Christians: think about how you would feel if someone was very negative about the Bible without reading it?

Question

What if there was somebody who kept saying negative things about the Bible, but had never actually read it for him/herself? Instead, this person bases his/her opinion on what he/she has been told and has read on the internet.

They wouldn't have much basis for that opinion, would they? Maybe if they sat down and read it they would still feel negatively, but you don't know until they actually read what they're criticizing.

Now I ask you, have you read the Golden Compass? Are you boycotting the movie based on something you were told, or read online? If you're so concerned about it, why not read it for yourself and then pass judgment?

(I know this isn't all Christians. I'm a Christian and I love those books. I've just seen so many questions lately from Christians saying we should reject the books/movie, yet when I ask they say they haven't read the books for themselves.)

Hope- I thought that daemons was a poor choice at first too, but then I read that it's a ancient Greek term completely seperate from the Judeo-Christian usage of "demon." I don't know, I guess a different word could have still done the job.

I agree with you about the medieval church, and by and large I think that's what these books were criticising- the system of organized religion that has really done some awful things in the past.

Jiraiya- you obviously didn't read the details. This wasn't about atheists and the Bible, I was using that to compare to most Christians not reading these books that they get all up-in-arms about.

Answer 1

I wish I could say I loved the books Rachel. The Amber Spyglass and the parents unexplicable actions in them really annoyed me and I felt I was wasting my time with the entire series. It was irritating to me because Will and The Subtle Knife was great.

You really liked the way he wrapped it up?

Oh well, to your question...yes I wish everyone was informed on what they chose to criticize.

Answer 2

I read it and I was certain that I would've loved The Golden Compass when I'd finished it, I'll admit that in a heartbeat, despite the little nagging annoyance about the "demons" -- I mean, how close can you get to saying the kids are followed by demons, even if they aren't like demons at all? -- and also Lord Asriel's declaration at the end that God was stating his tendency to sin in Genesis. What?! Even in the revised version of the Bible quote in The Golden Compass, I couldn't make sense of where he got that.

But anyway. It wasn't The Golden Compass that bothered me, except for those things and the glaring disgust of the midieval church .This book is not for children, not because of violence, abductions, or anti-God, which again I didn't find overly aggressive, but simply because it's not a good story, it doesn't work...at least right from the start. If you are willing to struggle through the first hundred pages with complete boredom then this is the book for you.

not interested in viewing the film

Answer 3

Harry Potter? No problem.

Golden Compass? Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, said it best:

"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 ... the movie is bait for the books which are profoundly anti-Catholic ...".

Now, if a source I trust tells me that these books intended for children are "profoundly anti-Catholic", I'm going to think long and hard about whether to take my grandchildren to see the movie. It has nothing to do with "passing judgment" before actually seeing/reading the material. We have many other choices available. I didn't see "DaVinci Code", either, because I had better things to do with my time.

To put it plainly, I'm just not interested in this movie, nor the books. I don't need to personally read or screen everything that comes along in order to make choices in what I view (or my grandkids view) for entertainment.

Edited: By the way, that doesn't mean I'd call for a boycott. To each his/her own when it comes to these things; I'm sure there are Catholic parents who are fine with it, and I'm not going to tell them they're wrong.

Answer 4

If your way is to look at scriptures, I'd try working through the book of Proverbs. Plenty in there about the need for wisdom, restraint, not giving in to violence ... plus a few digs at unfaithful women. Not unfaithful men of course, we all know better :-) Whatever God's will might be for you in terms of your relationship with your beloved, "doing something stupid" cannot be part of it; and you shouldn't need any specific scripture to tell you this. Sounds to me like you're near the edge, your emotions aren't under control - get some help, talk to a pastor or good buddy.

Answer 5

I assume you're referring to "Christian" comments on Islam - in ignorance. Well, most Christians haven't thoughtfully read their own Holy Books, or studied any of the history of their own religion, either. So they make devout remarks about Chrisitanity that are equally as meaningless as their remarks about Islam. But I've read both (and others) - and happily reject both, along with the propaganda each purveys. Peaceful and spiritual? A loving God? I think not, in either case. Go to the books.

Answer 6

The more controversy I hear, the more I want to read these books.

I loved JRR Tolkiens Lord of the Rings (and the Hobbit) I loved Lewis's Narnia series. These books can easily be read by non-christians because although there are christian symbols in them, they don't scream Bible at you. They are not conversion material. I am sure the same is true of this series as well. I am looking forward to seeing it.

Answer 7

Frankly you shouldn't even have to read it yourself. If you're worried it will cause some to shrink in faith, they didn't think their faith was true honestly anyway, but were merely blindly following the blind.

Fiction by its very nature criticizes truth, it is make believe, a lie inherently, but do they shrink away from fiction because it's made up, no! Just the fiction they themselves are worried some of those numbers of believers, by which they gather their strength, are too feeble to surpass.

Gather strength from Truth, not popularity! If Jesus was worried about being popular, and took strength from His fellow believers only, he wouldn't have died with only two women present before Him, lamenting His death until 3 days after He died bodily [Spirit does not die, ever because it is Truth]...

If you are a true believer in Truth, nothing will dissuade you from that; even if you were the only one on earth that wasn't selfish, hateful, and destructive - a true believer would go to their death praising God for the Wisdom in it, as "God is to praised in all His doings.".

Such is the madness of faith compared to a world of vanities, always jumping aboard the next train, hoping that one will get them there, even though they don't know where there Is, and until they do, they can never hope to arrive and know It - for they've always been there, in God, "In Whom we move and have our being.".

God bless.

Answer 8

Per snopes, the boycott idea does seem to have merit. But I'm basically boycotting it because it's from hollywood, in general I only watch foreign/indie films.

http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

Answer 9

gee, and here i thought this was a point being made about the Book of Mormon and all the people who say the book is evil and false who haven't read it...

Answer 10

What IF!!!
Do you mean all those people on this site for one, who insults the Bible Jesus, Mary or anything related to Christians has actually read the Bible!!!
I don't think so.

I haven't read it yet, and even after I read it. I wouldn't boycott it.