In the Amber Spyglass, angels are beings composed purely of Dust. Many angles, such as Metatron and Baruch, have clear human origins whereas others are shrouded in mystery. Regardless of whether or not all angels were originally humans, the fact that some of them came from human origins is a conflict in and of itself. The Christian Bible defines angels and humans as two separate entities yet it is a somewhat common belief that loved ones who die suddenly may have been ‘needed by God as an angel in heaven.’ Pullman does not completely parallel this idea because it seems unlikely that the Authority or even the Regent would call for the creation on an angel who would oppose him (such as Baruch or Balthamos). What Pullman does derive from popular belief is the  link between humans and angels. While the methods of creating an angel are unclear, the purpose of connecting human experiences to inhuman creatures is pivotal in Pullman’s message and in his plot. Do you believe that Pullman’s humanization of angels was meant to criticize celestial beings? Do you think that it was a necessary plot element in making Lord Asriel’s victory plausible?