope was it who said ""it has served us well-this MYTH of christ ""
and there is a difference between WARNING of hell fire and damnation and slitting some one throat or issuing death threats
the title of the thread is misleading to put it nicely and a total lie if one wishes to be more acurate...
of course we all are now aware that threats do pay dividends especially if those threats are transformed into action and bring all sorts of financial and social advantages..so perhaps instead of threats about the after life a bit of direct action is what these people need to be doing that way they can get the UN and wishy washy liberals on side and millions of poubds thrown at them as well
ahh happy days of such is the earthly kingdom....
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Post by mouse on Apr 1, 2010 10:57:22 GMT
Religious Fanatics Threaten Atheist Philip Pullman With Death - over the title of his latest book which they say is blasphemous. He tells them 'tough luck!' and I thought Christianity was about tolerance well lets look at where tollorance has got christianity...so tollorance is not a good idea for the ""message"" the bishops last week were really objecting to the sidelining and perseqution of christians in this country i wonder if this or any other author will be so glib about things islamic...mmm think not how about ""goodman prophet scoundral mohamed """ strange the great silence from the arty world on things islamic and yet there are some fantastic stories of rape,,bloodshed..invasion and slavery..wonder why no one seems interested in writing/filming/plays etc
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Post by riotgrrl on Apr 1, 2010 19:35:42 GMT
well lets look at where tollorance has got christianity... Yes, let's look at where tolerance has got Christianity. Since the christianisation (is that a word?) of the Roman empire, people who are nominally Christians have enjoyed the highest standards of living in the world, the best human rights/freedom in the world, and the best education and health in the world. I'd say tolerance (as part of the Christian/Democrat western mindset) has been very good to all of us who have been lucky enough to grow up in nations where it is the dominant ideology.
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Post by trubble on Apr 1, 2010 23:27:07 GMT
Nice little article by George Pitcher in the Telegraph: I'm slightly suspicious of any author who claims to be suffering persecution just ahead of the publication of their "controversial" new book. The PR departments of publishing houses might call this the Salman Rushdie Gambit, in honour of the man who won worldwide publicity for the almost unreadable The Satanic Verses, courtesy of a fatwa and having to go into hiding for a decade or so. If only they would do the same for Martin Amis.
I'm sure the novelist Philip Pullman isn't fabricating the abuse he says he's been receiving from religious zealots for his new book, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ. He's telling the truth, as it were, even if his book isn't telling The Truth. But I would just like to point out that it's being published this week and it's being put about that he will have bodyguards when he appears next Sunday at The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival. Funnily enough, it was The Sunday Times that reported that. Read on...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2010 18:14:27 GMT
Thanks for that link, Trubble, it was quite entertaining.
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Post by alanseago on May 19, 2010 17:30:59 GMT
I thought it was my fault that i could not get past the first chapter of Satanic Verses. I was an avid reader in those days.
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