The Golden Compass

[goldandblue]

I'm not sure if any of you here are aware of the message the new movie "The Golden Compass" carries.

This information is from a site called Snopes.com that tells whether Rumors are true or false. Although not always 100% correct this is something for those who are thinking about taking their children to see this movie to think about.

The Golden Compass

Claim: The 2007 film The Golden Compass is based on a series of books with anti-religious themes.

Status: True.

Examples:

[Collected via e-mail, October 2007]

There will be a new Children's movie out in December called THE GOLDEN COMPASS. It is written by Phillip Pullman, a proud athiest who belongs to secular humanist societies. He hates C. S. Lewis's Chronical's of Narnia and has written a trilogy to show the other side. The movie has been dumbed down to fool kids and their parents in the hope that they will buy his trilogy where in the end the children kill God and everyone can do as they please. Nicole Kidman stars in the movie so it will probably be advertised a lot. This is just a friendly warning that you sure won't hear on the regular TV.


[Collected via e-mail, October 2007]

I don't just generally dismiss a movie or book just because someone 'says' it's meant to be something else...but this is worth knowing if you plan to see it (or plan to take your kids).

"Hi! I just wanted to inform you what I just learned about a movie that is coming out December 7, during the Christmas season, which is entitled THE GOLDEN COMPASS. It stars Nicole Kidman and it is directed toward children. What is disturbing to me is that this movie is based on the first of a trilogy of books for children called HIS DARK MATERIALS written by Philip Pullman of England.

He's an atheist and his objective is to bash Christianity and promote atheism. I heard that he has made remarks that he wants to kill God in the minds of children, and that's what his books are all about. He despises C.S. Lewis and Narnia, etc. An article written about him said "this is the most dangerous author in Britain" and that Pullman would be the writer "the atheists would be praying for, if atheists prayed." Pullman said he doesn't think it is possible that there is a God and he has great difficulty understanding the words "spiritual" and "spirituality." What I thought was important to communicate is what part of the agenda is for making this picture. This movie is a watered down version of the first book, which is the least offensive of the three books. The second book of the trilogy is THE SUBTLE KNIFE and the third book is THE AMBER SPYGLASS. Each book gets worse and worse regarding Pullman's hatred of God. In the trilogy, a young girl becomes enmeshed in an epic struggle against a nefarious Church known as the Magisterium. Another character, an ex-nun, describes Christianity as "a very powerful and convincing mistake." As I understand it, in the last book, a boy and girl are depicted representing Adam and Eve and they kill God, who at times is called YAHWEH (which is definitely not Allah). Since the movie would seem mild if you viewed it, that's been done on purpose.

They are hoping that unsuspecting parents will take their children to See the movie, that they will enjoy the movie and then the children will want the books for Christmas. That's the hook. Pullman says he wants the children to read the books and decide against God and the kingdom of heaven.

If you decide that you do not want to support something like this, I suggest that you boycott the movie and the books. I googled a synopsis of THE GOLDEN COMPASS. As I skimmed it, I couldn't believe that in a children's book part of the story is about castration and female circumcision.

Origins: The Golden Compass, a fantasy film starring Nicole Kidman that is scheduled to be released into theaters on 7 December 2007, has been drawing fire from concerned Christians. The film is based on Northern Lights (released in the U.S. as The Golden Compass), the first offering in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy of children's books, a series that follows the adventures of a streetwise girl who travels
through multiple worlds populated by witches, armor-plated bears, and sinister ecclesiastical assassins to defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God.

Books of the trilogy have sold more than 15 million copies around the world, with Northern Lights winning the Carnegie Medal for Children's Literature in 1995 and in 2007 being awarded the 'Carnegie of Carnegies' for the best children's book of the past 70 years. The Amber Spyglass, the final book of the series, won The Whitbread Prize in 2001, making it the first children's book to do so.

The series' author, Philip Pullman, has averred that "I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God; I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words 'spiritual' or 'spirituality.'" Critics of Pullman's books point to the strong anti-religion and anti-God themes they incorporate, and although literary works are subject to a variety of interpretations, Pullman left little doubt about his intentions when he said in a 2003 interview that "My books are about killing God" and in a 2001 interview that he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief." (In 2002 conservative British columnist Peter Hitchens labeled Pullman "The Most Dangerous Author in Britain" and described him as the writer "the atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed.")

