The Golden Compass - Warning

[Nyala]

I received this email this morning and thought it important enough to post here. Please be aware of the content and the intention of this movie before taking kids to see it. Pullman claims to have no belief in God or religion and is a self confessed 'hater of God' (a contradiction in itself). I haven't posted this to open a can of worms or a huge spiritual debate, just a warning to parents and grandies like myself.

All,

There will be a new children's movie out in December called "The Golden Compass". The movie has been described as "atheism for kids" and is based on the first book of a trilogy entitled "His Dark Materials" that was written by Phillip Pullman. Pullman is a militant atheist and secular humanist who despises C. S. Lewis and the "Chronicles of Narnia". His motivation for writing this trilogy was specifically to counteract Lewis' symbolisms of Christ that are portrayed in the Narnia series.

Clearly, Pullman's main objective is to bash Christianity and promote atheism. Pullman left little doubt about his intentions when he said in a 2003 interview that "my books are about killing God." He has even stated that he wants to "kill God in the minds of children". It has been said of Pullman that he is "the writer the atheists would be praying for, if atheists prayed."

While "The Golden Compass" movie itself may seem mild and innocent, the books are a much different story. In the trilogy, a young streetwise girl becomes enmeshed in an epic struggle to ultimately defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God. Another character, an ex-nun, describes Christianity as "a very powerful and convincing mistake." In the final book, characters representing Adam and Eve eventually kill God, who at times is called YAHWEH. Each book in the trilogy gets progressively worse regarding Pullman's hatred of Jesus Christ.

"The Golden Compass" is set to premier on December 7, during the Christmas season (and staring Nicole Kidman), and will probably be heavily advertised. Promoters hope that unsuspecting parents will take their children to see the movie, that they will enjoy the movie, and that the children will want the books for Christmas.

Please consider a boycott of the movie and the books. Also, pass this information along to everyone you know (including church leaders). This will help to educate parents, so that they will know the agenda of the movie.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp (http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp)

[biffon]

Although i would go as far as saying the guys is an idiot and a hypocrate, as long as the movie is entertaining and only has implied meaning, i will happily watch it.
Besides there are a great many movies out there that deal with athiesm and alternate theories to religion.
Maybe my eyes are clouded because i am an athiest myself (i do not hate religion yet do not aspire to it nor believe in a god) but thats just my humble opinion.

more significantly (based on your post Nyala) How can anyone hate something they believe doesnt exist in the first place... what a grommit!

[igundwane]

Coooooooool !! Gotta be better than Harry Potter !

Anyway, dont bother me as i dont read the books, easier to watch the movie. Nyone got a perfect torrent screener yet ?

[nightape]

Thanks for sharing that Nyala. I have heard the whisperings...

[Raevoyn]

I've been trying to resist the urge to have a go, I know you're motions are well placed, but if we are going to boycott everything that is against Christian Values, then why would we use the internet (say) because it promotes far more worse things (in my opinion) than an implied anti-Christian motion, such as satanism, child pornography, spusal abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, etc .... I could go on forever.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not having a go, just expressing my views ....

[igundwane]

because it promotes far more worse things (in my opinion) than an implied anti-Christian motion, such as satanism, (mildly amusing and somewhat disfunctional at times ) child pornography, (not good @ all ) spusal abuse, (Now this is the one that gets me, is it spusal absuse as in dont be horride to Forrest Gump ? or is it special abuse said in a strong louisianna accent or is it just a southern hilbilly complaining that his wife she aint been chopping naw wood for the last week, so he beat her with the axe handle or something else ) child abuse, (not good @ all ) sexual abuse, ( well that includes most members on here have a wank, so not good @ all ) etc .... I could go on forever.

[Nyala]

I've been trying to resist the urge to have a go, I know you're motions are well placed, but if we are going to boycott everything that is against Christian Values, then why would we use the internet (say) because it promotes far more worse things (in my opinion) than an implied anti-Christian motion, such as satanism, child pornography, spusal abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, etc .... I could go on forever.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not having a go, just expressing my views ....


