Here’s a quick follow-up to Mikey’s weekend post about The Golden Compass, a movie that some Christians claim is atheist propaganda aimed at kids. Well, apparently atheist fans of the book have something to be mad about, too:
One of the key religious themes of Philip Pullman’s award-winning series of children’s novels, His Dark Materials, has been watered down to appeal to a wider audience in the new Hollywood film version of the first book. The original story’s rejection of organised religion, and in particular of the historic abuse of power in the Catholic Church, has been altered to avoid offending followers of the faith in the UK and in America.The film, which stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, is called
The Golden Compass after the American title of Pullman’s novel Northern Lights and has followed his magical narrative very closely in most respects. The characterisation of the sinister organisation known as the Magisterium has, however, been changed, so that the film will now appear to be a more general attack on dogmatic authorities of every kind.
For years, it has been Christians worrying that Gospel-friendly elements in their favorite books will be diluted by the film versions to avoid offending mainstream culture. (I heard these fears, sometimes justified, raised by Christians about The Lord of the Rings, Narnia, End of the Spear, and Children of Men, just to name a few off the top of my head.) I’m not sure what it says about the state of the “culture wars” that our atheist neighbors now get to experience the joy of watching their literature get watered down because Hollywood thought it would sell better to the American public. More here:
Ironically, secularists have criticized the movie for precisely the same reason, complaining that the filmmakers are “taking the heart” out of Pullman’s epic by undermining its irreligious themes.
All of which prompted Pullman to observe in a recent interview, “This must be the only film attacked in the same week for being too religious and for being anti-religious—and by people who haven’t seen it.”
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November 19, 2007 at 08:10
I am watching with interest the buildup to next month’s release. I intend to see this movie with my eight year old son after he is throughly familiar with all of the themes and symbols in the movie. I believe many of my problems resulted from the fact that although I was raised in a Christian home cultural and secular issues weren’t discussed. Our children need to be raised up in the way they should go but fear of the world and the enemy should not be part of what we teach them.
November 19, 2007 at 23:29
If I have kids, I would never allow my children to watch those movies in which Nicole Kidman stars. Not that actress who shocked me once on tv. The movie which was thought to be a harmless one suddenly shows Nicole getting out of the car and straight heading to a tree and having casual sex with a stranger. No, no to movies with such actors for my kids. And my kids wont lose anything by not watching movies with such stars.
November 27, 2007 at 14:17
well i dont know. i for one am a person that is very into special effects and war stories plus i think there are tons of things that look intresting about this movie. but on the other hand i think this all shows the deceiving part of this. look at what young children are seeing. exactly what i just stated above. we all need to get together and boycott the entire movie.
Love God and stay faithful
November 28, 2007 at 17:52
The content of this film is evil, the church has been used to knocks over the centuries and is big enough to take it! The content is extremely worrying in that children are taught that a demon infested heart is a good thing and something to be desired, the website teaches children how to get one and a bargain is made!
This is all dressed up in a well crafted film and story, ALL IT TAKES FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH IS FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING!
November 28, 2007 at 23:16
The movie looks like it should be pretty good, but the books were amazing. I challenge anyone being critical of the message people claim is being sent to read the books. If you feel that you church is similar to the one portrayed in the book, and that your religion is similar to the one being portrayed in the book, then I will be very surprised. Plenty of my Christian friends have read and enjoyed the series, without feeling offended at all.
November 29, 2007 at 10:50
I haven’t read these books, but have brought them for my daughter for xmas as I believe she will enjoy them like she did with the Narnia stories and will be taking her to see this film. I believe that every person has the right to choose what religion they want to follow if any and which films they or their children want to see and not be told what we should or shouldn’t be by religious followers. I know my daughter doesn’t see the religious statement in these films just enjoys the story and wonder of the special effects. But then I am a witch, good or evil you can decide.
