The Golden Compass Subverts Our Children

One of the things I've loved over the years is having a thirst for knowledge, and this has made me become an avid book reader. All through my teens I read at least a book a week, and now I can't not have a book at my bedside table. Besides, as a writer, I find it fun and interesting to read different styles, and perhaps adapt some I like to my own method.

Anyhoo... I read a story recently, about how a Catholic board in the Halton area of Greater Toronto has banned a book from its school libraries, due to its author's "anti-God stance". The book in question, The Golden Compass, is by renowned British author Philip Pullman, and is part of Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy (not to mention a new movie starring Nicole Kidman, currently on release this holiday season).

The reason for the board's removal of the book from the libraries is that, in interviews Pullman has done for the book, he states that he's an atheist and supports that belief. Pullman also suggests that his books are darker than the Harry Potter series, since his stories are about "undermining the basis of Christian belief."

However, in an interview regarding his viewpoints and the controversy they are causing, Pullman also stated, "I'm not in the business of offending people. I find the books upholding certain values that I think are important. Such as that this life is immensely valuable. And that this world is an extraordinarily beautiful place, and we should do what we can to increase the amount of wisdom in the world."

The Golden Compass is not the first book to come under fire from school boards. The Harry Potter series itself was also attacked, due to its use of witchcraft, and the much-loved fable The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks was also criticized for its depiction of native American Indians.

Although this latest action by the Catholic board in Halton seems understandable, from their belief point of view, it's also a little strange, in my opinion. After all, isn't the Bible itself guilty of a few "misdemeanors"? For example, check out these scriptures:

Genesis 38:7 - "And Er, Judah's first born, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him." There's no reason given why this child was wicked - is God simply a dictatorial murderer?

Deuteronomy 13:6-10 - "If your brother, son, daughter, wife or friend tries to get you to worship another God, thou shalt surely kill him, thine hand shall be the first upon him to put him to death." All good stuff encouraging family morals, then...

There's so much more in the Bible, and various religious preachings, that to go over them here would take a millennium. The point I'm making is that the school board that removed Pullman's book did so due to the author's standpoint going against theirs, and for not promoting the belief of God as per the Bible. Is it safe to assume, then, that the board will soon be going after Pullman to smite him down and put his head upon a spear for all to witness? After all, it's what God would do, isn't it, according to His book?

Now, against the recommendations of its own book committee, the Halton school board have banned the other two books in the trilogy, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. Where does it stop?

I can't wait to see when the right-wing fascist groups start banning The Hobbit, because Tolkien had such an anti-Nazi viewpoint in the Lord of the Rings trilogy with his Nazgul Black Riders...