"Golden Compass" Vs. The Church

"The Golden Compass", a movie based on a children's book of the same name, from Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, has been subject to heavy criticism since word got out of its impending release.

At issue, the witch-hunters of 'Harry Potter' infamy are complaining that the fictional story's use of magic and creatures called 'daemons' might corrupt the children by exposing them to concepts outside of church cannon and dogma. Likewise, the same people who protested "The DaVinci Code", finding the facts it presented (as well as the fiction) highly offensive, are now downright livid over the vilification of 'The Magisterium', "Compass's" version of a tyrannical church that bears a great deal of resemblance to the real-world Christian one.

Is the film adaptation of the story deserving of all the negativity? Let us consider the issues.

As to the first, that exposure to fantastic ideas might 'taint' the children; kids aren't actually as dumb as some adults seem to think. They are fairly adept at telling fantasy apart from reality. They know what it means to play pretend, even if the grown-ups don't. We won't even go into what the word 'ignorance' means, but one would suggest that these people look it up.

For the second, the Church in the books is a hateful institution, filled with deceit, tyranny, and oppression. Mind control is the rule, and the heroes stand opposed to that. Could somebody explain how that's a bad message?

Well, actually, somebody did. One critic of the film put it best by saying, "There are too many similarities between MY faith and the villain in [Pullman's] stories."

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but if your religion of choice embraces these qualities - that all rational people agree are aspects of evil - then perhaps it's time for you to find a new religion. Maybe that's the message that these people are really trying to keep from reaching the kids.

Anyone who has a hard time dealing with the concept of their children being exposed to other ideas - or worse, learning to think, to question, and to seek knowledge instead of just accepting 'that's the way it is' - is not only doing his or her child a grave disservice, but is living in a fantasy world of his or her own.

The reality is that kids not only need to learn how to think for themselves to survive in society, but that they inevitably will do so. By attempting to force a religion that is unable to stand on its own merits down their throats, these folk are only ensuring what had only been a possibility before, the children abandoning a faith that attempts to control and subvert the heart and mind, rather than set them free, becomes an inevitable certainty. Like a prison sentence, forcing ideas - especially bad ones - on a child this way, will keep them 'locked up' for a time. But, once they break free, they are certain to never come back.

So, does a children's tale designed to entertain and provoke a little thought deserve such harsh criticism? Only in a world where thinking, entertainment, or both, are shunned. Only in a world where fiction comes a little too close to the truth.

Passing on the seeds of willful thoughtlessness and bigotry to the next generation is no kindness. At best, children of these people will resent their parents. At worst, they won't - and they'll be handicapped through life because of it.

Perhaps, if criticism is warranted, it is people like these who should be on the receiving end of it.

Do religious people have any right to criticize "The Golden Compass" on these grounds? Perhaps a better question is: 'Are the criticisms OF religion the story seems to hint at justified?' Based on the outcry, it seems even those who wail and gnash their teeth know that in truth, they are.

(Adapted from "The Belrad Universe Show." Get more at BelradUniverse.com)