Atheist author Pullman finds bishops in agreement
By Steven Brocklehurst BBC Scotland news website -  14 August 2010

 Left -  Philip Pullman was appearing at the Edinburgh Book festival

There was an amazing amount of agreement when Philip Pullman appeared at the Edinburgh International Book festival alongside two former bishops.

Pullman, the best-selling author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, was in Edinburgh to discuss his latest book The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ.
 
The atheist author was debating themes of the book with the former Anglican Bishop of Oxford Richard Harries in a session chaired by Richard Holloway, the former bishop of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Pullman's story sets up a distinction between Jesus, a "striking individual" with a humane and moral message, and his brother Christ who betrays him.
The Good Man Jesus condemns the concept of a church, something he believes would make the devil "rub his hands with glee".
Pullman said: "I contrasted Jesus the man, as I imagined him, with Christ, the church's invention.
"Christ in the book, who is a tormented and unhappy figure, finds himself manipulated, but with a certain degree of willingness, into betraying Jesus.
"He writes stories about Jesus which he knows not to be true, because it will suit the emerging church better."

Pullman told a packed main theatre at the Charlotte Square festival that the early church could not live by Jesus's teaching so it changed them to suit its own ends.

Professor Harries lauded Pullman for writing with "moral clout" and said he had enjoyed the book.
And he agreed with Pullman about the humane qualities of Jesus.
Rest at BBC.