It’s a compelling question.  In response to criticisms that the intent of the book, The Golden Compass (soon to be aired on the big screen), was to promote atheism or anti-Catholicism, author Philip Pullman had this to say:
In the world of the story — Lyra’s world — there is a church that has acquired great political power, rather in the way that some religions in our world have done at various times, and still do (think of the Taliban in Afghanistan). My point is that religion is at its best — it does most good — when it is …read more