Great to see someone else share the same view of 'canon' that I hold, although it's something Doomcock has talked about too. Once a work has entered public consciousness and become loved by millions, it creates a mental image of a fictional world and people that you can't arbitrarily change - even if you're the author. It becomes part of our culture. Sorry George, Han shot first. No JKR, Hermione isn't black. Spock didn't learn everything he knows from his fabulous human sister Michael. Some things you don't get to retcon without our permission. It isn't like the US Constitution where you can amend parts of it away.

I'm not in the "Death of the Author" camp either. Obviously the intent is the intent, and we generally defer to their clarifications and revisions. But I do prefer authors and movie directors who don't ever tell us what some controversial plot point means and explicitly leave it up to the audience to decide.

Never made the connection to lack of faith in God but I see where you're coming from.