"The Golden Compass"

[natickgirl]

Hey, I've been hearing a lot about the book & movie "The Golden Compass" by Pullman. (The trilogy is "His Dark Materials".) Many conservative Christian groups are protesting and/or boycotting the books & movie because they feel they are pro-athiest, anti-Christian propaganda. I am conservative & Christian, but I don't like to follow uninformed scare tactics used by such groups. After all, they are the same ones who protested Harry Potter (which I found to be a very enlightening series), and who boycott Halloween.

My sister & my cousin (who are quite LDS & well-read) have actually read the books. They said the ultra-conservative groups are greatly exaggerating or even inserting non-truths in order to scare people away. ("Adam" & "Eve" do NOT kill "God." The author, who is athiest & doesn't care for C.S. Lewis' writings, was raised in a religious home & has respect for Christian beliefs...he is NOT out to rid the world of believing Christians.) The underlying theme of the books, according to them, was not anti-Christ or anti-God, but more about the dangers of misusing power; that "power" is represented in the books by an organized religion similar to Catholicism.

Both my sister & cousin basically said they wouldn't hesitate to let their older children read the books and/or see the movie, provided they discussed the books/movie together. They thought the books might even be a teaching tool in confirming their own LDS beliefs & contrasting them with the views of the author.

Have any of you actually read the books? What are your thoughts? Would you read the books, or not read them, because of someone else's opinion? If so, whose opinion do you trust?

[bookworm]

Funny, NG, my sister, who read all 3, said basically the same thing. I've read the first two and found them compelling- you have to tolerate some of the character's ideas, but don't we do that in most of our reading? Do we believe everything our characters do? Of course not. I think it's a lot of hoopla, but I can understand the Catholic church feeling threatened. They freaked out over the "Da Vinci Code", too, remember? I loved that book- although it's got a few themes I don't like. Did it change my belief system? Heck no! Neither does "Compass". I love the stuff with the polar bear. I don't care if the characters think they're going to "kill" God, either- I haven't read the third yet, but my sister says it isn't that big of a deal. She is also very active LDS- YW pres, and her hubby is the Exec. Sec. to the Bishopric. I will probably not encourage my kids to read it- they are still pretty young, but I told my older two about it and why there's all this coverage and controversy. They hadn't heard of "athiest" before, so it was a teaching moment.

My dad always rolls his eyes when these Christian activist groups get going- especially when so many LDS people jump on the bandwagon without reading the material for themselves- they are blindly jumping on- because all this press is actually good for the movie! The movie and books are getting extra free press because of all the excitement! Free advertising, anyone??

[Dia Minha]

I guess I have always looked at media differently. There is a reason we are told not to watch rated 'R' movies. This stuff gets into our heads a little at a time and added upon can grow. The problem is, it is not only rated 'R' movies that have those little things that get into our heads.

Not one of us would have an affair right? Then why do we watch movies where they show this being ok? None of us hopefully swear, yet, we watch tv and movies where this happens all the time. Sitcoms are very sneaky in the way couples put each other down. Jokingly of course, but even while joking it is never ok to put down your eternal mate. We watch too much of this stuff, and a little is too much, and we find ourselves acting that way.

Anyway, I guess I am a "rather be safe than sorry" gal myself. Before I even heard the controversy of this film I happened upon an advertisement on line and decided it was too dark for me. Every one has different sensitvities however, so I'm not saying those of you that have decided to watch it are wrong, I'm just saying it's not for me. This is coming from a mother, who really had to think long and hard, before letting her children watch "The Chronicles of Narnia" which is now a family favorite.

Dia

[bookworm]

Well, Dia, good for you for being protective! I was the only kid in the neighborhood growing up who hadn't seen certain shows or movies- my dad was extremely protective of us kids, and I'm so glad he was! am very careful, but I still watch things that I'm sure you wouldn't (Narnia??? I'd better not let you see my movie collection, you'd flip!)

I thought what you were saying was interesting. I guess in my opinion, if something makes me feel lack of the spirit, I turn it off. And, I agree- the level of violence, sex, gore, etc. in r-rated movies (and many pg-13, and regular tv, too) is way above my level of tolerance, and doesn't benefit, or even entertain me.

I do think sexuality on screen or in print is different than the problem with "Compass", though. If there is an underlying agenda to promote atheism, yes, we should be very careful, but is there really? I didn't get that feeling from the books. Also, if there is a message that you don't agree with in a movie, do you watch it over and over and over? No. Does it "seep in" then? I don't think so. (Not to say people should see it before they judge it, if they don't want to- just that the hyping activists may not even be accurate without having seen it).

I agree that watching sitcoms with hugely sexual or negative overtones will subtly affect you. I agree that too much exposure will seep in.

In not watching rated-R movies, I've seldom felt like I was missing out. I think any media you skip isn't any big deal- it's media! It isn't as though you are skipping food or something needful. So if you don't see the value of something, I agree, don't watch it. I do think, though, that I need to be mindful of getting sucked in to hype by activist groups, though. That's what the issue with "Compass" is for me. I haven't decided if I'll see the movie or not, but I'm not going to let a bunch of worked up activists tell me what to think.

Anyway, I'm glad we all get to choose for ourselves. There are things I've read or watched that I regretted, repented and gotten rid of. There are things I've watched or read, though, that others found offensive that I simply didn't. To each their own, I suppose.