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I don't get it.
It's okay to shove relgious doctrine down childrens throats, but anything else is forbidden?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-w...pass-religion/
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Golden Compass Points to Controversy
ERIC GORSKI | November 30, 2007 03:02 PM EST |
— The plot sounds familiar: movie takes on religion, angers some faction of believers.
But the furor surrounding "The Golden Compass," a $180-million fantasy epic coming to theaters next Friday, is more complex than that.
Based on the first volume in the award-winning trilogy "His Dark Materials" by religious skeptic Philip Pullman, the movie already has been condemned by conservative Roman Catholics and evangelicals. They say it will hook children into Pullman's books and a dark, individualistic world where all religion is evil.
But at least one liberal scholar has called the trilogy a "theological masterpiece," and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops rates the film "intelligent and well-crafted entertainment."
Meanwhile, some secularists complain the movie from New Line Cinemas waters down Pullman's religious critique. They feel sold out by the author, who has described himself as both an atheist and agnostic.
Starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, "The Golden Compass" traces a 12-year-old girl named Lyra from Oxford, England, to the Arctic to the edge of another universe, where she becomes locked in a battle between good and evil. The characters are shadowed by their own "daemons," talking animal companions that take on soul-like qualities.
In early October, the New York-based Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights launched a boycott of the film, calling it "selling atheism to kids" at Christmastime in stealth fashion.
Director Chris Weitz has said he cut controversial religious content to make the film more commercially viable, with the plan of being more faithful to the original material in sequels.
For instance, the evil organization dominating the world is not "the church," as it is in the book, but the "Magisterium," which is getting criticism anyway because it's a Catholic term.
The later books are even more direct in their religious criticism. One character, a former nun, says: "The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that's all." Pullman himself has said, "I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief."
Britain's National Secular Society, of which Pullman is a member, has said the changes made to avoid controversy amount to "taking the heart" out of the work.
Yet the film's co-producer, Deborah Forte, said that in 12 years of being associated with the movie and the books, not one young reader has mentioned religion to her. Children love the story and the characters, she said.
"I think it's a tempest in a teapot," Forte said Friday. "What we find interesting about our film is we've made this wonderful epic adventure story for families. ... We encourage parents to make their own decisions."
"The Golden Compass" arrives at an opportune time. Books by atheists are best-sellers, Hollywood studios are plumbing the fantasy genre for the next big franchise, and movies exploring faith are finding a place at the multiplex, if not always box office success.
The Pullman series follows the release of the first movie based on Christian author C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia." Both feature epic battles, talking animals, polar bears and a wardrobe. But from there, the works diverge.
Catholic author Sandra Miesel is among those who call "His Dark Materials" the "anti-Narnia." Miesel co-authored a forthcoming book, "Pied Piper of Atheism: Philip Pullman and Children's Fantasy."
Among her complaints: Every clergy person is evil, and their daemons typically take the form of snakes or frogs. And standing in contrast to the Christian belief in heaven, Pullman's afterlife consists of bodies breaking into particles and being recycled into the material world.
But Miesel isn't a believer in protests.
"That only gives it more publicity," she said. "I merely suggest that if you look at what the material is about, you might find it advisable to stay home, go to another movie, or read a good book."
Other critiques have appeared on evangelical blogs and Web sites. Adam Holz of Focus on the Family, writing on the Christian ministry's Plugged In site, calls Pullman's books and the film a "deliberate attempt to foist his viciously anti-God beliefs upon his audience."
Most diabolical, Holz said in an interview, is that Pullman's audience is children, setting it apart from another book-to-movie some Christians view as heretical _ "The DaVinci Code."
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting gave the film, which is rated PG-13, a warm review. The film is not blatantly anti-Catholic but a "generalized rejection of authoritarianism," it said.
While noting the story's "spirit of rebellion and stark individualism," the office said Lyra and her allies' stand for free will in opposition to the coercive force of the Magisterium is "entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching."
Sister Rose Paccate, director of the Pauline Center of Media Studies in Culver City, Calif., said the books portray benevolence toward children and a God figure _ just one that's much different than the one Christians know.
She sees irony in calls to shun the film, considering that one of Pullman's central themes is that people should not follow orders and forfeit critical thought.
"If you just say 'no' to your kids without engaging in a conversation, they're going to see the movie anyway and all you're teaching them is power, not really teaching your values," Paccate said. "If we have faith, what are we afraid of?"
Donna Freitas, a visiting assistant professor of religion at Boston University, goes a step further, calling the books a "theological masterpiece." Pullman's intent aside, she views the trilogy as a treatise on Christian belief.
