As if we needed another reason not to support Hollywood
From the Catholic League (By the way, I searched for Protestants who were coming out and condemning this movie and didn't find any. Anyone have a link to throw my way?):
A film called "The Golden Compass" opens December 7. It is based on the first book of a trilogy titled His Dark Materials. The author of this children's fantasy is Philip Pullman, a noted English atheist. It is his objective to bash Christianity and promote atheism. To kids. "The Golden Compass" is a film version of the book by that name, and it is being toned down so that Catholics, as well as Protestants, are not enraged.
The second book of the trilogy, The Subtle Knife, is more overt in its hatred of Christianity than the first book, and the third entry, The Amber Spyglass, is even more blatant. Because "The Golden Compass" is based on the least offensive of the three books, and because it is being further watered down for the big screen, some might wonder why parents should be wary of the film.
The Catholic League wants Christians to stay away from this movie precisely because it knows that the film is bait for the books: unsuspecting parents who take their children to see the movie may be impelled to buy the three books as a Christmas present. And no parent who wants to bring their children up in the faith will want any part of these books.
Related: For anyone interested, you can read more about the film and the series this film is based upon here. Fox News also has an extensive article here (Thanks, Rachel!).
posted by Crystal Paine at 2:17 PM
38 Comments:
Crystal~
I read something, but can't remember where, against this movie and it came from a Christian point of view. I will try to find it and will let you know via email.
Holly IN
I too have been recieving emails about this movie, and for me, I don't even allow my children to read any of those books in which I feel are not supportive of Godly foundations. My children are 6 and 8 and they are happy with Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prarie. I know for some that may seem exteme, but if it is not something that normally comes on public television such as PBS or educational documentaries then for now I stay away from it. I just feel they will have plenty of time to battle with movie spirits... Why put them on the front lines now..Just a thought. Thanks for the information.
Are there any links which go into how, exactly, the series is anti-Christian? I don't for a minute doubt that it is, I'm just concerned that the selection quoted urges a boycott without giving us ammunition to witness to others WHY we wouldn't see the film.
I'm in the midst of a debate with a friend over whether or not the fantasy series 'Lord of the Rings' can be enjoyed by Christians - there are good arguments either side. Of course a non-real world setting doesn't mean a series is autmoatically out - CS Lewis' Narnia books are a great Christian allegory for adventurous kids! Lord of the Rings is different since it's not clearly OR allegorically promoting Jesus - though it certainly promotes Christian values.
It's a fascinating debate and I'm thirsty for more information on the exact unChristian anture of these books. It sounds like they're a third category - implicitly promoting unChristian values. Anyone know anything more? I've never heard of them before.
Claire, thanks for asking! I just added a link for you. If anyone else has any other links, feel free to email me.
Thanks for posting this, Crystal. I hadn't heard of this new movie or the books they were based on.
-Zan
Since you asked for links, I also saw a post about this on Boundless blog:
http://www.boundlessline.org/2007/10/atheism-for-chi.html
Also, I've seen the previews for this at the theatre, and remember getting an uncomfortable feeling from them.
I've read the books, and didn't interpret them as overtly anti-Christian, although they are definitely anti-institutional. And very well-written.
I also didn't read the Narnia series as overtly Christian....but I was seven at the time, so I think I get a pass. :)
"In spite of complaints about the forthcoming film, Pullman fans and atheists are still excited about the exposure it will give his novels. They say the American literary market is sorely lacking material for those who don't believe in God, and they scoff at the idea that the series is hazardous to children."
Well, of course athiests don't think it's harmful to kids.... That still doesn't mean that Christian parents will want their children to watch the movie or read the books!
I just wanted to comment about how scary it is to see this intense hatred from the atheist camps towards Christianity. I read about Philip Pullman and he does indeed *hate* Christians. His comments about CS Lewis were chilling (I just spent the past hour reading about this stuff online).
A few days ago, I saw Dinesh d' Souza (writer of "What's So Great About Christianity?") debate the outspoken atheist Christopher Hitchens (writer of "God Is Not Great")and the unabashed hatred for anything related to God by Hitchen's, was so obvious. Give these atheists a match and they would gladly light the fires to kill Christians. I believe this whole-heartedly just by the way they portray themselves.There is no tolerance in these militant atheists. Check out this sight to see the best debate between an athiest and a believer I have ever seen: http://www.dineshdsouza.com/
-Zan
PS. I am spreading the word about those books and the movie. How insulting that it is opening at CHRISTMASTIME of all times. Hel-lo?
