Thursday, October 25, 2007

The Golden Compass

I understand I could be alienating my lone reader but I feel this is an important thing to discuss.

I am a Christian and I go to church every Sunday and participate in small groups through my church. I was forced to go to church as a child and teenager and when I went to college I chose to no longer attend. Not because I abandoned my beliefs but because I was young, wild and selfish and didn't want to be held back by a bunch of hypocrites that scrub up nicely on Sunday but live like hell the rest of the week. Once I got ready to think about becoming a mother I decided I wanted my child raised in a Christian environment. We found an incredible new young church that had started a year before we started going there in the living room of the pastor's house. Now the church is not quite 3 years old and has 3 services on Sunday and 1 Saturday night. It is growing exponentially because it is a church designed for people who don't fit the typical mold of "church people". I am not putting down other religious organizations in any way. This is just where we feel like we fit best.

Anyways, that being said, I am disturbed by a new children's movie coming out this Christmas called The Golden Compass. I saw the previews and it looks really interesting, until I started reading about it. Apparently the gentleman who wrote the book is an atheist with a particular vendetta against Christianity. I googled this and found many articles backing this up. Some even went so far as to say that the movie isn't anti-Christian enough, that they diluted the book when making the movie. The author expressly said in a 2003 interview that his books are about killing God.

I am not a book burner by any means. I have no problems with adults reading books and viewing movies and making up their own minds. That is one of the great freedoms we enjoy as US citizens. However, this is not something I am prepared for my child to read and watch. I'll stick to buying the Chronicles of Narnia when he is old enough to read. If you are a parent and choose to see this movie with your child then that is your choice and I am not here to pass judgement. However, for those of you who didn't know about the movie already and are bothered by this then just consider this a heads up.

Thanks for listening.

6 comments:

Jamie said...

Thanks for letting us know! I'm going to have to check that out online too.

And people wonder what is wrong with the world and the younger generation now. Do they just not get it? People are allowed to take GOD out of everything. They can bash him and their rights are protected. But if you defend him, you are breaking some kind of "new" law that was just passed and you go to jail.

Shawna said...

I am listening...I haven't heard of the movie. I consider myself an "out of the box" christain. I relate to many things you said in your history. (i.e. being forced to go to church as a child and then not going when older) But now after having my daughter I have found God again, it is strange how things like that happen. I sometimes think God gave me my daughter for that one reason. So I could find him again. Way to stand by your convictions.

penguinsandladybugs said...

My husband told me about this the other day!! This is not good and a little bit sad!! But God has already overcome!!!

Hen Jen said...

I just read the details on this a few days ago, the interesting part to me is that a few months ago before we even heard of a movie coming out, my 12yr old dd brought the book to me at the library and wanted to read it. I skimmed through it and decided it was too dark- knowing the rest about the author's world view would have cinched it for sure.

I read many and varied things, but I do feel strongly about being a filter for our kids while they are young and guarding their hearts.

good post, I know it is hard to say what you want to, when you wonder if you are going to offend scores of folks.

Sharon L. Holland said...

I have read the books, and I'll probably see the movie. I don't think I will let my kids watch it or read it until they are old enough to discuss it.

Amanda said...

Thanks for the info -- I've linked back to your blog. Yikes! What a "kid's" movie!