Philip Pullman reveals why his new books will remain critical of religious attacks on LGBT people
His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman has revealed why he will continue to be critical of religion for attacks on LGBT people.
The acclaimed writer, who has sold millions of novels worldwide, announced on Wednesday that a new trilogy would be released that follows on from His Dark Materials.
Collectively called āThe Book of Dustā, the new series will return to the world of Lyra and explore āwhat it means to be a human beingā.
The first book is due to be released in October.
In an interview with NPR, Mr Pullman said he had been āgreatly criticisedā for the role religion has played in his books.
āMy attitude to religion is that religion is a most interesting and extraordinary human phenomenon,ā he said.
āIām fascinated by it, interested in it, and at some points critical of it.
āAnd the points when I become critical are the points when politics come into it, and religion acquires political power ā political with a small āp,ā for example, within the confines of a single family, or Political with a large āP,ā on a national or international scale.ā
He added that there are times when religion āgoes badā and that is where he draws a line.
āWhen religion gets the power to tell people how to dress, who to fall in love with, how to behave, what they must not read, what they must not wear, all those things, then religion goes bad.
āReligion is a private thing, and a fine thing and a good thing, as long as it remains private.
āAs soon as it becomes public and political, itās dangerous. Thatās the position Iāve taken up in the first series and the position this current one takes up as well.ā
The author has long supported a number of causes to promote equality.
Last year, a childrenās publisher removed gendered titles after agreeing with a campaign supported by Mr Pullman and others.