The Golden Compass, which premiered in London last night, is the latest battleground in the religious culture wars.
Nearly two weeks before its arrival to American cinemas, one film has managed to draw cries of complaint from both the Catholic League and the National Secular Society in recent weeks. The Golden Compass, which premieres in the U.S. on December 7 and is based on Philip Pullman’s fantasy trilogy of the same name, has been accused of being both anti-God and not anti-God enough.
The Catholic League, a conservative U.S. anti-defamation group, launched an official boycott of the film in early October, citing the books' negative depiction of the church (what Pullman names "the Authority"). League president Bill Donohue says Pullman, who is an outspoken atheist, wrote the stories “to promote atheism and denigrate Christianity, especially Roman Catholicism.” Donohue is concerned that though it is toned down in its anti-God rhetoric, the upcoming movie will nonetheless act as “bait for the books.”
Meanwhile, the U.K.-based National Secular Society is disappointed that the movie doesn't feature more explicit attacks on the church. According to the BBC, the society's president, Terry Sanderson, said, “We knew from the beginning that the producers of this film intended to leave out the anti-religious references. We think that is a great shame. The fight against the Magisterium (Pullman’s thinly disguised version of the Catholic church) is the whole point of the book.”
The Golden Compass premiered last night in the U.K. at London’s Leicester Square, and received a lukewarm review from The Times—not for any real or perceived anti-God themes, of course, but for apparently sloppy storytelling compared to the books, which won the esteemed Whitbread Literary Award in 2002.
The movie is expected to do well in the U.S. during the approaching holiday-movie rush. This week’s Newsweek delves deeper into director Chris Weitz’s struggle of framing the stories' controversial subject matter, while the December issue of Christianity Today features the thoughtful critiques of some Christian writers who notice some surprising “Christian-y” themes in Pullman’s books.
In a couple weeks, we’ll see how the movie fares with the American audience, most of which doesn’t fit easily into the extremes of today’s religious culture wars that the Catholic League and the National Secular Society epitomize.
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Christianity Today Movies has been following the controversy surrounding the film. CT Movies' readers shared some initial thoughts on The Golden Compass's release.
Posted by Katelyn Beaty on November 28, 2007 11:58AM
Comments
The film is actually worse than depicted being based on Book One of His Dark Materials! I was totally shocked by the revelation that the film promotes demonic possesion amongst children dressed up in cutesy animal characters! the website also instructs children how to get a demon and a bargain is made!
all it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing!
Posted by: FRANCES at November 28, 2007
It seems to me that each time a movie or book is released which speaks against God, Christ or the Bible, the emotional and almost violent reaction by many in the church is perceived in the eyes of unbelievers as encouragement of the project. Many times, I have witnessed the "boycott" of these projects being followed by heightened curiosity on the part of previously disinterested persons.
For many years, my wife and I have chosen to ignore these films and books. I don't mean to say by this that we are uninformed. The opposite is true. We are well versed in the subjects and stories and will discuss/debate them with those who wish to approach the topic.
We preach the truth in love, pray for protection of those who know no better and strive to "always have an answer for those who inquire as to the hope that lies in us."
Posted by: Dennis at November 29, 2007
To coin a cricket term (you know that baseball-like game played by most of the world) - I suggest Christians 'play a flat bat' to this one and any future jabs at Christianity. Howls of protest tend not to be an effective apologetic. We should however, guard ourselves and our families - and anyone who asks in sincerity.
Posted by: Roger - Australia at November 29, 2007
The books do not promote atheism, if you took this from the books then you have little or no understanding of the concept of god. The books speak out, quite justly, against the abuse of power within an organized religion.
**spoiler warning**
At no point is "god" encountered in the books, he/she/it is not killed or destroyed, and the very existence of god is mentioned briefly and then left totally open, in an un-biased and agnostic view point. it is made very clear that the entity destroyed at the end of the trilogy is NOT GOD but an imposter claiming to be god in order to abuse the power of the man made church.
to believe that this film is atheist requires that you believe your god to be a wicked imposter who did not create the universe and who simply hijacked or created a false belief system in the name of megalomania.
If you boycott this film it is because you
a) have not read the books or
b) because you are far to stupid to theorize your individual religious opinions and are thus doomed to be blindly led into whatever form of hell the next powerful, dominating, Hitler-type leader drags you into.
for the record i have discussed this issue with members of the church of england who clearly and categorically agreed on the matter, they also enjoyed the books very much.
Posted by: Maz at November 30, 2007
I agree with Roger. Controversy is often an advantage to its subject, because it generates free publicity. If we want to thwart such subjects, we should only consider mentioning them when someone else brings them up.
Posted by: Chris at November 30, 2007
Maz, I have not seen the film. I have, however, read the books. Whilst my interpretation of the books might not convince you, would the author's expressed intention in writing them have any effect? If so, then just google Pullman and search for his very public remarks regarding same.
The opinions of others, even those of Anglicans, do not, at least from my perspective, outweigh those of the author.
Posted by: DiverCity at November 30, 2007
From what I've read, the only reason these books were written was because Pullman 'despises' the Chronicles of Narnia.
Posted by: Elephande at November 30, 2007
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