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2112
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« on: October 31, 2007, 05:04:57 AM » |
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Check out this email I received from a Republican friend yesterday about the new movie that's coming out soon, The Golden Compass. Subject: Fw: Beware don't take your children to see the movie coming out soon..." The Golden Compass" You may already know about this, but I just learned about a kids movie coming out in December starring Nicole Kidman. It's called The Golden Compass, and while it will be a watered down version, it is based on a series of children's books about killing God (It is the anti-Narnia). Please follow this link, and then pass it on. From what I understand, the hope is to get a lot of kids to see the movie - which won't seem too bad - and then get the parents to buy the books for their kids for Christmas. The quotes from the author sum it all up. I'm going to tell everyone about this movie. I hope it totally bombs because we were all paying attention! Please go to this link to learn more about why this movie is bad. The book series author, Phillip Pullman, is an avowed atheist, who has stated that "I don't profess any religion, I don't think that it is possible that there is a God. Pullman's books have a strong anti - religion and Anti- God theme. in an interview in 2003 he said "My books are about killing God" http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.aspI would say, having read the books, that it really didn't occur to me throughout the books that they were anti-religious, but then I'm not religious so I guess I just didn't pick up on it. The end of the last book where they kill God, I did not see coming, and I actually think it didn't fit in with the rest of the books, it seemingly came out of nowhere. As far as I am concerned, these books are great science fiction for children and I would have been more than happy to read them if they were around when I was a child. Something about the Narnia books always seemed so boring, I never could read them even when we were required to in class, but these His Dark Materials books are much more interesting. And anyway, I think it's a sad world that still needs religion to be moral. Why can't a Christian or Catholic entertain for even one moment that God could be the bad guy (science fiction..)? It's just a spin on the way things are, supposedly. It's fantasy, not religious doctrination. |
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Jesus is my pilot
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« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2007, 05:44:51 AM » |
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I haven't read the books but if they stay popular I probably will. If they are anti-Christian, as some say, then I probably won't let my young kids read them for a while.
2112, Christians are called to shephard their childrens hearts. Christopher Hitchens says Pullman's books "actively pursues an anti-Christian agenda". You can't see why some Christians might be concerned about this?
It will be interesting to see how this plays. The Davinci Code got a lot of people excited even though both the book and the movie were horrible, I don't think it's the same in this case.
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Follow me, and you will not walk in darkness. -Jesus Christ
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gkferris
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« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2007, 05:47:49 AM » |
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These are some of my favorite books of all time, I can't wait for the movie to come out, and I love that the uber-religious crowd is starting to make a stink about it, because it will just make the movie that much more popular and increase the chances of the other three books being filmed.
I don't think the books are anti-Christian, but they do have an anti-authoritarian church theme. They're fiction and I really think anyone with any amount of actual faith in Christianity can appreciate them as a work of fiction.
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2112
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« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2007, 06:03:04 AM » |
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2112, Christians are called to shephard their childrens hearts. Christopher Hitchens says Pullman's books "actively pursues an anti-Christian agenda". You can't see why some Christians might be concerned about this?
It will be interesting to see how this plays. The Davinci Code got a lot of people excited even though both the book and the movie were horrible, I don't think it's the same in this case. Well, as for the Da Vinci code, the movie could have been better, but I thought the book was great. The message was a very good one, even if the 'facts' were not accurate, that women and men should be equal in the eyes of god and that women should not be supressed. Even if these books persue an anti-Christian agenda, it's no reason to ban your children from reading them or seeing the movie. What you should do is talk to your children about people who don't believe in God and talk about why it's so great that you and your family do. You should also emphasize the fact that the book/movie is science fiction and not to be taken literally, but more as a what if.. type story. I had an almost friend in 7th grade, Angela. We got along great and I really didn't have any other friends at that school at the time, so it meant a lot to me to find someone I got along with. One day she said something about God and I said I didn't believe in God and from that moment she stopped talking to me, and if I was anywhere around her she would ask me to move or go away. I thought it was ridiculous that we couldn't be friends just because she believed in God and I didn't. What she should have had was as much tolerance for my disbelief as I had for her belief. That is what should be promoted here, tolerance and understanding and acceptance. We should have had other conversations about it. There was also a time when some members of a church asked me to stop attending because I wouldn't read the Bible. They said I was a wolf in the flock or some such crap. I can't believe so-called Christians cannot accept those who do not share their beliefs to the point that they just cut them off. "I cannot handle differing views, so I will completely ignore those who disagree and boycott anything that is 'anti-religious'." I think that is a flawed way to be. |
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Perrin
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« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2007, 06:06:55 AM » |
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I read the books and found them to be a bit . . . odd. I won't tell my kid he can't read them (which ensures that he will at some point), but I have to admit, I am very curious about the movie. The first 2 books of the trilogy were quite good, but the second one really seemed to take a bit of a twist I wasn't expecting. I think Christian parents would have an easier time reading the books with their kids and explaining it to them, then letting the read it on their own. Every book or movie that the Church has denounce or banned I have watch or read because it just make me more curious about what is in them. I know I don't like it when people tell me I can't read or watch something. And besides, if I listened to the Church, I never would have got to see Life of Brian (awesome movie) or Dogma (another good one). I am still a Catholic, so apparently those movies were not damning enough.  |
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A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.
