The Golden Compass: Which Way Should We Go?
By Pastor Ryan | Posted November 9, 2007
Over the past two weeks, I've received multiple emails regarding a new movie coming out on December 7th titled The Golden Compass. This movie is based on a book written by well-known British author and outspoken atheist, Philip Pullman.
If you've seen the advertisement, you'll know the movie looks and feels a lot like The Chronicles of Narnia film or one of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, there is a darker side to this seemingly innocent fantasy story. The Golden Compass is the first book in Pullman's three-book series entitled, His Dark Materials. By Pullman's own admission, his purpose for writing the trilogy is to expose children and people of all ages to an anti-religious secular world-view. Below is a quote from Pullman's personal web site reinterpreting the fall of Adam and Eve as the beginning of what he calls "true freedom":
Underlying the trilogy there is a myth of creation and rebellion, of development and strife, and so on...And everything follows from that. So, for instance, the book depicts the Temptation and Fall not as the source of all woe and misery, as in traditional Christian teaching, but as the beginning of true human freedom something to be celebrated, not lamented. And the Tempter is not an evil being like Satan, prompted by malice and envy, but a figure who might stand for Wisdom. [Source]
Here are quotes I found on wikipedia.com from the book itself; I think you will find them interesting (emphasis mine):
For example, Ruta Skadi, a witch and friend of Lyra's calling for war against the Magisterium (the church) in Lyra's world, says "For all of [the Church's] history...it's tried to suppress and control every natural impulse. And when it can't control them, it cuts them out." [...] Skadi later extends her criticism to all organized religion: "That's what the Church does, and every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling." (By this part of the book, the witches have made reference to how they are treated criminally by the church in their worlds.) Mary Malone, one of Pullman's main characters, states that "the Christian religion...is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that's all." She was formerly a Catholic nun, but gave up her vows when the experience of being in love caused her to doubt her faith.
My opinion is this: I would not recommend the movie to anyone, let alone children. Although the anti-Christian themes were removed from The Golden Compass film, the movie endorses the book series and Pullman's blatant hatred for God and religion. The movie represents most authority figures (family, government and the church) as the enemy of free thinking and wisdom. Also, characters called "Daemons" (pronounced "demons") are portrayed as physical representations of a person's soul manifested in the form of an animal. These animals accompany the characters through life. These facts alone are concern enough for me not to support the movie or read the books.
Please educate yourself and know what your kids are watching and reading at home and at school. If you have any questions or comments you can email me.
Other online resources for you to reference: