Citing Philip Pullman as one of his favourite modern writers, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams said he liked his work because it took the church “seriously” at a time when theology was “drifting out” of mainstream thought. “[Pullman] takes the Christian myth, or a version of it, seriously enough to want to disagree passionately with it. It’s not just dull or remote, it’s dangerous. You’ve got to tussle with it. It’s still alive.” Dr Williams made the comments after telling the Hay Festival audience that he thought theology had become less relevant to the “intellectual mainstream” since the 19th century. Thanks to Skye.