It's appalling! :0
By megumiart
@megumiart (3771)
United States
December 7, 2007 9:01pm CST
Christian groups are saying the Golden Compass is "Dangerous" because it "promotes" agonism. That's so not true. I've even read the book, and there's never any direct reference to jesus or god, let alone religeon. To all those religeous groups bashing this film/series, give me proof of it promoting athiesm! :0
7 people like this
10 responses
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
8 Dec 07
I have heard about this, and it's every bit as ignorant as the time in the early 80s the Christians wanted Mark Twain banned from school libraries.
It's God's place to judge and only God's place to judge, or did some of those folks skip that verse? IMO, our Creator gave us brains with which to think. Censoring things isn't going to do any good. That kind of attitude has turned many against the Christian ways, lumping all followers of Christ into one hypocritical group, which granted, is not fair, but it is true. That judging & censoring kick has to go. God gave us freewill, it is up to no human to try and take that from others.
3 people like this
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
12 Dec 07
That's a really good point, Arka.
If kids have access to libraries without parental supervision, they will find a way to sneak to read it, just like most of us did as kids.
Let's also keep in mind that C.S. Lewis' series is also fiction, yet since the message is "approved," that series was read to us by our teacher in a private Christian school daily.
When it comes to fiction, the meaning is held in each individual interpretation.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
9 Dec 07
Well said.
If good wanted sheep he would have stopped right there, no need to create us. But he gave us a brain and the ability to understand things and make decisions. THat should tell some people something.
AS for the book itself I just finished reading it. There is nothing wrong with it unless you count the fact that I would think that it is more directed to teenagers and up than at younger kids although Lyra herself is younger.
Other than that I don't really see anything that would put a child against God in that book.
Is there some intention regarding the Church, maybe, it depends on how people want to see it. This book is fiction. Even if it talks about the Church it will be a fictional church, doesn't have to have anything to do with the real thing - this is one way one can look at it.
In any case I agree with you that censoring is not a good idea at all. In the case of this book for example all it could do was to have some of the adults not wanting to even look at it, and all the kids reading it under the covers;)
2 people like this
@megumiart (3771)
• United States
8 Dec 07
I was talking about groups reactions to the film coming out:0
3 people like this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
8 Dec 07
I am pretty religious but I have not seen the movie. I think i will see the movie and judge for myself. I didn't see from the previews that it would be atheistic, but a lot of movies are actually. I think everyone makes to big of a deal about things.
3 people like this
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
8 Dec 07
Bravo!
Another person that chooses to use the gifts of freewill and thought that God gave her! I'm applauding you, incase you can't hear it, lol.
2 people like this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
8 Dec 07
I remember getting an email about it. I have not read the book; nor have I read any news stories about it. So, I guess I cannot be either for or against it. I did not take the email seriously though. Christian groups have a reputation for being against things. It has been happening time and again. I am so used to such behavior on the part of the Christian groups. Dan Brown made a lot of money due to this attitude. Everybody wanted to read it coz of the fuss being made about it. And what about Harry Potter? I read somewhere that it is supposed to support the 'devil'. I would love reading the book if I come across it. I hardly watch movies. No time for them!
1 person likes this
@Flight84 (3048)
• United States
24 Dec 07
That's crazy! I've been hearing about that and I think it's dumb. If people are that easily influenced by a book or a movie, then they need to learn to think for themselves anyway. Are people not allowed to enjoy movies and books anymore because it may lead them to think otherwise? Like with the Harry Potter series! I like Harry Potter movies and books, but you don't see me running around waving a wand and believing in magic now. I'm a big girl and I know that's not real. I'm not that easily influenced. People are just nerve-racking over the dumbest stuff.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
8 Dec 07
Everyone has to make their own decision, but it was on one of the news shows - hannity and colms or O'rielly factor - and the president of (I belive it was) the athiest "religion" (or whatever it is known as specifically) and she said point blank, yes it does promote athiesim and they are glad it does. So, take it for what it is worth, watch it before your kids do and make a intelligent decision as to whether it is suitable or not. I myself think the Harry Potter and all that witchcraft and related things was not something kids should be seeing, but that is my opinion. Everyone has to make their own, but remmember not to blame the movie if your kids come up with some issue that seems to be "because of" the movie... you let them go see it or read the book.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
8 Dec 07
And I must add, when I say "you" that just means anyone -not "you" as in anyone here. A figure of speech used to create the discussion. Not pointing any fingers or on anyones case!!!!
@cristlegirl (817)
• United States
12 Dec 07
I think the best advice I can give is if you don't want to see this movie don't see it, but if your children want to see it, then you should at least go watch it yourself first, either in the theater or wait for the DVD and then decide if they can watch it.
The biggest thing is that parents need to start being parents, but they also need to show there children the real world and what they will have to deal with as adults. Sorry all the extreme Christan's out there, atheist are here to stay. Deal with it!
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
9 Dec 07
You know, all the whining about this movie made me go and start reading the books just to figure out what the whole argument is about.
As far as I can see, they read just like any other fantasy novels. They're very well written, they're interesting, and while I know the author's personal beliefs because I've read about them elsewhere, I wouldn't have really figured them out from the books. There are tons of fantasy novels out there that have some kind of plot where a God or Gods wind up being the enemy, or at least not helpful to the main characters. So why is this one being picked out to be picked on?
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
12 Dec 07
I don't think snopes.com is religious, you ought to see what they say. I believe the author of the book also has a comment on it.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
8 Dec 07
I am also a Christian and I've watched the movie Golden Compass (I have not read the book because.. I do not enjoy reading =P)
To me, movies are meant for entertainment and we should not take it so seriously. It's silly for some of the Christian groups to think that some people might believe what's in the movie and practice it. I enjoy the last half of the movie (the first half was slow and draggy) and that's about it. I am not crazy over the movie and neither do I intend to behave like the characters in the movie.
I am sure most of us have the wisdom to differentiate the reel from the real.
