Have you seen the commercial for the movie THE GOLDEN COMPASS/?

Question

It looks like a well done children's fantasy. Could some one tell me what all the contraversy is all about, or can I guess.
There was a question last week about it and I said I was interested to go and see it BECAUSE of the the underlying rumble.

However, what I have seen and read, I cannot for the world of me, get anything out of it, that connects with any religion at all.
Am I missing somehing?

WOW! That is first time my e-mail inhbox had 22 answers all at the same time, about the same question. Great answers and gives a lot of great explanations. I for one am going to take my grandchildren, and I am absolutely sure that they are not going to sit there and analize that this has any kind theme regarding religion. It is a fantasy, which is going to be as successful as Harry Potter. Dont you love it when religions ban certain things and because they ban them, they gain huge success and out play other movies and book a hundred fold.
Yeah for the children and the parents that take them. I am not atheist and I cannot for the life of me see why some authors are investigated as to their religious beliefs, and yet thousands of others, we know nothing about their belief system. Anyway, who cares, we have free will, and I for one , and probably like millions of others, are going to choose to go to whatever I want to with being controlled.

Answer 1

From what I have read, the makers seriously diluted the original story so that it is no longer offensive to anyone. However, the Catholic church is still afraid that it might get people to read the book which is anti-organized religion.

Answer 2

I've read the trilogy His Dark Materials. The Golden Compass is the first book.

The controversy arises because the book questions the right of earthly religion to ultimate authority. In other words, the author does not believe that church has all the answers, and should not be allowed to tell people that they do, to control their lives.

He also brings into question some very basic tenants of the Christian church. For instance, he questions the doctrine of original sin, taking the stance that Eve was doing us all a favor when she accepted free will and the opportunity to gain wisdom, instead of living in bestial ignorance. And when the war in heaven was concluded, says the book, the wrong side won, and has been trying to subjugate humanity ever since.

Many religions do not like ideas like these, because ideas lead to questions, and questions lead to conclusions that may not be the same as the ones the church wants you to draw. Thats what the heart of the issue is.

Answer 3

All I've heard is that the first two books were pretty mild, just fantasy, but then toward the end of the third book the children kill the person who represents God. I don't know who it was that decided that someone "represents God". I also heard that the author of the book is said to have written the books in an effort to draw children away from a faith based life and "turn them" into Atheists. I've heard that he is an Atheist and is very very vocal about his abhorrance for those who believe in God.
That scares a lot of people who are religious.

Personally, it doesn't interest me. The premise of the movie, I mean. I've seen the commercials for it.

Answer 4

The book trilogy has strong atheist themes (an attack more at the misuse of religion and the hold it can have over people, rather than religion itself), however these don't really emerge till book two and have been toned down in the movie. I highly doubt the people protesting the movie have read the book or have a clear idea on the themes it represents, but strongly religous people are quick to attack anything that doesn't fit in with their beliefs.

Answer 5

Actually, the Golden Compass is the first of a series of three books. The first book is milder, and doesn't tackle too much issues as to religion, while the 2nd and 3rd books are a bit darker, and deals with more issues of religion.
Basically, the book tackles the influence of religion on life, and does this in a superb and enjoyable manner, similar to how Harry Potter tackles dark themes.
As for the movie, I doubt if it will delve too much on the religion aspect of the book as it is billed as a family movie for kids. The book is pretty awesome though, and you should try reading it. :)

Answer 6

Looks like it will be a great movie to take my kids to. I am reading the BOOK right now.


It is the same fools as attacked Harry Potter and any other creative endeavor.

Phillip Pullman is an atheist. Many of the heroes are named for "fallen angels" the Gobblers can be misconstrued to mean Christianity although I haven't seen anything blatantly stating such. It is fantasy.

Answer 7

No, I haven't. Indeed I don't think I've heard anything about it at all here in Australia, I only found out they were making the movie when I saw it on R&S.
I have read the book, incidentally. Though it's called 'Northern Lights' over here. Apparently the North American publisher changed the title because the picture on the cover looked a bit like a compass. The religious theme is entirely subtextual.

Answer 8

In the books, the church is portrayed as authoritarian and fascist. It's one of the "bad guys". The church takes the stance that Dark Matter, or "Dust" as it's called in the books, is the result of Original Sin and must therefore be evil. The church then carries out experiments on children to keep the Dust from settling on them. I believe at the end of the second book (I'm re-reading the series now) there is an Angel war and "God" dies (I can't remember if he/she/it is actually "killled", though).

It's just fiction and nothing for everyone to be having hissy fits over.

Answer 9

The original books had an anti-Catholic Theme to them. They were written by Phillip Pullman who is an Atheist. He wrote the books as response to the Chronicles of Narnia, which had a strong religious theme.

Even though these themes were downplayed in the movie, Christians want to be sure that parents are aware of the book's theme before they assume that books are more benign and buy them for their children (after seeing the movie)

Answer 10

The controversy is because the books it is based on are more explicit attacks on religion and the Roman Catholic church in particular. The premise of the books is that god is real and insane, and the church wants to control all of society. The good guys have to kill god and destroy the church. Apparently this subtext has been watered down for the movie.