Christian Group Calls for Boycott of "The Golden Compass," Wants to Maintain Its Monopoly on Fiction
The film is based on a novel by Philip Pullman, a noted English atheist.
The group concedes that "the movie promises to be fairly non-controversial," but urges Christians not to see it, because it might draw people to read His Dark Materials trilogy.
Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy is a fantasy story in which a fictional Church and its governing body are linked to cruel experiments on children aimed at discovering the nature of sin, and attempts to suppress facts that would undermine the Church's legitimacy and power.
Which is nothing compared to what the real-world Church has done throughout the ages. The Crusades, the Inquisitions, countless massacres of innocents. It's all in the real-world history books not provided to students in U.S. schools, and which few Americans, and fewer Christians, ever pick up to read.
As for the real-world Church's suppression of facts that would undermine the Church's legitimacy and power, that, too, is well-documented.
The film has apparently been stripped down, devoid of all references to the Church, in an effort to avoid offending all religious movie-goers. Still, the Catholic League is urging all Christians to boycott "The Golden Compass," in a very clear attempt on behalf of Christianity to maintain its monopoly on fiction. In fact, fans of the original novels are disappointed, outraged even, that the story is being watered down for the masses.
On its web site, the Catholic League states that it is Pullman's objective "to bash Christianity and promote atheism. To kids."
The Catholic League fails to mention what a wonderful world we might have thirty years from now, if indeed, that were Pullman's message and it actually came across.
But no, the Catholic League and other Christian sects fear, and greatly should, any message that provokes free thought. Any message that might lead children to pick up books other than the Holy Bible threatens the very existence of religion, of the delusional belief in a supernatural being. And Heaven forbid, children might delve into the real-world Church's past and discover the atrocities committed in the names of "God the Father" and "Jesus the Son!"
Pullman himself takes issue with the Catholic League and its president, Bill Donohue. "Oh it causes me to shake my head with sorrow that such nitwits could be loose in the world," he said to Newsweek magazine.
The good news is, we have all seen how much influence the Christian zealots have when it comes to the entertainment industry. In 2006, when Christian zealots called for a boycott of The Da Vinci Code, the film went on to become the second highest grossing picture internationally. And need I mention their calls to boycott Harry Potter?
At least these loonies are good for something, huh?
Published by Jack Oceano
Jack Oceano is an attorney whose articles cover a broad range of topics, including politics, legal issues, travel and tourism, dining and nightlife, sports, books, movies, music, and writing. View profile
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11 Comments
Post a CommentThe funny thing to me is that I didn't know Pullman was an atheist until the controversy grew into the public eye. As an atheist I thought the series of books was rather religious but I liked them anyway. Believe it or not but the books put forward extremely religious ideas - treating souls as factual, treating the possibility of afterlives as real, and presenting a pantheistic concept of God through the communication of the "dust" through various devices.
Why is it that I feel like Jeff would crawl, on his hands and knees,naked,thirty miles over broken glass, in the snow to go see anything that Christians and conservatives find offensive? It might surprise you to know that most Christians don't care about the movie one way or the other. Somehow, it just isn't a priority.
I read "His Dark Materials" when it first came out because Pullman taught my cousin in a local Oxford school and she found him a truly inspirational communicator. I have my own prejudices having been brought up in a small (pop. 300) village that contained a theological college.
Isn't it strange how when it comes to faith, i.e. swallow the story then study it only from a perspective that reinforces it, any other view - including that verifiable by observation, predictability and repeatability - is wrong? Hence science has a lesser place in their education system.
Pullman should not be worried that the message has been diluted in the film. At least the next in the series have more chance of production. It raises his profile and will increase his readership so that the other side of the argument can be considered by more, hopefully young, people.
Perhaps the naysayers should adopt a 'no honk, no hurry ' policy?
Jack, I'm a teacher in Thailand and we're taking the whole school (350 kids) to see this movie. Cant wait :) And yes, everytime the Christian whack jobs boycott something, I make DAMN SURE I buy it :)
"Wants to maintain it's monopoly on fiction"...great wit and accuracy. Yep, these superstitious clones boost the profit and acceptance for just about everything and every person they attack with their fear and ignorance.
great article! well written. I can't wait to see the movie with my kids. we have read the book.
Wow, you sure have devoted your life to persecuting Christians as a whole, eh? Kinda makes you the "Anti-Graham"; PREACH ON BROTHER! MENA!
I'm at a loss of words, but this really annoys me! I think people just do whatever they can to make something more controversial than it needs to be. Very well written article!
I agree with you...it would be great if that were the message to come across....I will see this movie opening weekend.
Kids love the Pullman series!