[Saxony Tarn]

:: setting the breakables behind the bar, just in case! ::

Noted, and will consider it when looking for a new read. While we're on the subject of religion, and in a heroic attempt to keep the discussion from becoming too fiery a debate, there is obviously a niche market for religious-segment-targeted fiction (i don't have to mention the 'Left Behind' series here, especially since i am not among its readership, but it is a salient example of a book that found its reader market and is dominating it) i can also think of a few books i've read that target demographics that other Wights in our little section of the graveyard might be more in tune with (and i will not take any names in vain, i trust you all know who you are)

We know that Tolkien and his good buddy Lewis both had deeply-held beliefs, which one way or another found expression in their writing. Although i wouldn't be able to say for certain w/o reading Pullman's books, it sounds to me like he's either not done as good of a job handling his world as he could have or he's got a proverbial axe to grind.

Which brings me to this, especially since Starbreeze mentioned that she leaves that aspect out so as not to offend readers, how can we make characters have spiritual beliefs that seem natural to them -- and, if they're beliefs that just happen to have real-world parallels, how can we do it without sounding either preachy or heretical ourselves?

it's a real trick, i know!

s.t.