Dæmons vs. Human Soul - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

orionsixwings · 27th January 2006, 09:59 PM

In Philip Pullman's -- His Dark Materials Trilogy -- he introduced the concept of the Dæmon - something that I thought was a pet-like entity while I read the first book but then realized it wasn't for it in fact was the soul of the owner. This concept is really new to me -- although I personally do not believe in the existence of the "Soul" as a separate entity that inhabits the human body and leaves it after death to go elsewhere. So, you can imagine the effect of this whole new concept on my while I read.

Then there is the question of which is better to have: One that you can see, interact with, but risk losing (one seems to have problems hiding how they really feel if their souls are outside for everyone else to see), or one that you can't see though you know is inside you, and somehow affects the way you think and feel?

What would you choose?

rune · 28th January 2006, 11:09 AM

Id not really picked up on this when I read this trilogy. Id just thought of them as familiar's.

orionsixwings · 1st February 2006, 12:09 AM

FAMILIAR'S? You mean pets?

HieroGlyph · 1st February 2006, 12:19 AM

fa·mil·iar (fə-mĭl'yər)
--->An attendant spirit, often taking animal form.

Its in the dictionary.

A separate being, really.

As to your question... Its a good one. But as a rather old and stead human I would fear my dæmon would be like dragging around a burst balloon

If you looked at it in really poor light with a severe squint you might think it could have been a Unicorn!

orionsixwings · 1st February 2006, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HieroGlyph

fa·mil·iar (fə-mĭl'yər)
--->An attendant spirit, often taking animal form.

Its in the dictionary.

A separate being, really.

As to your question... Its a good one. But as a rather old and stead human I would fear my dæmon would be like dragging around a burst balloon

If you looked at it in really poor light with a severe squint you might think it could have been a Unicorn!

Right. I actually thought it too at the start. So when I realized that Lyra and Pan were actually one --- but separate --- it thrilled me like crazy! I would choose to have a dæmon myself, it would be a Bengal Tiger.

Amber · 3rd February 2006, 01:25 PM

We should probably start a thread on what we would like our daemons to look like. I'd go for something really fancy probably, then end up with half a dead rat on a stick

But I would like some sort of large cat- like Lord Asriels

HieroGlyph · 4th February 2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amber

... half a dead rat on a stick

...

LOL
You making this up!?!

ras'matroi · 4th February 2006, 06:49 PM

In some cases it depended on the circumstances what shape the daemon would take.
I remember servants only having dogs and the witches having large birds.
If I could choose I would like a wolf.
It would be the coolest if the daemon could continue to chang shape.

orionsixwings · 8th February 2006, 08:11 PM

Yeah, that would really be better than them retaining just one shape.

I love the idea of having daemon.

Lacedaemonian · 8th February 2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orionsixwings

I love the idea of having daemon.

I remember feeling really sad that I would never have a daemon. I would like to have a chipmonk as my daemon.

osms123 · 11th March 2006, 04:45 AM

While i am a christain i like these books alot(I consider fantasy like this just a view to regard and cast away my faith being to strong to believe even though i enjoy the plot and the books) I have a hare named Nalina.

Green Knight · 21st March 2006, 06:05 PM

Oddly enough I've never seen what was anti-Christian about Pullman's trilogy (even though he says it himself!). What Pullman rails against is more about institutionalised, dogmatic religion/mindsets of any kind, that stifle the human spirit. Such things have little to do with the real tenets of faiths such as Christianity, Islam or whatever.

The values that Pullman teaches are more or less identical to the values supposedly most cherished by the major religions (even if they don't always stick by them). And at the end of the day it's how you behave, not what you believe ;-)

Alia · 21st March 2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

And at the end of the day it's how you behave, not what you believe ;-)

At the end of the day may the way you behave be a reflection of how you believe.

This is interesting that Pullman is anti-Christian, or is he merely anti religion? Believing moreso in Eastern philosphies?

Tea is my copilot · 21st March 2006, 08:39 PM

How about a penguin?
I prefer a soul, though.

orionsixwings · 21st March 2006, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alia

At the end of the day may the way you behave be a reflection of how you believe.

This is interesting that Pullman is anti-Christian, or is he merely anti religion? Believing moreso in Eastern philosphies?

I think he's an agnostic. Believes in the existence of a higher power but does not have any religious affiliations.

27th January 2006, 09:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
orionsixwings Demosthenes Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 280	Dæmons vs. Human Soul In Philip Pullman's -- His Dark Materials Trilogy -- he introduced the concept of the Dæmon - something that I thought was a pet-like entity while I read the first book but then realized it wasn't for it in fact was the soul of the owner. This concept is really new to me -- although I personally do not believe in the existence of the "Soul" as a separate entity that inhabits the human body and leaves it after death to go elsewhere. So, you can imagine the effect of this whole new concept on my while I read. Then there is the question of which is better to have: One that you can see, interact with, but risk losing (one seems to have problems hiding how they really feel if their souls are outside for everyone else to see), or one that you can't see though you know is inside you, and somehow affects the way you think and feel? What would you choose?

28th January 2006, 11:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
rune rune Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,560	Re: Dæmons vs. Human Soul Id not really picked up on this when I read this trilogy. Id just thought of them as familiar's.

1st February 2006, 12:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
orionsixwings Demosthenes Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 280	Re: Dæmons vs. Human Soul FAMILIAR'S? You mean pets?

1st February 2006, 12:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
HieroGlyph 70% water... Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 376	Re: Dæmons vs. Human Soul fa·mil·iar (fə-mĭl'yər) --->An attendant spirit, often taking animal form. Its in the dictionary. A separate being, really. As to your question... Its a good one. But as a rather old and stead human I would fear my dæmon would be like dragging around a burst balloon If you looked at it in really poor light with a severe squint you might think it could have been a Unicorn!

3rd February 2006, 01:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Amber Oh mighty Gackt Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 518	Re: Dæmons vs. Human Soul We should probably start a thread on what we would like our daemons to look like. I'd go for something really fancy probably, then end up with half a dead rat on a stick But I would like some sort of large cat- like Lord Asriels

4th February 2006, 06:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
ras'matroi Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 139	Re: Dæmons vs. Human Soul In some cases it depended on the circumstances what shape the daemon would take. I remember servants only having dogs and the witches having large birds. If I could choose I would like a wolf. It would be the coolest if the daemon could continue to chang shape.

8th February 2006, 08:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
orionsixwings Demosthenes Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 280	Re: Dæmons vs. Human Soul Yeah, that would really be better than them retaining just one shape. I love the idea of having daemon.

11th March 2006, 04:45 AM	#11 (permalink)
osms123 osms123 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6	Re: Dæmons vs. Human Soul While i am a christain i like these books alot(I consider fantasy like this just a view to regard and cast away my faith being to strong to believe even though i enjoy the plot and the books) I have a hare named Nalina.

21st March 2006, 06:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
Green Knight He hath an axe to grynde Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 53	Re: Dæmons vs. Human Soul Oddly enough I've never seen what was anti-Christian about Pullman's trilogy (even though he says it himself!). What Pullman rails against is more about institutionalised, dogmatic religion/mindsets of any kind, that stifle the human spirit. Such things have little to do with the real tenets of faiths such as Christianity, Islam or whatever. The values that Pullman teaches are more or less identical to the values supposedly most cherished by the major religions (even if they don't always stick by them). And at the end of the day it's how you behave, not what you believe ;-)

21st March 2006, 08:39 PM	#14 (permalink)
Tea is my copilot Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 87	Re: Dæmons vs. Human Soul How about a penguin? I prefer a soul, though.

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