When asked about the complexity of religion in his novel The Golden Compass, atheist and author Philip Pullman simply stated “Argue with anything else, but don't argue with your own nature.” The importance of religion is extremely evident throughout the novel The Golden Compass. Throughout the book, we recognize ties between the religion portrayed in the novel and the combination of the crucial aspects of Christianity within the catholic religion. The strong atheist opinion of Pullman has a great significance throughout the book in his overall purpose to clear children from religion, which is pertained throughout the plot. There is also a huge tie between the daemons of the novel and their connection to the human soul, as children begin to become aware of their selves and who they are, their daemons begin to take a permanent form. In addition, the tie between “dust” and loss of innocence associated with intelligence, curiosity, and freedom of mind has a strong impact to the overall importance of religion in the novel.
The overall purpose of the novel The Golden Compass as stated by author Philip Pullman is to clear children from religion. This ideally builds the plot throughout the novel and makes the reader question their true beliefs and opinions towards religion. At the beginning of the novel, the protagonist Lyra is oblivious to the concept of religion and “dust”, she believes herself to be an orphan and Lord Asriel as her uncle. In the beginning pages of the novel we see her in a closet with Pan listening to the secret conversation between Lord Asriel and the scholars regarding this mysterious “dust”. This immediately makes us, the reader, curious as to what “dust” is, as well as the reader not knowing Lyra also is oblivious to the concept of “dust”. Throughout the novel we come to realize that the magisterium is equivalent to the Catholic Church in that they are trying to eliminate free will. They do this by capturing children and removing their...