Wisdom needed at the movie theatres
this Christmas
‘I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.'
Golden Compass Poster
So said Philip Pullman, author of Northern Lights, which was renamed The Golden Compass in North America and is being released at the movies this December. Pullman supports the British Humanist Association and is an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society1, an organization in Britain that campaigns for the withdrawal of subsidies to religious schools, the end of tax exemption for churches and argues that state sponsorship of religions encroaches upon the human right for freedom of religion2.
The Golden Compass features young orphan Lyra Belacqua going on a rescue mission with the aid of a shape-shifting ‘daemon' and a golden compass. The compass or ‘alethiometer' is a device with supernatural clairvoyant powers that Lyra learns to read throughout the novel.
Phrased by some as a ‘direct rebuttal' of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, The Golden Compass has subtle spiritual themes and portrays the church as an evil, dogmatic empire. Although it may seem like a harmless fiction, the books in the His Dark Materials series, especially 2 and 3 push an atheistic agenda you would be wise to guard against.
If we allow our children to read/watch The Golden Compass, we should at the very least, talk through the issues and spiritual themes it raises. Use it to teach the importance of having a sound biblical worldview that cannot be shaken by the manipulative writings of an atheist.
1. ‘Philip Pullman’, from Wikipedia,
, 29/11/07
2. ‘National Secular Society’, from Wikipedia,, 29/11/07
A review of the movie will appear on our website soon.
this Christmas
‘I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.'
Golden Compass Poster
So said Philip Pullman, author of Northern Lights, which was renamed The Golden Compass in North America and is being released at the movies this December. Pullman supports the British Humanist Association and is an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society1, an organization in Britain that campaigns for the withdrawal of subsidies to religious schools, the end of tax exemption for churches and argues that state sponsorship of religions encroaches upon the human right for freedom of religion2.
The Golden Compass features young orphan Lyra Belacqua going on a rescue mission with the aid of a shape-shifting ‘daemon' and a golden compass. The compass or ‘alethiometer' is a device with supernatural clairvoyant powers that Lyra learns to read throughout the novel.
Phrased by some as a ‘direct rebuttal' of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, The Golden Compass has subtle spiritual themes and portrays the church as an evil, dogmatic empire. Although it may seem like a harmless fiction, the books in the His Dark Materials series, especially 2 and 3 push an atheistic agenda you would be wise to guard against.
If we allow our children to read/watch The Golden Compass, we should at the very least, talk through the issues and spiritual themes it raises. Use it to teach the importance of having a sound biblical worldview that cannot be shaken by the manipulative writings of an atheist.
1. ‘Philip Pullman’, from Wikipedia,
2. ‘National Secular Society’, from Wikipedia,
A review of the movie will appear on our website soon.
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