I saw on Heather's blog http://www.quietrest.blogspot.com/ a link to an article on snopes which gives a great explanation on why to avoid this author and the film: http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
Blessings.
My mom has read the series but I haven't. She didn't recommend them for my kids.
I'm a bit dismayed about this, as I just received a copy of the December issue of Cowboys & Indians magazine, with a wonderful interview with Sam Elliott (one of my very favorite actors). Turns out he plays one of the main characters in The Golden Compass. I was mildly interested in seeing it, since I'm not familiar with the books, but with all this - I'm assuming it'll be money better saved for other things. Thanks for the heads up.
Claire,
As someone who has read Pullman's trilogy more than once, I can assure you that the series is just as anti-Christian as you've heard, and probably even more so. You name it, Pullman has featured it: a cruel, power-hungry church that kidnaps and tortures children, the lack of an afterlife, homosexual angels, the eventual euthanasia of God. There's not a Godly foundation to be found, to borrow a phrase from Single Mom for God. Indeed, Pullman explicitly has said that he considers this trilogy the secular answer to Lewis's Narnia series.
The funny thing about all of this is: the more we hype up about it and send out alarmist emails...the more people will be curious to see it. The more publicity and attention we give it, the more money they make.
Also, the die-hard followers of this author are angry because the movie has watered down his books so much. The true atheists feel hollywood has ruined it in order to make money. Hello! That's what Hollywood does. They want to make money. They are not part of the atheistic agenda nor do they support Christian values.
They worship at The Church of the Almighty Dollar and KNOW that statistically 85% of Americans believe in God in one form or another. They are not going to bite the hand that feeds them by letting this movie have too many overt "anti-religion" themes.
My main point is: this movie is not a conspiracy to turn our children into atheists...it's to make money. That being said, we won't be seeing the movie, of course.
Christians should also stop being shocked by the things that "the world" puts out. We know we are strangers in a strange land! :)
-J
Don't "think" this from a Catholic perspective but also can't find a clear statement of faith to know for certain the Protestant denomination.
http://www.damaris.org/content/content.php?type=5&id=368
No surprise that there's a hellish ploy in to "kill God" in our children's eyes! The good news is parents have the oppurtunity with this film (not in seeing it but in talking about it) to talk with their kids about the truth. Maybe even taking young ones to see great movies like the new Ten Commandments annimated movie which I took my 4 1/2 and nearly 3 year old to watch this past saturday and really enjoyed.
J: Yes and no. Maybe the buzz will create some extra interest, but I think that it will help some parents who are planning to send their children to what might seem like a "harmless" film realize and think twice about it. My point in posting this was to just get people thinking about how what might seem innocent at first sight, could be gravely detrimental and that parents need to always, always be on guard.
I do believe Hollywood and those who are involved with the majority of Hollywood productions have more than just a bottom line perspective. Yes, they care about money. In fact, I think they care a whole *lot* about money. But they care about more than money. If they didn't, then wouldn't they being trying to pander more to the supposed 85% evangelical base out there?
When a film like "Facing the Giants" gets a PG rating just for its overt mention of God, I think that is a very clear sign that Christianity is not something which Hollywood sees as "harmless" and something to be supported. Why don't they give movies which portray witchcraft or the religion of humanism a rating other than G if there isn't anything else objectionable in them?
Dear Zan,
Rest assured that despite my "militant atheism," I have no desire to light fires to kill Christians.
Angela: I'm not sure what your definition of "militant atheism" is, but I would wager to guess that most self-proclaimed "militant atheists" are unashamedly anti-Christian and out to destroy Christianity.
The very essence of atheism is being "anti-God." And to be militantly anti-God usually in turn means one is very hostile to Christianity and Christians.
I believe that is what Zan was referring to.
We need to make ourselves aware of what this movie is all about as well as the books. I think reading these posts and other sites is very helpful, at least for me. I would never see the movie, nor read the books. When we have been given this information to read and study for ourselves, then we will be able to voice our opinion more authoritatively to others who are less informed. Then they can decide for themselves how God would lead them and their family. I appreciate the post very much.
