The Email
>> Do not see the movie, "The Golden Compass."
>>
>> The movie "The Golden Compass" starring Nicole Kidman is coming to
>> theaters December 7th. It is based on the trilogy of books by atheist
>> Phillip Pullman, of England , and is geared towards kids. He wants
>> kids to denounce God and Heaven but he does it in a very subtle way
>> that parents may not pick up on what his true intentions are. In a
>> 2003 interview, Pullman said, "My books are about killing God."
>>
>> Please don't take your kids to see this movie!! Send this to EVERYONE
>> you know!!! We need to get the word out about this movie and make sure
>> that no one supports it!!!
>>
>> This link gives more information about the movie and Pullman .
>> http://www.snopes.com/politics
>> shocked, I'm sure.
>>
>> His beliefs are "dumbed-down" in such a way that even adults might not
>> realize the deception before them. Pullman has said that he wrote his
>> trilogy as an antithesis to C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia."
>> Pullman has been called the most dangerous author in Britain .
>>
>> Please give this email wide distribution.
>>
My response:
ARE WE SERIOUS HERE?!?
I've seen this "protest bandwagon" all over the place and frankly I think it is ridiculous.
1. We are so quick to jump on anything promoting Christianity in the media according to our beliefs in freedom of speech. Yet when an author attempts to express his opposing views in an artistic manner, we are just as quick to jump to attack him, as if freedom of speech did not exist for him. That's pretty hypocritical if you ask me. Have we become a Theocracy? Did I miss something?
2. Have we lost our hope in humanity?
"His beliefs are "dumbed-down" in such a way that even adults might not realize the deception before them."
are you serious here? So in a sense, we should treat this movie like the parental block features on cable televisions. Because it might corrupt us we should avoid it at all costs. If we actually had any faith in humanity at all we would be able to trust that people would have the basic knowledge to understand and decide for themselves!
The same goes for kids! Have we lost our trust in parents to teach their kids what is out there and help them understand what this book series/movie is trying to say? I get the feeling this guy isn't out there to destroy homes and destroy religion and churches as we know it. Like any artist/author, he is presenting his work as it is his objective truth, and he hopes that we will read/watch with our MINDS. He's not trying to brainwash anyone, I guarantee it.
3. This source, are you kidding me? "Urban Legend Reference Pages?" Our valid sources have become Urband Legend websites?!? Question the source my friends. Find the truth yourself.
4. Think of all the people that will actually read these books or watch the movie, then decide what they believe regarding it. Does this not make them stronger? Why is our first instinct to run from things that are controversial? Heck, I'm a seminary student here and I'm actually kind of intrigued by this movie and think it'll be worth watching!
If anything, this movie, like many before it (DaVinci Code, Dogma, The Last Temptation of Christ) has gotten us talking about important issues. Therefore I praise Pullman for getting us out of our comfort zones to talk about these things.
4 comments:
Mike,
For the record, the books really are anti-Christian. The author doesn't try to hide this, and the quote "I kill God in my books" is a true one. The author even describes the scene in detail.
To be perfectly honest, my issue with the books is that the author is obviously so ANGRY at Christianity. The man rarely minces words, and he actually draws the analogy between his works and those of C.S. Lewis. That is, he once said - speaking of C.S. Lewis' works - that "[Lewis'] is the Christian version, mine is the non-Christian." Consequently, it's not hard to see the parallels (intentional or not) between the two works - i.e., the Giant, secularly-minded Polar bear is in essence the antithesis of Aslan. Also, one of the ultimate conclusions of the series is that heaven is a lie, and that people in "heaven" are actually being tortured forever. The main character then frees all of the souls from their captivity, and they become "one with the universe". Oh, and the author also writes of a 13-year-old girl essentially having sex with a boy of the same age. It's not REAL sex (it's symbolic), but the implication is pretty clear.
That said, you're point that it is hypocritical for us to leap on the book is correct. If Christian books that expressed not-so-subtle Christian values were attacked, C.S. Lewis would have been burned at the stake. Moreover, shielding the eyes of your children just because the story offers an alternative point of view is just stupid, as you mentioned.
Thoughts?
much love - hare e hoki,
Jack Jenkins
Jenkins. Holla, thanks for the comment.
I never said his books were not anti-Christian! I was just saying, as you mentioned later in your post, that his books/movies deserve their chance like others have in the past.
I'm not saying I agree with the content in the book, I've heard what you've mentioned and other summaries of it. However, there is a very interesting article in TIME where they quote him saying, "Religion is at its best when it is furthest from political power. The power to send armies to war, to rule every aspect of our lives, to tell us what to wear, what to think, what to read-when religion gets a hold of that, watch out! Because trouble will ensue."
Then, "I suppose if you are interested in religious questions, that makes you religious. I am. What I am not a believer in is the sorts of gods that seem to be on offer from the various major religions"
I think his ANGER at Christianity is as much as Nietzsche's was. Just angry at what Religion has been used for.
Again I'm not saying we should host a Bible study on his books, but I do think he at least deserves respect for expressing his views, and our discussion can follow forth.
Maybe I should just read them/watch the movie for myself to really make a judgement call!
Mike,
Well put.
That said, I literally just finished watching the movie...yeah...
Read the book first (or listen to it on tape, like i did), and then marvel at Hollywood's ability to cut the soul away from a work.
Read the book, and you'll get the irony of the above.
Seriously though, it's entertaining, but certainly not great.
much love - haere e hoki,
Jack
AUGH, NOT GREAT?! I love those books. I guess that's why I'm so behind them. And I don't consider myself anti-Christian (my mom would KILL me).
Right on, thought, man. I support your four points. Speaking of my mom, she was upset by the DaVinci Code. I said, woman, whoa. Don't you think that by reading something and realizing you don't agree with it you realize more what you do believe? I sure told her.
Anyways, thanks for the post. Down with mass e-mails anyways!
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