Why Boycott the golden compass Christians?

Question

if that movie is going to determine whether someone decides to love God then i'd say their faith wasn't very strong in the first place.

i just don't understand why people are so thretend by someone making a movie which challeges our beliefs. i know what i know. No movie can change what i've witnessed in my life and keep my heart from forever loving God.

Do we really assume our God to be so week?

Yeah i grew up in a christian home and i never believed a word. i was an athiest because i didn't get how any of it could be true. "a game of telephone" as someone down there put it. that's what i thought! it felt like i had been in acoma all my life and just now woke up and everyone was trying to tell me where i came from but nobody agreed.

i don't know why but God changed me much later in life. i feel lie it was prayer.

Only God changes. Not silly movies or forcing beliefs on people who don't want to believe.

Anyway i really want to see the movie just to see what the big stink is about. Personally i like to find things out myself.

Answer 1

THANK you for this question. Golden Compass (actually, the whole HDM trilogy) is one of my favorite books, and has been since I was a child. I NEVER read into it as being anti-Christian. I read it as anti-authoritarianism, anti-dogmatic, and certainly in favor of free thinking. Granted, I myself am not Christian, although I have a lot of respect for that faith, so it may be that I'm missing the anti-Christian undertones I keep hearing about. (and if somebody mentions they kill God--WRONG. They kill--accidentally--a despotic angel who tricked people into THINKING he was God. In essense, a false idol)

But I always felt the series was very pro-spiritual--indeed Philip Pullman, the author himself, said in an interview "The religious impulse includes the sense of wonder and awe when we look at the universe, the urge to find a meaning and a purpose in our lives, our sense of moral kinship with other beings."

I know that the series has a lot of Christian support, as well--from people who are strong enough in their faith that they aren't afraid of this movie (or the books) changing anybody's mind. Most notably, Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has suggested the His Dark Materials trilogy be taught in schools, and I know of a few Christian bookstores in my area that not only sell the books, but host reading groups to discuss them.

The main ideals of the book, the morals, are PROFOUNDLY Christian---and Jewish, and Wiccan, and humanistic, et al. They are things that every person, from every faith can appreciate: bravery, compassion, self-awareness, sacrifice. Even though the author himself is agnostic, I think if you are a good theist (meaning you feel a genuine spiritual connection to the diety/dieties of your choice IN YOUR HEART, rather than because it's what you were told), then these books are actually very faith-affirming.


And I hate to think it, but I'm likely to get a lot of thumbs down for this. Ah, well.

Answer 2

This is a segment from a longer article I wrote on this subject. I am a Christian myself, and I tend to think that people should not judge before they know the full story. Here is the segment from my article.
"Some people have also said that the girl, Lyra, kills her mother to be free from her authority. Her mother dies in the third book to (I haven't read it in a few years so this is as I remember it) SAVE her daughter.

In the third book they do in fact kill "god" but it is not the God as we know it. It is an angel who has taken up the name and has no authority at all, really.

The story is in fact very intriguing, and I am getting very tired of Christians talking about it as if they know anything about the book besides what fanatics have written, and the few quotes they have heard or seen Philip Pullman say.

Before you critisize it, read it. Then say what you have to say.

And if Christians can't take a little competition without going over the deep end, then something is sorely wrong with us. This kind of competition is oftentimes what helps to strengthen our faith.

I am probably going to see the movie, hopefully the day it comes out. I grew up reading this triligy, and loved it. Do I have any less faith in Christ? No! Do I still believe Jesus died to save me? Yes. Do I have any doubts about God, or the fact that He exists as the Bible says? Absolutely not.

I am not scarred in any way from reading, and enjoying these books. They bring forth some interesting topics to talk about and debate with close family and friends, and they give you a view of what some people do in fact believe.

I enjoy Philip Pullman's work, and will continue to read the books over and over again.

I'm not saying that everything presented in the series is completely accurate. I'm not even saying that all of it is right. I'm just saying,read the books and get a first hand understanding of what's going .. you condemn them.

That is all I have to say."
Hope this helps,.
God Bless,
Kat

Answer 3

I believe and I'm gung-ho about seeing the movie. I think you're right, if some movie changed a person's beliefs, they must not have really believed in the first place. It's fiction people!

Answer 4

They are boycotting it because they need something to whine about! They throw a fit when any movie that doesn't fit their fundie views comes out. On the other hand, the non-Christians don't whine and moan when movies like The Nativity Story, Left Behind, or the Chronicles of Narnia come out!

Answer 5

most people are so freaked out about everything and when they have nothing better to do they find fault in everything. since the di vinci (this is how i feel by the way) i think the christians have had a huge thorn in their side and have been boycott happy. it's like their still on a mission to get everyone to convert to their religion. i wonder if they are starting to realize that their religion is based on nothing more than one big long game of telephone until someone decided to write it down. christians seem to want to be apart of everything and i wonder if deep down its not some PR stunt to try and keep their religion in the news.

Answer 6

I read the golden compass books as a teen and I didn't notice any anti-religion themes in them; they were just great fantasy. Maybe I'm retarded or something but what exactly is so offensive about them?
I mean it's not like the "piece of art" where they put the cross in a jar filled with urine. < -- that's offensive

Answer 7

I received an email last month imploring all Christians to boycott the Golden Compass. I thought it was foolish for people who hadn't seen the movie to pass judgment on it. I think Christians are used to be told what to believe, instead of engaging their brains. I understand not wanting to give money to support a movie that is potentially anti-Christian...but why judge something you have little / no knowledge of.

Answer 8

I didnt give a second thought to the golden compass until i heard christians telling me to boycott it. Now I am intrigued enough to watch it.

If you are so devout, and your belief is so strong, then something like a movie (book first, actaully) shouldnt be significant enough to take that away from you.

Answer 9

Because Christians have to raise chaos in something.. it's all throughout their history. They can't just quietly decide to not go to it.

I've seen plenty of Christians claim that atheists are "angry", but I never saw an atheist boycott of Narnia. Wonder who has the real 'angry' belief..

On a side note: this whole thing just makes me want to go see the movie now. Great job Christians!

Answer 10

I Dont Know
But I Love His Dark Materials <3<3