November 29, 2007 at 15:37
I nor my children will be going to see this film. If I want to see something anti-God, I can keep paying my cable bill and watch the news. I feel very sad for the author of this book who says that he does not believe that it is possible for a God to exist. That means that he relies on himself and man. That is a sad situation to be in. I hope that he is never in a situation where there is nothing he, nor man, nor science can fix and all he has is the name of Jesus to call on. That is very very sad. Regardless of what this world has or says, my kids will be raised Christian and anything that is contrary to that will be taught by myself and the church I am affiliated with. We have no control over our children because we let the tricks of the devil win them over and then we can’t understand what happened when they shoot up a school, kill another person, or start doing drugs. In serving God, my kids will understand that its not about you being perfect, its about you believing that no matter where you go, there is someone that is with you until the end of time. And that someone is Jesus, who can give you peace (something that a lot of people are searching for in this world). God is love, even the atheist who wrote the book, He still loves him.
November 29, 2007 at 15:44
I don’t believe there is a such thing as a good or bad witch. Anyone who serves God does not need extra powers because God is all powerful, has made us free from sin, and has sent the holy spirit to comfort us. Any powers you feel you have to “conjure” up is between the witch and the source of that power, satan. The ugly truth is everyone is not going to be a believer in God. The Bible itself tells us that. Jesus said that we did not choose him, He Chose us. Be thankful if you can discern the tricks of the devil (such as this movie) thank God and move on. It’s not the first Anti-God movie, and it want be the last. One thing I know for sure… the more they try to convince me that there is not a God, the more that I know that there is.
November 30, 2007 at 10:11
I have not read any of his material,but from reading comments from internet the movie has me concerned.I may watch it to learn what to discuss with my 10 yr old not to do .
I understand about Satan and his deciet and tricks,so that has me interested in watching it to teach decernment.
It`s a shame they have a character in it called God and they kill him.I mean it doesn`t sound like a movie like Passion.
And yes some are right with thier comment about It`s not the first anti god movie and won`t be the last.Just teach our Children about God and that way they can have the armor to protect them.
November 30, 2007 at 23:29
I think some people may be misguided in their information as to why some Christians are uneasy with this literature and movie.
Here’s my 2 cents:
1. The Golden Compass is by no means appropriate for young children as there are some pretty graphic and scary descriptions. I know that they have been sold at elementary school book fairs and as a parent I would not want my young reader to read this book. However, I would allow an older child read it with my permission and with my involvement.
2. Pullman very purposefully crafted this novel in response to C.S. Lewis’s beloved “The Chronicles of Narnia” series. He self-admittedly wanted to propagate an anti-God message and purposefully aimed it toward young children. Pullman is boisterous in his loathing of Aslan (the allegory character that represents Christ in the Narnia series). Pullman even goes so far as to write his young character in the likeness of young Lucy who finds herself in the wardrobe when she mistakenly discovers Narnia in the beginning of “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”. His rewriting of scripture is brazen at best, if not blasphemy.
3. Though this book series is an attack on the Catholic church, C.S. Lewis was by no means a Catholic. Pullman lumps his distain for the Catholic church in with the evangelical message of Lewis’ writings. This too seems a common mistake for those here in the Albany area that are most familiar with the Catholic church rather than other streams of Christianity such as the Evangelical.
4. I think many Christians actually do a disservice to their children by trying to shelter them from the secular world rather than guiding them while their children are in their homes. Sheltered children who never learn how to deal apologetically (a defense of their faith) with those who disagree with them later have their world rocked and foundations shaken when they go off to college and have professors attack them. My parents helped me by informing me, nurturing me, but then allowing my faith to be my own. When those with an anti-God agenda came at me I took all things into consideration but I was not shaken.
5. I do not feel threatened by this book and movie. I am not afraid of those who do not believe as I do, perhaps that’s a result of the tolerant generation I belong to. I have many friends who believe otherwise or simply have no faith at all and yet we are friends despite that. As for the outcry over God being killed in the book; God, in the form of Jesus, was already killed 2000 years ago but he rose again triumphantly on the third day. That is the good news.
