I don't think Philip Pullman is an anti - anything,
or a cynic, or a nay-sayer.

I think he may be a little skeptical, but not cynical;
and he prefers questions to answers.

If his quest of questions is trite to some tastes,
I suppose it is because he harks back unconsciously to
George MacDonald,
who although an ordained minister
was a questioner,
and a man absolutely opposed to sectarian division.