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A golden compass made from dark material
As most of you know, I love films, especially fantasy and science fiction films. I know that there are some Christians, whose views I respect, that are dead against Harry Potter because of the witches and magic and other fantasy elements, thinking that it might encourage kids in to the occult. But I think kids can usually discern the difference between literary fantasy and the dark occult. If we start banning them from watching fantasy films or reading fantasy books, what do we do with fairy stories and other such things? We have a long tradition of fantasy in children’s books. Christians have even written fantasy books such as Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and CS Lewis’ Narnia Chronicles. The latter series of books are deliberately written to teach Christian truths to children. Even with Harry Potter where there is no intended Christian content, there is much that seems wholesome in its moral framework and its stories of redemption and self sacrifice for others.
Therefore, it may come as some surprise that the fantasy block buster that is about to storm the box office this Christmas fills me with some concern. The film I am talking about is ’The Golden Compass’ . This seems the normal fantasy that we encounter with Harry Potter, Narnia, Lord of the Rings or fairy stories such as Stardust. But there is a difference with this children’s film. It is based, like most fantasy films today, on books. This film is going to be one of three films based on the trilogy written by Philip Pullman called ‘His Dark Materials’ in which the first novel that is filmed is from the book called Northern Lights. One of the major problems with this trilogy is that it is profoundly against Christianity, particularly organised religion. In which God is presented as something evil and authoritarian, and who is overthrown in the last book. Philip Pullman, who is a member of the secular society, makes no bones about his atheism.
In an interview Philip Pullman is asked the following question—’Do you believe in God?’
Philip replies—’I don’t know whether there’s a God or not. Nobody does, no matter what they say. I think it’s perfectly possible to explain how the universe came about without bringing God into it, but I don’t know everything, and there may well be a God somewhere, hiding away. Actually, if he is keeping out of sight, it’s because he’s ashamed of his followers and all the cruelty and ignorance they’re responsible for promoting in his name. If I were him, I’d want nothing to do with them.’
This is not a Crestwood Church plea to boycott the film, especially as a lot of its anti-Christian content has been removed so as to have some chance of financial success in the USA. But I feel that people should be aware of the underlying anti-Christian nature of his books. Just as CS Lewis poured into his Narnia books Christian beliefs and attitudes, so Philip Pullman has poured into these books his atheism and dislike of religion, especially Christianity. So if you do decide to go and see the film. go with your eyes open...(or you won’t see the film)
Alan Dodd
Therefore, it may come as some surprise that the fantasy block buster that is about to storm the box office this Christmas fills me with some concern. The film I am talking about is ’The Golden Compass’ . This seems the normal fantasy that we encounter with Harry Potter, Narnia, Lord of the Rings or fairy stories such as Stardust. But there is a difference with this children’s film. It is based, like most fantasy films today, on books. This film is going to be one of three films based on the trilogy written by Philip Pullman called ‘His Dark Materials’ in which the first novel that is filmed is from the book called Northern Lights. One of the major problems with this trilogy is that it is profoundly against Christianity, particularly organised religion. In which God is presented as something evil and authoritarian, and who is overthrown in the last book. Philip Pullman, who is a member of the secular society, makes no bones about his atheism.
In an interview Philip Pullman is asked the following question—’Do you believe in God?’
Philip replies—’I don’t know whether there’s a God or not. Nobody does, no matter what they say. I think it’s perfectly possible to explain how the universe came about without bringing God into it, but I don’t know everything, and there may well be a God somewhere, hiding away. Actually, if he is keeping out of sight, it’s because he’s ashamed of his followers and all the cruelty and ignorance they’re responsible for promoting in his name. If I were him, I’d want nothing to do with them.’
This is not a Crestwood Church plea to boycott the film, especially as a lot of its anti-Christian content has been removed so as to have some chance of financial success in the USA. But I feel that people should be aware of the underlying anti-Christian nature of his books. Just as CS Lewis poured into his Narnia books Christian beliefs and attitudes, so Philip Pullman has poured into these books his atheism and dislike of religion, especially Christianity. So if you do decide to go and see the film. go with your eyes open...(or you won’t see the film)
Alan Dodd