6. Jeers to New Line cinema for the release during the holiday season and to Disney for the postponed release of Lewis’ “Prince Caspian” from December 12th until May of 2008.
*Pullman’s article on C.S. Lewis source: http://www.crlamppost.org/darkside.htm
December 2, 2007 at 00:08
To sum up my feelings, I do not have a religion, I have a relationship with God. He is my father. I can describe my feelings in two ways. When it comes to my family, I don’t support or tolerate anything or anyone that speaks against them or talks about killing them. I don’t practice Christianity, I AM A CHRISTIAN. For me, going to this movie (which would cost $50 for my family) would equate to me, an African American female, donating $50 to the KKK. It’s not going to happen. I am in this world and not of this world. I try to love all of God’s children, and sometimes that is soooo hard, but that is what God commands me to do. Love the sinner and hate the sin. Yet, in all my love, and my desire to teach my children about the secular world and all that comes with it, I will also teach them not to compromise their beliefs. I teach them about the secular world because I need them to see why it is important that they serve God. We all love our children as is evident in the above posts and I applaud that. God has a plan for our children, it is important that we nurture them and their gifts to be productive members of God’s Kingdom. By not taking my kids to this movie set an example on taking a stand in that even though thousands may go and see the movie, I am steadfast in my beliefs to not support anyone who would make a mockery of my faith or my God. We say that we must let our children experience the secular world, no we must not. That is a trick of the devil to instill fear in us….if we nurture our children in the way God Commands us to, when they go off they will get “buckwild”. If that is the case, then God does not answer prayer, because my prayer is that God will give them wisdom and discernment and save them at an early age. God bless you and whether you choose to take your kids or not, be blessed and celebrate the birth of Christ! Have a Merry CHRISTmas.
December 2, 2007 at 23:44
This message is in response to Jackie. We are fellow Christians and I respect and love you, however, I must say I was shocked and saddened to see that you had compared going to see a movie based on a book written by an athiest (someone who doesn’t believe in our God, not someone that wants to kill us) to giving money to the KKK a group that has commited horrific killings in the name og our holy Lord. Please tell me you can see the difference? I saw this film yesterday at a sneak preview without my children to judge whether I felt it had an athiestic view. It did not. The Magisterium (as it is called in the movie, it it called “The Church” in the book is more reminiscent of the Nazi’s.) Don’t see this movie if you don’t wish too but please don’t lump hateful murderers and athiest authors in one group.
December 4, 2007 at 20:40
For me to let my children watch the Golden Compass would be to let them reach their destination wallowing in mud and sewage rather than using a clean and paved pathway. For all those parents who feel that they should not shelter their children from these influences, you are just marking them for failure—maybe not in the material world—but surely in their spiritual well being. Why would I feed my children poison?
December 4, 2007 at 21:50
I had the opportunity to view the film at a screening for theatre owners a couple weeks ago and was surprised to find almost no contraversial material. I think it’s quite ironic that the underlying theme of the film is obviously a dogmatic tyrannical institution stripping away children’s free will, not allowing them to see the whole truth and make their own decisions. What I am hearing from many church groups is that there is “no way I will allow my children to watch this film” and “no parent should condone their child seeing a film that promotes atheism”. In every instance the parent speaking has not seen the film (since it has only been screened once and only to theatre bookers), hence their decision to rally against the film is completely ignorant. In conclusion, I suggest next time a contraversial film/book etc. comes around perhaps parents should view the material first before simply blindly following whatever their church leader says. On a side note another common problem people seem to have with the film is the religious views of the author of the book that the film is based on. If we boycott every film made by someone that doesn’t believe in Christ we might as well not watch any movies made by Scientologists or Jewish producers. Good luck finding many movies to watch.