Carla
Perhaps my atheism doesn't rise to the level of "militant," but I'm mostly objecting to Zan's rhetoric. Granted, our viewpoints likely can't be reconciled, no matter how long we debate, but it hardly shows good faith to conflate atheists with murderers because such a patently absurd statement doesn't engage the issues. Instead, it attempts to elicit a cheap emotional response. Moreover, I find it strange that an evangelical Christian would complain about atheists showing no tolerance. I thought that tolerance was the slippery slope to hell that the devout so decry among the more secular and humanist elements. Nevertheless, as an olive branch, I can offer that I also find Christopher Hitchens an obnoxious clown and wish that he just would go away.
Actually, I think that Hollywood does care more about pushing their agendas than money. They keep putting out movies that tank at the box office because the are so offenive...and dumb. If Hollywood was only interested in money than there would be a lot more family movies out there. How many R-rated movies were released in the past few weeks. I can't get over how many are constantly being cranked out and then the industry wonders why it is losing money.
Angela, watch the debate I left a link to. There is blatant hate in Christopher Hitchens towards Christians. He hardly makes eye contact with Mr. D'Souza. His anger is apparent.
-Zan
Angela: I'll let Zan respond to you since she was the person who you are directing your comments to. I just wanted to say three quick things:
1) I'm glad to have you here. :) I'm not sure if you've commented before but I appreciate you taking time to comment. I think it is very helpful when those of opposing beliefs to myself are willing to comment here in a cordial manner. I don't always have time to dialogue with everyone who disagrees with me, but I try as time permits because I know it is beneficial to me to understand more where you are coming from and to hopefully explain more where I am coming from.
2) I do not equate atheists with murderers. I doubt Zan does either but I'll let her speak for herself. Although I have run across a fair number of self-proclaimed atheists who have been vitriolic and hateful towards me, I have also found some atheists to be very kind and cordial individuals towards me - inspite of their grave differences with my belief system.
3) I believe we shouldn't have tolerance towards evil - in our own lives or in our societies. But I *do* have a problem with those who preach and proclaim tolerance towards all and yet they are intolerant towards Christianity (the public school system is an excellent example of this very thing).
kxlTolerance has nothing to do with wether or not someone goes to hell or not. Rejecting Jesus and His finished work on the cross is the reason people go to hell. It is their choice. Angela, why don't you believe in God? What questions do you have? Your comments about being an atheist are so much more important than anything we are saying or not saying about this movie or the books. God loves you. I will be praying for you.
Check out the movie reviews on Focus on the Family web site
I found your blog via a search on google. I posted about this same topic on my blog. I didn't get near the response you did, but hopefully someone gets the message. We just need to keep sharing.
A link to the Controversies section of the wiki on the book: Controversies
Here's a link to a book about the series written by Kurt Bruner & Jim Ware, Shedding Light on His Dark Materials.
This is a link to an online booklet explaining beautifully the differences between Harry Potter and LotR. It's very well written and should help those wanting to defend LotR: Harry Potter vs. Gandalf: An in-depth analysis of the literary use of magic in the works of J. K. Rowling, J. R. R. Tolkien, and C. S. Lewis.
HTH
Here is a Link to snopes.com
http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
Thanks for getting the word out!
http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
This is a link from Snopes.com that confirms the information about the upcoming film is TRUE.
Someone from church e-mailed the link along with information about it to our family.
How sad that now atheists are openly and blatantly using Hollywood as a platform for promoting their wicked ways.
May God intervene in righteousness and truth.
I have never heard of these books or the pending movies. I do, however, believe that most the the people in "Hollywood" have a definate agenda and its not to promote Christ. Many of the directors, producers, actors, ect.... have a post modern worldview. This worldview is that anything anyone wants to do is fine, they make their own truth. As filmakers their worldview does come through, because its part of who they are and what they believe. Just as Christian film makers worldviews should be centered on Jesus and that comes through in their films.
I haven't read the books, but I've heard they have a lot of anti-Christian themes, as opposed to the Narina books and the Lord of the Rings, both of which were written by Christian authors and have Christian themes. There's some more info in this wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
His_Dark_Materials#Influences_and_criticism.
I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with fantasy books or books with magic in them. Fantasy worlds can be used to illustrate Christian themes. In this particular case, though, I think these books really are anti-Christian.