To Freitas, the series' mysterious "Dust" _ portrayed in the books as connected to original sin _ represents the Holy Spirit. Pullman is not attacking religion but those who use power to corrupt, she said.
Freitas, who co-authored a book on Pullman and religion, says that "ultimately, the arch of the trilogy is about revealing God."
I don't get it.
It's okay to shove relgious doctrine down childrens throats, but anything else is forbidden?
Exactly! I mean God represents all that is right and good, the rest be damned. Oh wait......yeah rest be damned.
that movie looks stupid anyways.
On par with The Chronicles of Narnia.
Where does this happen?
I always see in these threads with any mention of religion, the same tripe vomited in a post eventually.
Where is religion being shoved down someone's gullet? I suspect it's probably just a hysterical knee jerk response, but hey, that's just me.
No movie is going to shake my beliefs.
Who gives a if it's trying to bash religion? Go in and enjoy the movie for what it is, a movie. If you let something as simple as a book or movie shake your beliefs, obviously they weren't that strong to begin with.
yeah probably so.
these idiots that about every movie that supposedly bashes religion are just stupid. if you don't like it's message, don't watch it. it's not that hard. i loved when they protested Dogma, only to find out that the movie actually supported religion & faith and featured a giant poop monster.
I concur.
Does Kidman get nekkid in this one?
Every sci-fi or horror film, and probably a ton of children's fantasy-type movies promote similar non-traditional spiritual beliefs I would think, based upon the description of this film. I'm not sure why certain films are singled out. I'm not a fan of censorship.
Both sides are annoying.
Is anybody trying to ban this movie? I must have missed the part where Christians came pouring out of churches demanding that the movie be banned and Pullman be slaughtered.
And why shouldn't Christians admonish one another about literature by an author who openly proclaims that his intention is to disabuse children of the Christian faith?
Christmas.
Do I have to explain what christmas is all about to you?
There are trillions of christmas movies that promote the Christian agenda. The Chronicles of Narnia does the same. There are also several movies based on the life of Jesus Christ.
Are you really that stupid?
Christmas is a religious holiday last time I checked.
First of all, read the article. It is being boycotted and banned by religious leaders.
Secondly, it's not about Christians admonishing one another, it's about Christians attacking someone who is areligious.
Read.
My point exactly.
Actually, the same kinds articles were written about Narnia when it came out two years ago.
With all of the commercial materialism and superficiality that is REALLY being shoved down children's throats these days, it's amazing that parents (religious or not) are so concerned with fantasy movies whose religious symbolism is over their children's heads anyway.
Oh. So religious leaders are keeping you from going to that movie? Are they blocking the doors?
Or are they telling their own churchgoers: "Hey, this movie is anti-Christian; it's not a good idea to take your kids to see it."
And people are attacking Pullman? So, what, does he need armed bodyguards now to go outside, lest armed mobs of Christians kill him? Are Christians calling for his arrest? Is he to be brought up on blasphemy charges for this movie?
Or is he merely receiving the same kind of polemic he so eagerly dishes out towards the religious?
Am I to understand you correctly that agnostics such as yourself can criticize religion all day long, but the religious may not respond in kind? Is that it?
Open up and suffer, .
Um, okay.
Am I supposed to end this with " "?
Excellent point. I'd be more worried about my kid worshipping Britney Spears (or whoever the latest teen idol is) than going to see The Golden Compass.
Was there a boycott or a call to ban "The Nativity Story" last year?
Was there any boycotts to the countless Jesus movies?
Granted, "The Passion of The Christ" caused an uproar, but that was by Jews. I never saw agnostics or atheists come out and tell the media that such movies should be boycotted or banned because it was poisoning the delicate minds of children everywhere.
Yea, Spurminator made a good point.
I'd kill my kid if there was any Spears worship going on.
I'd like to see a study down to find whether or not "boycots" every serve their intended and desired purpose or if they rather have the reverse effect since the added press calls that much more attention to a film.
Besides, when I was a kid, when my parents told me I couldn't see Friday 13 or Halloween, all I'd think about is devising a plan to see each film. You leave it alone, I'd bet it would go away much quicker and with much less of an impact.
And yes, I agree that both sides are annoying. However, I do think articles of "childrens" films like this and Bridge To Terabithia should be written, if only to inform that these Fantasy movies have very adult themes. A lot of times movie-makers fail to advertise the actual film, but rather sell the part they think will draw the largest demographic, which tends to be kids films. If parents don't take the time to research and studios fail to market properly, then a lot of kids could not get what they paid for.
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