Faith and Religion - The Golden Compass Movie Ignites Controversy

"[English poet William] Blake said that Milton was a true poet and of the Devil's party without knowing it," Pullman has said. "I am of the Devil's party and know it."
http://www.pluggedinonline.com/thisweekonly/a...
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compa...
http://www.amywelborn.com/reviews/pullman.htm...
The author's stated goal is recruiting for the atheist/agnostic (wierd, since he states one, but he sounds like he follows another). My family will not watch it, but my family will talk about it.

*sighs* Why would anyone who is really a christian be concerned about this film? Christianity has survive more threatening things than a silly book and movie, seemed to survive the terrible Harry Potter!*scoffs* don't forget that the Romans use to feed christians to lions... Oh what little faith you have that you must hide yourselves from something as simple as a film. we've gone from thou shall fear nothing valley of death blah blah to "OMG don't watch this movie! It will make you turn into a heathen!" witch trials ne1???

It amazes me that people who believe in something they have never seen,heard,smelled,tasted or touched be against a movie,fictional at that. Those who fear that this movie will drive kids to become Athisets must be very insecure about their religous beliefs. If anything it is the dissatisfaction they feel from the religous dogma taught that drive them away.

voice of reason wrote:

*sighs* Why would anyone who is really a christian be concerned about this film? Christianity has survive more threatening things than a silly book and movie, seemed to survive the terrible Harry Potter!*scoffs* don't forget that the Romans use to feed christians to lions... Oh what little faith you have that you must hide yourselves from something as simple as a film. we've gone from thou shall fear nothing valley of death blah blah to "OMG don't watch this movie! It will make you turn into a heathen!" witch trials ne1???

Perfectly stated!! A minister once said to me "God wouldn't be much of a God if he couldn't withstand a little doubt from a human, now would he?" Replace "doubt" with "movie", relax, and use your effort for God in a more productive manner.

voice of reason wrote:

*sighs* Why would anyone who is really a christian be concerned about this film? Christianity has survive more threatening things than a silly book and movie, seemed to survive the terrible Harry Potter!*scoffs* don't forget that the Romans use to feed christians to lions... Oh what little faith you have that you must hide yourselves from something as simple as a film. we've gone from thou shall fear nothing valley of death blah blah to "OMG don't watch this movie! It will make you turn into a heathen!" witch trials ne1???

This issue is not about protecting Christianity, its about protecting young impressionable souls from this distraction that has the attractive quality of fantasy mixed with harmful fiction about God. This movie is pitched to potential viewers as a family movie. The movie may be family oriented, but the author and his books, the basis of the movie, are about killing God (at least in the minds of children). The toys are already in stores and the books will follow.

Have you assessed the damage caused by the Harry Potter books/movies to young Christian children worldwide?

CAS wrote:

<quoted text>
This issue is not about protecting Christianity, its about protecting young impressionable souls from this distraction that has the attractive quality of fantasy mixed with harmful fiction about God. This movie is pitched to potential viewers as a family movie. The movie may be family oriented, but the author and his books, the basis of the movie, are about killing God (at least in the minds of children). The toys are already in stores and the books will follow.
Have you assessed the damage caused by the Harry Potter books/movies to young Christian children worldwide?

Why don't we just have a good old book burning? If kids can not tell the difference from reality and fiction that is the parents fault. As for tempting kids to turn from religon I think people need to regroup. Kids are not dumb they see what is on the news lately that would lead to doubts about their faith. How many religous people out there teach their kids about the Tooth Fairy,Santa and the Easter Bunny? Maybe they should be outlawed in Christianity. Pathetic that people puffer their religon but have so little faith in it.

CAS wrote:

<quoted text>
Have you assessed the damage caused by the Harry Potter books/movies to young Christian children worldwide?

what is the damage caused by the Harry Potter series? at what point do you teach your children fact from fantasy?

CAS wrote:

<quoted text>
The toys are already in stores and the books will follow.
Have you assessed the damage caused by the Harry Potter books/movies to young Christian children worldwide?

Have I assessed the damage?...no, have you? what you say is inconsequential, there are lots of things that you may tell your children that may cause this damage, easter bunny, santa claus. Theres something evil and demeaning to christianity in every thing if you want to see it. The main point is a little thing like this is nothing and shouldn't be viewed as anything as entertainment, or if you like, an amusing failed atempt of knocking a world wide religion. And you know, chistianity was really not too popular when it started. Did that make it right to treat it like the plague? I believe that perhaps God would want his own self proclaimed followers to be as open minded as he. Just a thought, love your nieghbor and all...