I also agree with anonymous that boycotts can have the effect of generating even more publicity for whatever it is you’re boycotting. When the anti-Catholic movie The Da Vinci Code came out, some people proposed an “other-cott” instead of a boycott – on the day the Da Vinci Code came out, they encouraged people to go see another movie instead. That way you’re affecting what really matters in Hollywood: the bottom line, without generating undue publicity for an offensive movie.
Angela,
I do not believe all atheists are "militant," but I do believe there is a growing movement in atheism to destroy Christianity and everything it stands for. I went to college with people who hate Christians and there is no *tolerance* towards Christians.
-Zan
-Zan
Oh Hollywood....
There really aren't any decent movies coming out anymore...well, for a quite awhile now. I really wonder if they make movies like this to elicit some type of response from Christians, maybe to make us look bad.
Anyways, this movie just sounds bad..
Aisha
P.S. I don't know about your area, but my husband and I haven't seen a movie, in a theater, for a long time. Tickets are ten dollars now. Highway Robbery, I tell you!
Ugh, I never learn. I come to websites like Biblical Womanhood because what I find fascinates me, not in the sense that I'm desperately searching for answers to big questions but rather in that your world is so foreign to mine. Normally, I don't comment because there is no point. This is your arena, you rightly set the parameters for your discussion, and no one is ever going to convince anyone else to reconsider her fundamental worldview. Then, some enticing topic, such as Pullman's trilogy, comes up, and I've just got to jump in, but to what end? I always regret having said anything.
Still, I got myself into this, and I should get myself out. One, I have no doubt that Hitchens behaved terribly in his debate with D'Souza. That's his modus operandi, but I would argue that he's no more a blowhard because of his atheism than his Britishness. He fills an ugly niche in the public debate, just as, say, Ann Coulter, does, and that niche is to make overwrought, contentious statements to stir the pot. Two, I agree that the real-world application of tolerance is difficult since everyone in practice reserves the right to be intolerant of what they find intolerant. Perhaps the entire concept is of limited utility. Three, in an overtly Christian environment like Biblical Womanhood, it is easy to feel like my lack of religious faith rises to the level of "militant atheism." On further thought, that isn't strictly true. Unlike, for instance, Hitchens or even Pullman himself, I don't hold that all believers are naive fools or that religion has resulted in more evil than good. I flatter myself that I'm a more nuanced thinker than that. In fact, I find the study of religion endlessly compelling, hence my almost PhD in religious history. I just don't participate in religion on a personal level. So, to summarize: yes, you're going to find the upcoming movie adaptation of Pullman's novel objectionable indeed, and I'll go back to lurking.
Angela: I'm glad you commented - I sincerely appreciate it when those with opposing views comment in a cordial manner.
And just for the record, my husband said you must not be a "militant atheist" or you and I would not be able to have a cordial conversation. :)
I normally jump in on topics like this because they often provide a great discussion area...however, I really don't feel like discussing good vs. evil, so I'll stick to strictly professional ideology. ;)
Some of you know I'm a librarian...some don't. The Librarian in me does want to point out one important idea. ALWAYS check your sources...a few people have quoted Wikipedia, and while a 'nice' resource for pop culture, it is by no means correct or reliable 99.9999 percent of the time. It can be altered by anyone, and therefore, be biased, full of incorrect information, etc. Any user edited source is most often not totally correct (notice, I did not say incorrect. Sometimes, much of the information is correct, with parts here and there that are not, but I digress.), and as my mother always said ..."You must consider the source."
Angela - don't go back to lurking. A healthy discussion on why your opinions and philosophical beliefs differ from mine is stimuulating to many...we can choose to learn from each other and strengthen our faith, or we can choose not to. I like the open dialogue personally. :)
Angela,
I hope that you read my most recent comment. I, repeat, I don't think all atheist are nuts, but the nutty ones are out there and have quite a bit of influence in our culture.
-Zan
Wow, are family had not even heard of this upcoming movie. Thank you so much for letting us know about it! We, as well, will be sure to get the word out!!
Thank you for spreading the word about this movie! I saw the preview and wanted to take my girls to see it. A couple of days later, my hubby called me from work after reading on Snopes.com that the books were the "anti-Chronicles of Narnia". This proves that as parents we need to be vigilant about knowing what our children read and see on television and movie theaters.
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