Bestselling British novelist Philip Pullman offended the Christian community with his new fictional book ‘The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ.’
Pullman, one of Britain's most outspoken atheists, first enraged few members of the Catholic Church in his highly-acclaimed ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy, in which he thinly criticised the organised religion.
However, his latest book features further and more direct examination of the moral foundations the Church and Christianity, combined with the power of storytelling and fascination.
In the book, Jesus has a twin brother named Christ, who records and exaggerates the teachings of his brother secretly.
Speaking to a group of audience in Oxford last Sunday, Pullman said that the novel would probably cause offence.
Nobody has to read this book ... and no one has the right to stop me writing this book".
Even before his novel hits the bookshelves, Pullman revealed he has received several letters that accused him of blasphemy. He was escorted by security personnel to the Oxford event where he publicised his short novel.
"The world is a strange place and getting stranger", he told the media when asked about the heightened security measures. "These are the times we live in and it's very regrettable".
‘The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ’ is set to be released in April by Canongate Books as part of the Myths Series.
Pullman, one of Britain's most outspoken atheists, first enraged few members of the Catholic Church in his highly-acclaimed ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy, in which he thinly criticised the organised religion.
However, his latest book features further and more direct examination of the moral foundations the Church and Christianity, combined with the power of storytelling and fascination.
In the book, Jesus has a twin brother named Christ, who records and exaggerates the teachings of his brother secretly.
Speaking to a group of audience in Oxford last Sunday, Pullman said that the novel would probably cause offence.
Nobody has to read this book ... and no one has the right to stop me writing this book".
Even before his novel hits the bookshelves, Pullman revealed he has received several letters that accused him of blasphemy. He was escorted by security personnel to the Oxford event where he publicised his short novel.
"The world is a strange place and getting stranger", he told the media when asked about the heightened security measures. "These are the times we live in and it's very regrettable".
‘The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ’ is set to be released in April by Canongate Books as part of the Myths Series.
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