Pullman Disliking Narnia

Kate12 · Postby **Kate12** » Thu May 25, 2006 7:47 am

Why does he dislike C.S Lewis's Chronicles Of Narnia book series, I personally love them!
It's mainly because of his religion but he doesn't have to go around being so mean and rude about them!

Postby **bethanwy** » Thu May 25, 2006 4:01 pm

He's entitled to his opinion, isn't he?
Personally, I've never liked the chronicles of narnia, no reason, I just never did.

Ian · Postby **Ian** » Thu May 25, 2006 5:00 pm

He says he dislikes the Christian aspect of them. I reckon he just thinks they're boring.

Angel to follow · Postby **Angel to follow** » Thu May 25, 2006 5:34 pm

I had a massive row with my family about this, I said that it was more than stupidity to think that there weren't religious undertones in the chronicals of Narnia. After I explained and won I might add, they then said that there maybe religious themes in the book but not in the film.

HOW STUPID IS THAT?!?!?
I then tried to explain that the story itself does not differ between book and film.Once they bought the rights they didn't say "oh actually lets take this classic and set in new york and insted of a lion we will have a setee!!!!!! How can anyone be so stupid?

I want to cry please comfort me and offer suggestions on how to kill them/explain to them that they story remains the same.

AHHHHHHHH!!!

Kinders · Postby **Kinders** » Thu May 25, 2006 6:29 pm

I think the line, "it is finished" just about ends the film argument as well.

Angel to follow · Postby **Angel to follow** » Thu May 25, 2006 8:58 pm

What?That doesn't help me!! We are talking about people who believe that it differs and then they make fun of me for not thinking that!!!
You have no idea what I live with.

Postby **jessia** » Thu May 25, 2006 9:24 pm

He says he dislikes the Christian aspect of them. I reckon he just thinks they're boring.

he called them bad storytelling and that he doesn't really have a problem with lewis' apologetic work.

Kate12 · Postby **Kate12** » Thu May 25, 2006 10:32 pm

But there isn't much Christianity in it!

Postby **Soapy** » Thu May 25, 2006 10:37 pm

But there isn't much Christianity in it!

There isn't?

Oh, well in that case....

I agree with PP - not just because of the religious thing. I don't think it's well-written and I think it talks down to children in a very obvious way. I also think Lewis needed a better editor.

Kinders · Postby **Kinders** » Thu May 25, 2006 11:17 pm

What?That doesn't help me!! We are talking about people who believe that it differs and then they make fun of me for not thinking that!!!
You have no idea what I live with.

I was agreeing with you...

croaker · Postby **croaker** » Fri May 26, 2006 2:42 am

I think Pullman is being very fair in his mild criticism of Lewis in the article "The Darkside of Narnia". Being rude is something I associate with Lewis apologetics, and the cultfollowing it has among the religious reactionary, not Pullman.

It saddens me to hear of angel to follow's problems. Since the family seem too dumb to understand, why not comfort yourself by reading about the religious zealots in HDM to them?

Angel to follow · Postby **Angel to follow** » Fri May 26, 2006 4:34 pm

The extent of my families reading is the T.V guide.

Personally, I disagree with PP on this one.Yes CS Lewis lays the allegory on thicker than Jordans make up but it is just a story.It isn't like HDM.They are both childrens books but is HDM in the same league?...obviously not. It doesn't derserve the same speculation as HDM because its just a childrens book.

Kate12 · Postby **Kate12** » Sun May 28, 2006 12:09 am

But I was reading all this stuff that he was saying about C.S Lewis and it was very rude.

Yes, the books of Narnia do get boring, since they have no description but they let you imagine what it all looks like thats what the best thing is!

Undestined · Postby **Undestined** » Sun May 28, 2006 12:21 am

I read the books when I was in fourth or fifth grade. I liked them then, but what bothers me now is that, in every book except the first three, Aslan kicks at least one of the kids out of the stories. Plus, the order is messed up, and then there's "The Horse and His Boy," which barely involves Narnia.

croaker · Postby **croaker** » Sun May 28, 2006 2:02 am

I'm curious, what stuff did you read Kate12?
Most of the material I've found is various Christians attacking Pullman.

Kate12 · Postby **Kate12** » Mon May 29, 2006 8:01 am

The Horse and His Boy does have to do with Narnia, but there is a specific order that CS Lewis recomends to read the series in.

Here is an article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsi ... 350214.stm

croaker · Postby **croaker** » Tue May 30, 2006 9:56 pm

A copy of the article by Pullman I mentioned earlier can be found here:
http://www.crlamppost.org/darkside.htm

Kate12 · Postby **Kate12** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:41 am

I don't think it's right to criticise another author and their books just because of their religion!

Postby **jessia** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:35 pm

well he's also criticizing poor storytelling.

and perhaps one shouldn't criticize one's religion, but the way in which it is used in storytelling sounds appropriate and relevant to a person whose job it is to tell stories and study literature.

croaker · Postby **croaker** » Wed May 31, 2006 7:46 pm

I do not think a religious author should be above and beyond criticism, nor should religious books. Kate12, have you looked at Lewis' criticism of other religions or, which is much worse, atheists (especially scientists)?
Lewis gave Donneâ€™s maxim,â€˜The heresies that men leave are hated most." as the key to understanding his books.

Pullman Disliking Narnia

Pullman Disliking Narnia

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