The Golden Compass controversy
A few weeks ago I started hearing about the controversy surrounding The Golden Compass. I'm not familiar with the books so I was unaware that there was any controversy at all. I received several emails from Christian watch groups ordering suggesting Christians boycott the film. Being the contrarian that I am, that only made me want to see the movie more. Because of the film's large budget there is a lot of interest in it in the entertainment world. Entertainment Weekly had the movie as its cover story this week, which includes a very good synopsis of the controversy surrounding both the books and the film.As for the controversy, I tend to agree with one Christian author they quoted as saying:My God is big enough to defend himself against Philip Pullman. As a Christian, I think his story brings up great points of debate.
What do Mod-Blog readers think?
Honestly, I tend to think it is hypocritical for many Christians to have pushed the Narnia films specifically because they were intended to lead people to Christ and then get offended when atheists do the same. Let's be honest about the subtexts of all the films out there.
YanıtlaSilAt the same time, I appreciate the alerts that some have sent simply because I was unfamiliar with the movie. Now, I want to make sure I know enough to discuss it with any children who have questions about the issues it raises.
The Catholic Diocese of Hollywood was quoted in one article, and I think they had the best reaction. It was along the lines of "We do not approve of this film, but it is a fun story with generally good values if viewed purely as a story in isolation from the books."
Roger Ebert's review was quite good, and touched on the debate a bit. www.rogerebert.com
YanıtlaSilI have wanted to see the movie even more because of the "controversy" (I'm like you Sean). It is encouraging to me that the "golden compass" in the book is a device that shows the truth. I think we should ALWAYS be in search of the truth, even if it means finding some faults in the practice of our religion. From what I have read, the film and books are against much of the intolerance, and authoritarianism of the "organized" church, specifically the Catholic church.
What I found was that the Magisterium in the books is less like the church/God that I believe in than like the caricature that people have created (those within as well as without the church). It's more like the Big Brother of communism.
Not that their aren't issues with the film, but I think the film is less of a threat, and more of an opportunity for discussion.
The issue is not that the film is a threat to adults, but that it will lead children to the books which teach things we do not want them exposed to until they are older.
YanıtlaSilAfter reading about this "controversy" and all the posts that go with it there seems to be some blatantly obvious points.
YanıtlaSil1. This movie, like most movies, is pure fiction. FICTION. The same fiction that makes people assume that Da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper is historically accurate. Umm, how many centuries were there in between Da Vinci and Christ... If you are one to believe everything you see in TV then, all religious debate aside, you need some help.
2. The theory of God has not and possibly cannot be proven OR disproven with hard physical evidence. There is too much drama in the world when it comes to God. Either there is a natural intelligence that guides life or every thing is one big magical random accident outside of intelligence. You can either believe that life is life and when you die, game over; or that when you die your actions and internal self reformulated your being into a new form; or that when you die the actions, and the results of your actions, cummulate in a non bias matter and set your brain (before death, soul after death) to either be free or enslaved (also known as God's judgement). Is there an afterlife? Who knows. People have believed to see God in a near death experience but these visions are often dismissed by non-believing doctors who claim their visions are results of malfunctioning brain parts. Believing persons will see God, almost believing persons might see God, non-believng persons probably won't see God. Is this a brain attribute or soul attribute, who knows.
3. If your faith in God is so weak that a movie like this is threatening, don't blame the movie blame yourself. A true believer in God is not swayed by non-religious propaganda. If you had read the Bible you would know all of this was coming. You would know there was going to be an "AntiChrist" movement and you would know that non-believers, if steady in their belief, will fight tooth and nail to claim their belief as true. Stop fighting and understand. A true child of God would want there to be a peaceful understanding between themself and those of other beliefs (Jews and Gentiles, remember). Not all this bickering B.S. "my God is better than your God" "Well your God doesn't exist so my non-God is better" "well your non-God is wrong because of my obvious God" blah blah blah. A debate like that will never end because there is no proof either way, only belief and disbelief.
4. yhoshua has a lot of things right.
5. Alot of this nonsense is in the definitions and playing with words that America is so great at. I have heard that "Freedom of religion means I should be free from religion" however in the same structure "freedom of speech means I have the freedom to speak." The word 'of' is changed according to context. It is not accepted to define "of" in the opposite direction (Freedom of religion means I have the freedom to practice religion, whereas freedom of speech means I should be free from speech). As the rest of the world knows, us Americans are spoiled brats who claim to always be right even when we can be proven wrong. This "controversy" (along with most "controversies" and religious debates) is a variation of that.
But, like all things, give it a little time and our A.D.D. selfs will soon forget and move on to the next thing that we have a problem with and wish to complain about.