No problem, Ev, express your views. As I said in the first post, I didn't put this here to spark off a debate but as a warning. Lets put it this way - if you came across a toy in your local mall that posed a threat to your little one in some way, say it was painted in high levels of lead based paint for instance, would you expose it here? Thats what I'm doing. This movie leads to others that try to portray God as a loser and the bad guys get to kill Him in the end so as a Christian concerned for the well-being of our kids and future generations, I have exposed it. It's up to the individual what they do with the information.

[igundwane]

Nyala gets a noddy badge for her expose :-)

[Shayne]

I have a quick win for this situation.

I think this author needs a couple hundred torch weilding villagers with pitchforks breaking down his front door to start tearing his limbs off like the old days. He'll quickly change his tune and start begging to the heavens above for mercy.

[georgie]

What a moronic archaic piece of thinking. Didnt we stop burning witches centuries ago? To assume other people need to be warned about its "implied" meaing is condescending and paternalistic to say the least.

So if we dont agree with something we must turn our backs on it?

[biffon]

I put it to you that Faith in a higher power is one thing but blind faith is extremist and dangerous. Pullman is an idiot but dont cricise someones belief without understanding their reasoning.
I remain unconvinced and see all this hoohaa as typical religious narrow mindedness.

[Nyala]

Maybe I'm not making myself clear enough so let me try again......I respect the right of all mankind to follow their own belief as we all have a free will and the right and ability to think for ourselves. I have my belief because it has been proven to me time and time again, and you have yours. (I would think that as responsible and mature adults we would find just a little bit wrong with an author who hails evil as good and 'cool'?)

I did my homework on this before I posted it as I didn't want to post a 'scare mail' without researching it first. After looking at it from a myriad of different angles, I decided it posed a real enough threat to post. What you do with it is your decision. (Addit: Better still - research it for yourself)

As I said, each person must make up their own minds about this series of movies. I did not want this to be a debate to rip each other apart, theres enough of that in the world. Oh and, Iggy, thanks for the Noddy Badge, it will have place of honour in my display cabinet. :)

[zimajays]

Bah Humbug! Iggy how the hell can you say that??? Better then Harry potter!

Well I never....

Expelliarmus

[igundwane]

Why dont we all wait for the film to come out, Watch it, then decide.....

Bit like that Mel Gibson film about Jesus, everyone threw the toys out the cot, but when you actually watched it......... well it was just a movie about some dude getting nailed to the remains of a barn door with loads of blood flying about, a very improbably earthquake @ the end and that was about it.

Nothing more graphic than what was written in the bible @ the end of the day.

Just a good bit of publicity...... did his bank balance no harm.

ps, what about the original sinbad film circa 1970's ? that was very un-christian ! there are a few others that are not disimilar in context.

[Raevoyn]

I certainly kicked off the thread again ...

Iggy, sorry about the spelling, no one's perfect ...
Georgie, You said what I was trying to say in much less words ...
Biff, nail on the head, bru ...
Nyala, you're right, I would try and protect my little girl against anything I could ...

Love ya all! (does that mean that some people are going to have a go at me for apparent Gay Love ...?) ;)

I'm the wind-up merchant!

[igundwane]

Just downloading this @ the moment, so if it is worth watching ie, quality wise, then i shall tell ya'll where you can get it from !

[georgie]

Religious beliefs are private opinions and should remain so unless one is prepared to debate the issue openly.

[Shifty]

For what it's worth, I watched the film last week and thought it quite enjoyable.

The film appears to steer clear of any references to religion whatsoever. Of course the books may be different, but in it's current form the film is just like any other fantasy story out there.

There were some scenes that were a little more violent than I would have expected to see in an 'All Ages' movie.

Mild violence aside I don't think there's anything to be concerned about, one way or the other. :smiley20: