"The Golden Compass" - Christians Be Wary!

I heard it was really BAD anyway, so no loss

Mary I checked out Snopes.

Wow is all I can say, but it does not suprise me a movie like this is being made. Consider the amount of people out there - who do not belive in God.

Nicole Kidman is not Scientologist now, according to press reports she has quit.

I was under the impression she was never a Scientologist, and much of that was fabricated

(anyone who knows if this is wrong can correct me if this is wrong)

and her not being a Scientologist is one of the reason Tom's and her marriage fell apart.

Hope that's true that Kidman is no longer Scientologist/never was one. It's not so much about her background/faith as it is about the man behind the story though. It frustrates me to no end that it's being put out there as a sweet innocent fantasy story.

I got an email about this tonight too. I hadn't even heard of the movie.

Have you actually read the book? It is excellent story-telling, excellent 'Fantasy'. Do you also hate the Harry Potter books?

I think Harry Potter is great and I have read the Harry Potter books. Nothing anti-God, anti-Christian. No I have not read the book. A lot of things are good story telling, including The Book of Mormon. Doesn't mean I believe them or want my kids to see them until they're of an age to see through them or at least make their own choices, though.

thanks for the heads up I'll make sure that my grands don't go see it

Thanks for the warning, Mary. I just checked out the linked snopes article. While it's a theme I wouldn't object to an older child being exposed to, it's not something I want to get into at their ages now, even dumbed down.

re; your comment above, about being old enough to see through them or make their own choices - that's it for me exactly. We are not a Christian household, but we respect Christ and our Christian friends - there's enough hate and fear in the world today without unnecessarily giving children the idea that Christians are out to get them, or killing a god that mine, in their current ages and understandings, would find completely beyond their ken. The themes of anti-tyranny and anti-religious control would be fine, with me, if they were a bit older. ;)

I read the whole series. It is a children fantasy series. It is no more about killing god then the famous Star Trek episode that kill the god, Apollo. It kill a character in a book. If your concept of God is so weak that book or movie can change your faith. It wasn't much to begin with.

But Chick, this is geared toward children -- children are still forming their identity and their beliefs. That is why parents should be concerned about this. Adults and older children are able to form their own decisions and to see past anything that might conflict with their faith/beliefs/creed/whatever. As a responsible parent I have to say no to anything that would go against my faith in regards to my children being exposed to it.

Mary, thank you for posting this. I agree with you.

But your are limiting young minds. Sorry, kids are much stronger when they read other ideas, whether it is about religion, cultures, races, or even politics.

This logic you are using means if your kids are white, they can read only about white kids, or if they are Americans they can only read about Americans.

Read our own history. For years white were told the blacks are inferior, Irish are drunks, and so forth.

I mean a good parent reads what the kids reading or seeing and talk to them about it. They do need the adult view. But just to forbid it makes it that more interesting to them. Don't underestimate your children.

Some of the worst kids I met were ones who were perfect angels and knew their religion stone cold. But when they met the real world they went nuts. They tried everything and were led down some pretty bad paths.

On the other hand I have known many kids who question their religions but they always came back, happier and stronger then before.

I read the first book, and was like, mmmm, mabye this isn't such a good idea. Guess what? I was right! In the second one, the "good guys" are fighting against the angels, and it doesn't suprise me that in the third one they kill god. In the first one, they depend on magic (and no, I'm not trying to be a "hater": it just seems that books with magic are the ones that make me sad. I read a book with the main characters trusting in wand/potion/spell magic, and I walk away with Hoplesness echoing in my heart and mind. I would rather live without sight than surround myself with the Hoplessness-tainted books.).
Anyway, thank you for putting this movie warning on here!

God bless

My kids are exposed to a wide variety of experiences. Chick, I think you are assuming too much about me and my parenting without knowing the whole picture. I was very sheltered growing up -- it was not healthy for me. And so I will not do that to them. Go read the book and see the movie if you like. We'll skip it, knowing what we do now.

Thanks for the heads up, we will steer clear of this. Good thing in "real" life God never dies!

Kat, if you cant say something nice . . . . and no you don't get my meaning, obviously, or you wouldn't say something ridiculous like that.

Kim, so absolutely true! He is always there. And I'm so glad He is!

Wow, some of the comments on here..... Mary, keep it up! Thanks for the warning. And the only I can say in response to some of the people here. Our faith, as Christians, teaches us to "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Prov. 22:6) By Mary warning us, and protecting her children from this is not her keeping her children from being open minded. It's her dilligently obeying her Lord and Saviour. I don't think she was being overly critical, or that her faith would be challanged, on the contrary. I think that those who are old enough should go to see these films or read these books it makes our faith is more secure. I watch and read most of the children's fantasy that comes out, that way I'll have a leg to stand on when closed minded parents attack my child rearing skills (since I won't let my child watch or read them). It's nice to know exactly why (I'll give direct quotes from books and movies) I don't allow my son to see the films and also completely depletes any argument the other parent has with me. Fight the good fight Mary. Thanks for looking out for us!

I have to admit that I have never liked Philip Pullman very much- he is rather depressing- but I think that the statements, that he is trying to seduce children in and then destroy their faith in God, are a little overmuch. In the books it is true that Angels are fighting against God, but as this is a patiently ridiculous idea, I wouldn't think it would be dangerous... it is true that you should protect your children against things that you think are bad influences, and you should never take your children to a movie which you don't know anything about (I knew someone once who took his young daughter to see Coyote Ugly (whoops!)), but misrepresenting someone as evil intentioned just because you don't like the content is harmful and wrong actioned. Having read the trilogy the movie was based off of, I am quite sure that Philip Pullman never intended his work for young children, and if it is being marketed for them you should blame the media corporations, who, as we all know, are only profit-driven companies who do not care for the moral or spiritual well-being of their consumers.

Hmmm...

good article

Thanks for the info.

I just got my copies of the books today and can't wait to get at them!

I agree with Chick J: "On the other hand I have known many kids who question their religions but they always came back, happier and stronger then before. "

Opposing viewpoints that may question the belief one has is never a bad thing. Conflicting ideas about belief have positive outcomes either way one looks at it.
Either
a.) the individual adopts the new idea or assimiliates the concept with what he or she used to believe, feeling that the new idea is more beneficial/makes more sense/is more practical to their lives
-or -
b.) the new idea doesn't fit with the individual's primary paradigm, nor could it in any way, thus his or her original belief is strengthened after the experience.

I don't understand the fear people have towards differing ideas. By telling children/people they cannot view something without logical basis only sparks a greater interest in the "forbidden" material in individuals. It is a story, an expression of an idea, we should treat it as such.

when i told my little brother(9) and sister(11) about what the movie and books were about both of them were appalled. neither of them could understand why someone would even have the idea of killing God. I agree that we shouldnt force kids to believe a certain way, but i do believe that we should try to keep them away from things like this when they're younger. im glad that my siblings want nothing to do with the movie and books.

The Golden Compass like the Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia is about a struggle between "good" and "evil." It sounds like people are writing comments here without having read the books. The book, and I suppose the movie as well, will be offensive to some Christians as it portrays organized Christianity as seeking to dominate the universe and as not being very good -- where it goes over the line as far as offending is that it goes beyond organized Christianity and draws into question beings who are normally associated with "good" as actually being "evil." But as far as whether it is well written fantasy, I think there is no doubt but what it is on a par with or better than CS Lewis' adult fantasy trilogy.

"Apparently in the end..."

You haven't even read the books, and you're claiming that you know what's in them?!?

Repeating this kind of intolerant propaganda isn't serving readers well. Christians should be able to read freely... or their faith isn't as strong as they claim it to be.

I am with you Mary my children are not going to be seeing this anything thats bashes the christian faith will not be tolerated in my house.I myself am appauled by the way some of these people here are being so iggnorante about this you keep on with your voice MAry because this Christian is here to back you.I glad God is has risen and is alive and he is here for us christians who have the beileve to fight for him.

I wanted to say thanks to those who read what I posted at face value and are trying to understand where I am coming from. I appreciate the encouragement and am glad to know there are others who "get" what I'm saying. I feel no need to justify my parenting decisions to anyone whose beliefs differ from mine. I wouldn't pop into your living room and wag my finger at your choices, so I expect the same respect.

My faith is strong. If God hadn't been there for me, my abusive ex-husband would have probably killed either me or one or more of my children, but instead I got strong and got away to safety in 2002. My life and theirs began anew. I do not play games when it comes to God and my faith. Would reading these books or watching these movies weaken my faith? No way! But could it easily confuse my children? Oh yes! And as they are young, they are not ready to fully understand all the implications this story line presents. I discuss things openly with my children, and answer their questions honestly. They are pretty worldly-wise for their ages, and very intelligent! But be honest -- would you let your kids who were (young) elementary school age watch, say, Freddie Krueger movies? No, because they're not ready to handle all that, realize it isn't real, etc. It would freak them out, give them nightmares, confuse them . . . . Same basic principle except with an atheist pushing the idea of killing God, it does go against my family's faith and therefore has no place in our home other than discussion (when they're older) as to WHY we chose not to allow it in the home.

A few people mentioned I did not read the books, so how can I judge? Again, I have heard about this from several trusted sources, including Snopes, which is trusted worldwide, friends, family, and even complete strangers who are not Christian! I feel no need to go out and read these books. I am busy raising four kids and would rather focus my energy on more important matters. Some critics above say it's just like Lord of the Rings and the Narnia books. Very well, we shall stick with those and shall have lost nothing in the process.