It all makes me sad.
Satan will use anything to try to get to us and our children. We must use the sword to fight! The Bible is the Truth!!
I checked all this out on Snopes and here is what is says:
Claim: The 2007 film The Golden Compass is based on a series of books with anti-religious themes.
Origins: The Golden Compass, a fantasy film starring Nicole Kidman that is scheduled to be released into theaters on7 December 2007, has been drawing fire from concerned Christians. The film is based on Northern Lights (released in the U.S. as The Golden Compass), the first offering in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy of children's books, a series that follows the adventures of a streetwise girl who travels
through multiple worlds populated by witches, armor-plated bears, and sinister ecclesiastical assassins to defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God.
Books of the trilogy have sold more than15 million copies around the world, with Northern Lights winning the Carnegie Medal for Children's Literature in 1995 and in 2007 being awarded the 'Carnegie of Carnegies' for the best children's book of the past 70 years. The Amber Spyglass, the final book of the series, won The Whitbread Prize in 2001, making it the first children's book to do so.
The series' author, Philip Pullman (wo has described himself as both an agnostic and an atheist), has averred that "I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God; I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words 'spiritual' or 'spirituality.'" Critics of Pullman's books point to the strong anti-religion and anti-God themes they incorporate, and although literary works are subject to a variety of interpretations, Pullman left little doubt about his books' intended meanings when he said in a 2003 interview that "My books are about killing God" and in a 2001 interview that he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief." (In 2002 conservative British columnist Peter Hitchens labeled Pullman "The Most Dangerous Author in Britain" and described him as the writer "the atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed.")
Bill Donohue, president of The Catholic League, has condemned The Golden Compass as a "pernicious" effort to indoctrinate children into anti-Christian beliefs and has produced a23-page pamphlet titled The Golden Compass: Unmasked in which he maintains that Pullman "sells atheism for kids." Donohoe told interviewer John Gibson on 9 October 2007 why he believes Christians should stay away from the film:
Origins: The Golden Compass, a fantasy film starring Nicole Kidman that is scheduled to be released into theaters on
Books of the trilogy have sold more than
The series' author, Philip Pullman (wo has described himself as both an agnostic and an atheist), has averred that "I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God; I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words 'spiritual' or 'spirituality.'" Critics of Pullman's books point to the strong anti-religion and anti-God themes they incorporate, and although literary works are subject to a variety of interpretations, Pullman left little doubt about his books' intended meanings when he said in a 2003 interview that "My books are about killing God" and in a 2001 interview that he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief." (In 2002 conservative British columnist Peter Hitchens labeled Pullman "The Most Dangerous Author in Britain" and described him as the writer "the atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed.")
Bill Donohue, president of The Catholic League, has condemned The Golden Compass as a "pernicious" effort to indoctrinate children into anti-Christian beliefs and has produced a
Look, the movie is based on the least offensive of the three books. And they have dumbed down the worst elements in the movie because they don't want to make Christians angry and they want to make money. Our concern is this, unsuspecting Christian parents may want to take their kid to the movie, it opens up December 7th and say, this wasn't troubling, then we'll buy the books. So the movie is the bait for the books which are profoundly anti-Catholic and at the same time selling atheism.
Other reviewers, however, have described Pullman's works as being more generally anti-religion rather than specifically anti-Christian or anti-Catholic: In "His Dark Materials," Pullman's criticisms of organized religion come across as anti-authoritarian and anti-ascetic rather than anti-doctrinal. (Jesus isn't mentioned in any of the books, although Pullman has hinted that He might figure in a forthcoming sequel, "The Book of Dust.") His fundamental objection is to ideological tyranny and the rejection of this world in favor of an idealized afterlife, regardless of creed. As one of the novel's pagan characters puts it, "Every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling."
Last updated: 23 October 2007
6 comments:
I'm glad you put this on here. I was thinking about doing the same, but just never got around to it. I wish I could have heard the lesson yesterday. I hope that everyone finds out about this, and boycotts the movie and books. I'm tired of just sitting by and taking everything the world throws our way.
Me, too, Elizabeth! I had heard about this movie and a while back forwarded information to people I work with who have children. Isn't it sad that innocent children are targeted and some parents will not even know the dangers? Let's try to get the word out.
I read all the trash about this movie a while back. It will probably be a boxoffice bomb, word is spreading fast on the internet. By the way, my hat's off to you for using Snopes to research the validity of this story. I encourage everyone to do so before forwarding things they read on the internet.
Daddy
I think if you sit your kids down and tell them it's fiction, it's not a big deal. Least, that's what my parents always did with me. Seems to work. I'll watch about anything, because I know it's entertainment. Even fi the author's intent is to be anti-whatever, you *can* just read it for fun.
I don't use my Bible as a sword, but maybe that's because I'm Catholic. It's nice to have around, but certainly isn't the end-all be-all. In fact, I don't use it all that much anyway. Jesus didn't leave us the Bible, that was just a handy favor someone did.
Besides, books like these usually make you stop and question, which is never a bad thing. Always question, because your faith grows. And believing because you truly understand that it's true is so much richer than believing because you won't listen to any other opinions.
In response to one of the quotes, sometimes churches ARE controlling and just a big pain in the neck. We get too caught up in buildings and ministers and people above us that we forget what it's all about.
I do believe that we should all talk to our children about what they are seeing and do our best to divide reality from fiction and entertainment. However, all you have to do is google "how TV affects children" and you will find plenty of studies showing that what they see does affect them.
Talking to your children and evaluating yourself on what you believe, and why, is always a good thing.
Proverbs 29:15-17
The rod of reproof give wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother. When the wicked increase, transgression increases; But the righteous will see their fall. Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; He will also delight your soul.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:13-16
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and world desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Acts 4:31-33
And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness. And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.
Revelation 22:18-19
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book; if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
I agree that exploring your faith, and questioning what you hear, can be good. We should definitely know what we believe and why. This author has no other purpose than to destroy our faith and drag us down with him. I don't think it's acceptable to expose our kids to that. I don't consider that another opinion, because I believe in God 100%. If I believe in God, then how can I support someone who says He isn't real?
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