In America, anyone can be president. That\\\'s one of the risks you take.
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Abraxas
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"You do not speak for the rest"
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« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2007, 06:12:52 AM » |
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Yeah, I heard this on FOXnews (surprise  ) and they were all saying it's basically a liberal conspiracy to get people to hate religion. They also said the penguin movie "Happy Feet" was a liberal conspiracy to get people to like gay people though, so their opinion on movies means little to me. Anyway, what I find ironic is NO ONE rails against Narnia for subtely peddling Christianity, but this movie comes out, and suddenly influencing children with movies is a bad idea? What's the deal? I mean seriously... it's this kind of crap that makes me an atheist. I know not all Christians think this way, but this BLATANT hypocricy just makes me want to puke. Every book or movie that the Church has denounce or banned I have watch or read because it just make me more curious about what is in them. I know I don't like it when people tell me I can't read or watch something. And besides, if I listened to the Church, I never would have got to see Life of Brian (awesome movie) or Dogma (another good one). I am still a Catholic, so apparently those movies were not damning enough. Excellent point! For the record, depending on how this goes, it may have to be moved to the "Philosophy and Religion" forum. Just throwin' it out there. |
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Either you repeat the same conventional doctrines everybody is saying, or else you say something true, and it will sound like its from Neptune.
- Noam Chomsky
... you can almost see the high water mark - that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.
- Hunter S. Thompson
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Perrin
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« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2007, 06:13:43 AM » |
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2112, Christians are called to shephard their childrens hearts. Christopher Hitchens says Pullman's books "actively pursues an anti-Christian agenda". You can't see why some Christians might be concerned about this?
It will be interesting to see how this plays. The Davinci Code got a lot of people excited even though both the book and the movie were horrible, I don't think it's the same in this case. Well, as for the Da Vinci code, the movie could have been better, but I thought the book was great. The message was a very good one, even if the 'facts' were not accurate, that women and men should be equal in the eyes of god and that women should not be supressed. Even if these books persue an anti-Christian agenda, it's no reason to ban your children from reading them or seeing the movie. What you should do is talk to your children about people who don't believe in God and talk about why it's so great that you and your family do. You should also emphasize the fact that the book/movie is science fiction and not to be taken literally, but more as a what if.. type story. I had an almost friend in 7th grade, Angela. We got along great and I really didn't have any other friends at that school at the time, so it meant a lot to me to find someone I got along with. One day she said something about God and I said I didn't believe in God and from that moment she stopped talking to me, and if I was anywhere around her she would ask me to move or go away. I thought it was ridiculous that we couldn't be friends just because she believed in God and I didn't. What she should have had was as much tolerance for my disbelief as I had for her belief. That is what should be promoted here, tolerance and understanding and acceptance. We should have had other conversations about it. There was also a time when some members of a church asked me to stop attending because I wouldn't read the Bible. They said I was a wolf in the flock or some such crap. I can't believe so-called Christians cannot accept those who do not share their beliefs to the point that they just cut them off. "I cannot handle differing views, so I will completely ignore those who disagree and boycott anything that is 'anti-religious'." I think that is a flawed way to be. As a Christian, I want to apologize for the actions of my brothers and sisters. This is one issue that makes me hate religion (but not faith or my beliefs). I am ashamed that a church would turn away anyone who was there to listen to the message. I know there are plenty of Christian that haven't read the entire bible. Plus, who are we to judge you for your beliefs. The main teaching of Christ is that of Love for each other. To turn someone away or to not socialize with them due to them having a different set of beliefs is not very loving. Even Jesus ate with the those who did not believe in God, he even sought them out. How strong can a persons faith be if they can not have a friend who is of a different religion or of no religion? |
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A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.
In America, anyone can be president. That\\\'s one of the risks you take.
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Perrin
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« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2007, 06:16:50 AM » |
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I haven't read the books but if they stay popular I probably will. If they are anti-Christian, as some say, then I probably won't let my young kids read them for a while.
2112, Christians are called to shephard their childrens hearts. Christopher Hitchens says Pullman's books "actively pursues an anti-Christian agenda". You can't see why some Christians might be concerned about this?
It will be interesting to see how this plays. The Davinci Code got a lot of people excited even though both the book and the movie were horrible, I don't think it's the same in this case.
I enjoyed the book the DeVinci Code, but had zero desire to watch the movie. I even read his other books, but found them to be the exact same theme each time and grew bored with them. I think the biggest thing people need to remember when reading any of these books is what section did they find the book in. Was it in SciFi/Fantasy or Fiction or References, etc. If it was in anything other than Non-Fiction/References, then please remember, they are just entertainment. Don't take them so seriously. |
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A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.
In America, anyone can be president. That\\\'s one of the risks you take.
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Perrin
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« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2007, 06:18:21 AM » |
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For the record, depending on how this goes, it may have to be moved to the "Philosophy and Religion" forum. Just throwin' it out there.
Or maybe into Books and Literature |
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A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.