I myself prefer to view it as a form of entertaining failure to shake the foundation of a religion I happen to agree with, but it's time like these that show what a person's faith is truly made out of. If you refuse to watch and decide to not allow your children to see it then I support you. I do because it is what you value as what is the right thing to do. But think of how you became such a...devoted follower, was it because you were shielded from all that was labeled as "evil" or because you tested everything you could, pushed the boundries and tested your own resolve against what those nay sayer would preach? if you see yourself as the latter you may want to reevaulate your fate. Faith and wisdom is something you do, not something you are taught.

It's a movie, ffs!! BTW, the "Easter Bunny" was a way to bastardise the Pagan rites of Spring... Eggs are/were considered a sign of fertility and rabbits breed like well, rabbits. Also, making a wish on birthday candles was also stolen, um, borrowed from Paganism... It was believed as the candle was blown out after the wish was made, the wish would be carried out to the Universe by way of the smoke. Pagans light candles and sit a 'spell'(Our way of sending up prayers), X-ians light a candle and pray... Honestly, if folks would learn/investigate things they don't know about, you'd all find similarities. But since Pagans don't believe in Hell or a Devil, I guess I'm wasting monitor ink by typing this

I do not go to movies, for they are waste of time. If a person has money and time to throw away, then...

People, Its Just A Movie!! The church can find problems with anything nowadays!

voice of reason wrote:

*sighs* Why would anyone who is really a christian be concerned about this film?

Some peoples faith is weak and requires them to shut out contradictory stimuli.

Other people have trouble accepting that other do not share their beliefs and seek to discredit them.

And yet another group of people simply feel the need to crusade in the name of their religion, be the battle right or wrong.

Don't forget about the last group that posts comments which have nothing to do with the subject. Should change your name to "Captain Obvious"... or would me saying that make me the second group *rolls eyes*

The only problem I have with this movie is it's apparent hidden adgenda to propagate athiesim. The difference between this and Harry Potter is that JK Rowling never had a hidden purpose in the books. Harry is what Harry is. The book series by Pullman are much more devious in perpetuating the ideas that God can be killed and the Catholic church is corrupt. I will see this movie knowing what it is and what it represents, I would recommend parents screening it first to see if you want your child to view it based on content, and then talk to them about it.

cameragirl wrote:

The only problem I have with this movie is it's apparent hidden adgenda to propagate athiesim. The difference between this and Harry Potter is that JK Rowling never had a hidden purpose in the books. Harry is what Harry is. The book series by Pullman are much more devious in perpetuating the ideas that God can be killed and the Catholic church is corrupt. I will see this movie knowing what it is and what it represents, I would recommend parents screening it first to see if you want your child to view it based on content, and then talk to them about it.

Have you seen the movie or read the book? Where have you gotten your information if you have not seen the movie or read the book?

Actually, yes I have read several of Philip Pullman's novels, Including the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, of which The Golden Compass is the first book. I have gotten my information from his materials and articals I have read and interviews he has given. As I stated in my original post I will see this movie, so no I haven't seen it yet, as will see is future tense.

cameragirl wrote:

Actually, yes I have read several of Philip Pullman's novels, Including the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, of which The Golden Compass is the first book. I have gotten my information from his materials and articals I have read and interviews he has given. As I stated in my original post I will see this movie, so no I haven't seen it yet, as will see is future tense.

You must enjoy his writting if you have read several of his works including his "Dark Material" and interviews about him/with him. I find this very intresting.

The lamp of the body is the eye.If Therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other . You cannot serve God and Mammon. Matt6:22-24.As believers in Jesus Christ we need to watch what we see with our eyes. Garbage in, garbage out!

RONIN wrote:

<quoted text>
You must enjoy his writting if you have read several of his works including his "Dark Material" and interviews about him/with him. I find this very intresting.

I don't have to agree with someone to read their writtings. I am an avid reader and especially enjoy fantasy writtings geared towards youth. I think that Pullman writes a good story, even if I don't agree with his philosophy. I'm not a socialist but I have read some of Stalin's work, it's all about being educated. That is my whole point of these post, just be educated about a topic before you try to defend it/oppose it.