PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:54 pm
Pullman's phrase for that is "atheistic theocracy" by the way. Quick paraphrase: they have Holy Book, priesthood, believe in future perfection on earth, rituals etc.
In fact here: http://www.stagework.org.uk/webdav/servlet/XRM?Page/@id=6009&Document/@id=792&Session/@id=D_sm4ODbnBsJehD3aWSQ3M
As I was saying, there is where Pullman compares the institution of organised religion to the instiution of a communist/fascist government because of the same reasons Will just listed and more.