In America, anyone can be president. That\\\'s one of the risks you take.
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Abraxas
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"You do not speak for the rest"
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« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2007, 06:22:38 AM » |
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Could go either way, I guess.
The longer it stays *out* of P&R (no offense to frequent visitors of P&R) the better chance there is of it turning into into a decent debate.
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Either you repeat the same conventional doctrines everybody is saying, or else you say something true, and it will sound like its from Neptune.
- Noam Chomsky
... you can almost see the high water mark - that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.
- Hunter S. Thompson
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2112
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« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2007, 06:34:11 AM » |
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I thought about P&R, but I also thought the email was politically motivated. There's no way they're going to kill God in this movie because it's based on the first book where I don't remember them saying anything about God period. So what you have is people who are taking the dissent over the books and causing a fuss over the upcoming movie, which no one has even seen yet.
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Gojira
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« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2007, 07:51:42 AM » |
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This is the same puritanic witch hunt that the fanatics did to Harry Potter. What complete rubbish.
Kids don't even know what God is at that time of age. The only concept they know of him is that he'll burn you in hell if you touch your wee wee.
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Our democracy has created an environment of indecision at times of impending crisis.
If life is easy for you, then you aint livin.
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OswaldTheOsprey
High Society
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« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2007, 10:20:40 AM » |
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2112, Christians are called to shephard their childrens hearts. Christopher Hitchens says Pullman's books "actively pursues an anti-Christian agenda". You can't see why some Christians might be concerned about this?
It will be interesting to see how this plays. The Davinci Code got a lot of people excited even though both the book and the movie were horrible, I don't think it's the same in this case. Well, as for the Da Vinci code, the movie could have been better, but I thought the book was great. The message was a very good one, even if the 'facts' were not accurate, that women and men should be equal in the eyes of god and that women should not be supressed. Even if these books persue an anti-Christian agenda, it's no reason to ban your children from reading them or seeing the movie. What you should do is talk to your children about people who don't believe in God and talk about why it's so great that you and your family do. You should also emphasize the fact that the book/movie is science fiction and not to be taken literally, but more as a what if.. type story. I had an almost friend in 7th grade, Angela. We got along great and I really didn't have any other friends at that school at the time, so it meant a lot to me to find someone I got along with. One day she said something about God and I said I didn't believe in God and from that moment she stopped talking to me, and if I was anywhere around her she would ask me to move or go away. I thought it was ridiculous that we couldn't be friends just because she believed in God and I didn't. What she should have had was as much tolerance for my disbelief as I had for her belief. That is what should be promoted here, tolerance and understanding and acceptance. We should have had other conversations about it. There was also a time when some members of a church asked me to stop attending because I wouldn't read the Bible. They said I was a wolf in the flock or some such crap. I can't believe so-called Christians cannot accept those who do not share their beliefs to the point that they just cut them off. "I cannot handle differing views, so I will completely ignore those who disagree and boycott anything that is 'anti-religious'." I think that is a flawed way to be. As a Christian, I want to apologize for the actions of my brothers and sisters. This is one issue that makes me hate religion (but not faith or my beliefs). I am ashamed that a church would turn away anyone who was there to listen to the message. I know there are plenty of Christian that haven't read the entire bible. Plus, who are we to judge you for your beliefs. The main teaching of Christ is that of Love for each other. To turn someone away or to not socialize with them due to them having a different set of beliefs is not very loving. Even Jesus ate with the those who did not believe in God, he even sought them out. How strong can a persons faith be if they can not have a friend who is of a different religion or of no religion? As a believer in Christ myself (Presbyterian), I applaud what you have posted Perrin. Religion's greatest problems come not from atheists and agnostics but from extremist nuts in their own ranks. OswaldTheOsprey |
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Urbi et Orbi
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Jesus is my pilot
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« Reply #13 on: October 31, 2007, 10:37:47 AM » |
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2112, thanks for the input. I never said I wouldn't let my kids read the book or see the movie and I never said I don't let them hang with people who don't believe in God. I'm sure you can understand there is a time and place for many things... or do you show your children porn to make sure they are exposed to all aspects of life?
I'm not as apologetic as others for your bad experience with religion. I'm sure there are plenty of religious people who have done many nice things to and for you. You dishonor their efforts by choosing to cling to a few things... real or imagined. I'd love to know the whole story behind the church that supposedly told you not to come anymore but that's neither here nor there. Thankfully I don't judge atheists because of the few on this board.
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Follow me, and you will not walk in darkness. -Jesus Christ
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-And Justice For All-
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« Reply #14 on: October 31, 2007, 11:39:43 AM » |
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The whole ordeal about books and movies like the "Da Vinchi Code", "Harry Potter", and now the "Golden Compass", is ridiculous. First off they are all works of fiction and in no way attack Christianity. They are just story and entertainment and all in good fun. Plus I'd rather have my kid reading a book or watching a movie, then breaking windows or doing crack. It's hard to believe that in this day in age that people still think that a simple thing as a book, movie, or videogame is going to turn their kids to Satan. That's like something the Puritans would think.
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« Last Edit: October 31, 2007, 11:41:51 AM by -And Justice For All- »
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