I recently received an E-mail concerning an upcoming movie called the Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman. It read something like this:
"You may already know about this, but I just learned about a kids movie coming out in December starring Nicole Kidman. It's called The Golden Compass, and while it will be a watered down version, it is based on a series of children's books about killing God (It is the anti-Narnia). Please follow this link, and then pass it on. From what I understand, the hope is to get alot of kids to see the movie - which won't seem too bad - and then get the parents to buy the books for their kids for Christmas. The quotes from the author sum it all up. I'm going to tell everyone about this movie."
I am generally not moved by such e-mails, because they are not usually true. However, I am an avid fantasy novel reader and my son Blake is becoming one as well. Therefore, I was interested in finding out more about the Dark Material trilogy. I looked up Snopes http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp and then decided to read the books myself, before making a decision on the movie. At this time I have only read the complete first novel and am about three fourths of the way through the second book.
The first book is a children's fantay novel about a young girl who finds herself caught up in events that will and do shake her world and indeed all the worlds of the universe. The preteen girl is the messiah of her world sent to bring about wonderful changes in the world. However, she must never know that she is the fullfillment of prophesy because if she does then she will fail. Each person in Lyra's world has a daemon, which is essentially his or her soul or spirit that exists outside of his or her body. Until one becomes a teenager or reaches puberty the daemon can take any animal shape. However at Puberty the daemon chooses a shape that reflects who the person has become or what their true nature is. There are these particles called Dust, that appear to be some sort of elementary element. The church, which is the Magisterium, thinks the Dust is connected to original sin and wants to destroy it. Lyra comes to believe that Dust is good and seeks to protect it. In the mean time, in its search to destroy dust, the church is running experiments on children. They are seperating the children from the daemons. The usually causes the child to die or at the very least makes them somewhat apathetic and totally lack curiousity.
Phillip Pullman has made several anti-Christian statements. He is an atheist that would like to kill the church and God. I find it very interesting that he is at war with a being that he proclaims to not believe in. Anyway, the books are obviously written as a critque of the church, religion and Christianity. The church in the book are the bad people. The church seeks to stop progress, is made up of hypocrits and wants to stifle creativity. I think Pullman beleives this. Hence, I do not like the philosophy or theology of the books. However, in the first book this is not obvious, but the second it becomes clearer and clearer.
With all of these facts on the table, here is what I think. I fully believe that Pullman wrote these books as an attempt to persuade children that there is no God or at the very least that if there is a God he deserves to die. Because of this fact, I will not spend my money on this movie or on the books (I got the books from the Library). I will finish reading the books to make sure that this oppinion holds till the end. However, neither will I forward the afore mentioned e-mail or mount a campaign to boycott this movie. You see I believe that boycotting and forwarding this e-mail gives the movie free advertising and entices people to go and see it. It makes them curious, so it actually works the oposite.
To be quite honest, some of Pullman's critiques of the church are quite accurate. The Church universal has been guilty of stifling progress, of killing the spirits of people and other such things. Perhaps we need a child Messiah to bring us back. This is exactly what God did in Christ. God sent a child to save the world.
Am I scared of this movie? Do I believe it corrupt my children or other children? The answer to both of these questions is no. I would not be afraid of my children reading this book for two reasons. The first is that this is a fictional book and the philosophy or theology occurs in a fictional world. My children know the difference between reality and fiction. The second reason is I would be aware of what my children are reading and talk to them about it. I know that not all parents will do this, but this is a better solution than boycotting.
In addition, I also believe that this book does not threaten God. There has been many other people than Mr. Pullman that have tried to kill God and God is still alive. In fact, I think that two thousand years ago on a hill called calvary, the church, the very people God had claimed as his own, tried to kill God. It did not work then and will not work now. God can take care of himself, I think I will let Him.
In summary, I do not plan on going to see this movie. I will finish the books and if my children want to read them, I will let them. However, I will discuss them and show them how what Mr. Pullman says is wrong. In the meantime, I am not going to worry about this. I am too busy loving others and doing the work of God.