December 5, 2007 at 08:51
Hi Joseph, and I love you as well. However, let me clarify. My analogy was not to say that it was the same thing, but to say that for me it is just as serious. I did not say I hated anyone whether it be a KKK member or an atheist, my blog said it would be just like me giving my money to them, and neither was going to happen. For instance, if someone hates your earthly father and talks of killing him, would you go and break bread with that person or even support him in any business practice. Unless you have a terrible relationship with your biological dad the answer should be no. The KKK would like to kill my biological father, the atheist would like to kill my spiritual father and I will not buy sheets from the KKK nor will I donate $1.00 to seeing such a movie. You misunderstand the point of my previous blog. The point is for me there is no compromise. I do not have to see the movie when I watch the author on t.v. talking about the idiots of my faith and his plot to get kids to see the movie to buy the books to understand and embrace atheism. This a paraphrase of the interview I saw. So, again, neither of the entities will get any money from the money that totally belongs to God anyway, yet he only asks for a tenth of it in return.
Secondly, the movie itself is watered down from what the author writes in his books. Not my thought, but the words of an atheist on the same show with the author of the books. Again, the idea is to capture the kids interests to entice them to buy the books. The books then lead the children down a path where eventually all that is Christian is killed off and in the end God is killed. Everyone will raise their children differently. I was not born during the Civil Rights era, however, I know my history becuase my parents taught me. Our children are growing up in a time where it is okay to go on t.v. and talk about killing God, and talk about being a witch or a wicker, and give the impression that everyone is having sex. Yet, it is up to me, as their parent, to teach them about who they are in the Kingdom of God and to learn to take a stand on how they will live their lives.
As for movies written by non-Christians, I do see movies written by non-Christians, but not ones that kill or mock the God who has healed me of cancer and has brought me through trials and tribulations. As for me an my house… we will serve God.
December 5, 2007 at 16:50
My children told me the Movie Golden Compass was about killing God and atheism. My kids are 7 and 11 years old. My family believes in God and that we all have a purpose in life. I cannot believe this movie was allowed to be made and is being promoted so highly. I can’t believe Nicole Kidman was part of it! I am throughly offended by all of this. I am not against the books, it is my choice not to read them or believe them, the same as the author choce not to believe in God. I do believe that some things should not be promoted and muted down a bit in order to intice children to beg to see this movie. My kids had asked to see it when it was advertised at the local theater, since they found out more about they have asked other kids to boycott it as well. My only hope is that it bombs in the box office and is removed from theaters and is never released on DVD. I have searched for a website that is taking electronic signatures to petition this movie but have yet to find one. If I knew how to start one I would!
December 12, 2007 at 17:52
isn’t it so funny how everyone that has written on this website was Christian yet there are soooo many varying views on how to handle the situation about this movie? and how to handle it with our children? it just fascinates me. i personally don’t know what to think about this movie, i understand ALL the arguments, i’m seeing it in sooo many different ways, when i saw the previews i thought it would be cool to watch, cuz i just thought it was a fantasy movie. good vs. evil, that sort of thing, every movie is good vs. evil. i haven’t watched it, from my uneducated guess by reading what everyone says, it’s either a evil vs. evil or an evil vs. good and evil wins. hard to say, it’s like this for me, i have no children, i’m 24 and i have no desire to watch it now. but for this reason…. this movie, as with every other movie, will neither make my life better nor make it worse, if i watch it or don’t watch it. and i would rather NOT support someone that openly hates the God i love and that loves me. i would rather NOT fuel Pullman’s vehicle to spread lies. and yes i realize that there is evil in the world and there are nonbelievers in the world and i’m not ignorant of those things. but i’m not one of them. i’m a believer in Jesus Christ and i’m a believer in God, the Creator. And when i DO have children, i will let them seek the truth out for themselves, guide them carefully through the perils of this world to which we DON’T belong. i will not scare them into believing in God, i will simply ask them to seek the TRUTH!!!