There is a big movie coming out in December that already has much of the Christian community in an uproar. The Golden Compass, based on the award-winning novel by the same name, has been much touted and stars some A-list Hollywood celebrities including Nicole Kidman. It has drawn much enthusiasm, and even more discord.
Promoting Atheism
The author of The Golden Compass, Phillip Pullman, is well publicized as atheist. There is a rumor that is based on aspects of truth that the Golden Compass was written to foil the Narnia series which is very pro religion. This would mean that they are anti-religion. In fact, The Golden Compass is actually part of a trilogy called His Dark Materials.
Pullman’s lack of faith coupled with the title of the series makes many religious groups, especially Catholics, very suspicious. And of course, one of the main themes throughout the book is overcoming the church’s influence. Even Snopes.com reports that the film is in fact a message against organized religion.
But is it?
The author stated on November 2 that he doesn’t care what religion people are and that the book and corresponding movie are about the way people treat each other and not about overthrowing the church.
In the book, the church has become extremely powerful and has becoming the governing body over the main character’s society. The church as governing body causes problems throughout the story, and eventually is overthrown. This is where the meat of the anti-church argument comes into play. Pullman, however, claims to have another message.
He feels that church does its best work far removed from the government. He is not anti-religion, but rather anti-religion as government. And even then he is not actually trying to sell that message through the books, despite what some groups claim.
Watering Down the Controversy
New Line Cinema, who created the film version of the movie, actually toned down any religious references quite a bit for the film. But even that isn’t enough to placate concerned parties. The feel unsuspecting parents will take their children to see the movie and then buy the series of books for their children to read. So even a watered down version of the movie will still prove dangerous if there are, in fact, antichristian views portrayed in the books.
Play it Safe
Perhaps the best way for parents to handle the issue is to skip the movie. But if you would rather not skip what looks to be an excellent film, simply discuss the issue with your child beforehand. When or if your children ask to read the book, encourage them to read and discuss the stories with you.
Read the material along with your child so that you can point out things that are just opinions or that differ from your own beliefs. Finally, understand the intended audience of the books are middle school and high school students rather than elementary. They are officially termed “young adult” which means younger children should be reading them alone anyway.
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Thank you for a more intelligent response to this film than simply encouraging a boycott. I'm certain whatever anti-religious sentiment there was in the original book has been watered down for a mainstream, Christmas audience. After all, the creators of the film want to make money, and they need Christian families to go see the movie. Of course, kids will want to buy the book, and if families are concerned, they simply need to have a discussion. While I don't consider myself a Christian, it seems that too many parents want to abdicate all their responsibility for raising their children to schools, the media and others. If you want your child to mirror your own values, then you have to do the hard work of teaching those values yourself. Take them to church, talk about God, pray at home. In any event, The Golden Compass looks like a great holiday movie, and I look forward to seeing it.
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It seems to me that the church and all of these religious zealots jump on the boycott bandwagon every time there is a film or book released that offers people an alternative to mainstream religion. In the church's eyes, people (for the most part) are far too stupid and ignorant to reach their own conclusions about, well, anything, and must be spoon-fed the same superstition and mythical nonsense that has corrupted the world and clouded the minds of individuals for centuries. For crying out loud, people, it's a freaking MOVIE. Personally, I believe that the church doesn't WANT people to make their own decisions based on rationality, but would rather continue to dictate what is acceptable and what is not to the masses. Could it possibly be that they have something to hide? That they are withholding something that they want to remain hidden so as not to disrupt the strangle-hold they have on the unsuspecting populous? Face it, religion has been censoring free thinking and individuality for as long as man has been on this planet. It's time that people started to listen to their own reason and logic and cast aside the trappings of a very controlling religious monarchy. Use your minds, people. Don't feel that you should have to do something simply because the church tells you to. Feel free to do the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do. The church has taken far too many liberties in telling us what we should eat and when, what we should wear, with whom we should consort, how much of our money to give to the church, and what we should read or watch. The church is basically calling the kettle black. Magic, re-animation, talking animals, and other aspects of religion (you thought I was going to say movies) strongly parallels aspects of this and other great films. Get a grip, folks!
There no doubt about the atheists attacks on christian values and especialy the way the main-stream media is pushing atheism i mean they have realy been promoting atheists like RICHARD DAWKINS and his latest book THE GOD DELISION AND EVEN A BOOK THAT CLAIMS JESUS NEVER EXISTED BUT THAT ALL THE PLANS OF THE SOCIALISTS BIG BROTHER and other evil men like PHILL PULLMAN
I have no intentions of ever buying or renting THE GOLDEN COMPASS on DVD its too much is just plain leftists atheists secular movies and produced by the same bunch of hollywood atheists making other movies and have you ever noticed the last few years that they havnt been producing any christmas themed movies and the ones they have made are completly secular and pushes the humanists world view and of scientology which many hollywood cleberties i mean hollywood christmas movies have come a long way since ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE
How is atheism associated with Big Brother Flu-Bird? In fact...isn't it the church who tries to tell you what morals you must live your life by? Wasn't it George Bush, a hardcore christian, behind most of the illegal wiretapping and the spying on American citizens? Also, when you talk about the movie It's A Wonderful Life, isn't that the movie that while pretending to be "christian" actually contradicted it on many levels (i.e. humans becoming angels...angels are completly separate from humans, not people in heaven...and they certainly don't have to 'earn their wings.) Main-stream media...that's like a curse-word to you people.