The Golden Compass

I wouldn't normally blog about something like this, but I've read about it from multiple sources and thought I would share my thoughts, briefly. There's a movie coming out tomorrow entitled "The Golden Compass". It appears to be another fantasy-type film along the lines of "Harry Potter" and "The Lord of the Rings". Hollywood has really done their darnedest to make this an appealing movie. Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig (the newest James Bond) are starring in it, for heaven's sake! But I would highly recommend you research this book turned movie before heading out to see it. The author's name is Phillip Pullman and this is just the first in a trilogy and from what I've read, it's also the most tame of the three books. I found a blog that really describes the issue the best, so I'm just going to let him inform you of what the problem is.

"This is not just any fantasy trilogy or film project. Philip Pullman has an agenda -- an agenda about as subtle as an army tank. His agenda is nothing less than to expose what he believes is the tyranny of the Christian faith and the Christian church. His hatred of the biblical storyline is clear. He is an atheist whose most important literary project is intended to offer a moral narrative that will reverse the biblical account of the fall and provide a liberating mythology for a new secular age.
The great enemy of humanity in the three books, The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass (together known as His Dark Materials) is the Christian church, identified as the evil Magisterium. The Magisterium, representing church authority, is afraid of human freedom and seeks to repress human sexuality.
The Magisterium uses the biblical narrative of the Fall and the doctrine of original sin to repress humanity. It is both violent and vile and it will stop at nothing to protect its own interests and to preserve its power.
Pullman's attack on biblical Christianity is direct and undeniable. He once questioned why his books attracted little controversy even as the Harry Potter books attracted so much. He told an Australian newspaper that what he is "saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry has said. My books are about killing God.""
Taken from: http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=1065

On a side note, I find it interesting that he proclaims to be an atheist, yet he's written books about killing God. My understanding of atheists is that they don't believe there is a God. So if you're an atheist why would you even worry about killing a God that you don't believe exists? Just some food for thought.

Obviously you need to research this yourself before making a decision, but I am asking that you do just that. Research. There are very few movies out there that I would recommend you do this, but if this author's ultimate goal is to kill God, I definitely don't want to contribute any money towards his pockets by heading off to see this movie. From other sources I have read, this initial movie is basically harmless, but Pullman's agenda includes getting children interested in this movie who will then head out to read the trilogy. That's when they will be exposed to his motives.

I realize that there are many authors and movie producers who probably feel the same way as Pullman does and yet I may be an unknowing fan of their work. The difference that I see here is that I am unaware of those other unnamed authors and producers writing a book or making a movie whose target audience will be junior high age children and have also openly stated that their books are about killing God. Of course if you know of some of these other people, please let me know!

If by chance, you have read these books, or you have another side of this story, please share it with me. I would love to hear your thoughts.