Bill Donohue, president of The Catholic League, has condemned The Golden Compass as a "pernicious" effort to indoctrinate children into anti-Christian beliefs and has produced a 23-page pamphlet titled The Golden Compass: Unmasked in which he maintains that Pullman "sells atheism for kids." Donohoe told interviewer John Gibson on 9 October 2007 why he believes Christians should stay away from the film:
Look, the movie is based on the least offensive of the three books. And they have dumbed down the worst elements in the movie because they don't want to make Christians angry and they want to make money. Our concern is this, unsuspecting Christian parents may want to take their kid to the movie, it opens up December 7th and say, this wasn't troubling, then we'll buy the books. So the movie is the bait for the books which are profoundly anti-Catholic and at the same time selling atheism.
Other reviewers, however, have described Pullman's works as being more generally anti-religion rather than specifically anti-Christian or anti-Catholic:
In "His Dark Materials," Pullman's criticisms of organized religion come across as anti-authoritarian and anti-ascetic rather than anti-doctrinal. (Jesus isn't mentioned in any of the books, although Pullman has hinted that He might figure in a forthcoming sequel, "The Book of Dust.") His fundamental objection is to ideological tyranny and the rejection of this world in favor of an idealized afterlife, regardless of creed. As one of the novel's pagan characters puts it, "Every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling."
Last updated: 23 October 2007

The URL for this page is Urban Legends Reference Pages: The Golden Compass

Urban Legends Reference Pages © 1995-2007
by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson
This material may not be reproduced without permission.
Sources Sources:

Gibson, John. "The Big Story with John Gibson."
Fox News Network. 9 October 2007.

Hitchens, Peter. "This Is the Most Dangerous Author in Britain."
Mail on Sunday. 27 January 2002 (p. 63).

Hoyle, Ben. "Pullman Writes a Book That Will Shed Light on Darkness of His Beliefs."
The [London] Times. 1 August 2007 (p. 9).

Meacham, Steve. "The Shed Where God Died."
The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 December 2003.

Miller, Laura. "Far from Narnia."
The New Yorker. 26 December 2005.

Pauli, Michelle. "Pullman Wins 'Carnegie of Carnegies.'"
The Guardian. 21 June 2007.

Wartofsky, Alona. "Philip Pullman's Trilogy for Young Adults Ends with God's Death, and Remarkably Few Critics."
The Washington Post. 19 February 2001.

Sunday Mirror. "Kidman Movie Is 'Atheist.'"
21 October 2007 (p. 24).

 

[GoshenGipper]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll try to pass on the info.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

I certainly won't be taking my kids to see it. Unfortunately, I am hoping that the movie does well, as it impacts my livelihood. Kind of like Davinci Code. Won't see it, glad many did.

 

[kjones]

The previews make it look like a good movie too, and it might be worth taking your kids to so you could talk about how that viewpoint is wrong (if you believe it's wrong). I'm not sure insulating your kids from other viewpoints is smart. It's better for them to know about them and know why they are incorrect than to just hide them from them. I guess it depends on how old your kids are as well. But it would be wise to go with them, and to make sure you talk about any anti-God themes. They will hear them one way or another, it's better that they hear about what YOU believe at the same time.

 

[Fishin'_Irish]

This is from an interview done with Pullman on the second of November.

Pullman not promoting atheism in ‘Golden Compass’ - Al's Book Club - MSNBC.com

How do you respond to the claim that your books are anti-Catholic and promote atheism? Lyndsay Petersen, Parkersburg, Iowa

Hello, Lyndsay: In the world of the story — Lyra’s world — there is a church that has acquired great political power, rather in the way that some religions in our world have done at various times, and still do (think of the Taliban in Afghanistan). My point is that religion is at its best — it does most good — when it is farthest away from political power, and that when it gets hold of the power to (for example) send armies to war or to condemn people to death, or to rule every aspect of our lives, it rapidly goes bad. Sometimes people think that if something is done in the name of faith or religion, it must be good. Unfortunately, that isn’t true; some things done in the name of religion are very bad. That was what I was trying to describe in my story.

I think the qualities that the books celebrate are those such as kindness, love, courage and courtesy too. And intellectual curiosity. All these good things. And the qualities that the books attack are cold-heartedness, tyranny, close-mindedness, cruelty, the things that we all agree are bad things.

Is there an underlying message for atheism in your book or did you simply want to write a fantasy story, like Tolkien? Kim Mapstead, Friday Harbor, Wash.

Hello, Kim: What I was mainly doing, I hope, was telling a story, but not a story like Tolkien’s. (To be honest I don’t much care for “The Lord of the Rings.”) As for the atheism, it doesn’t matter to me whether people believe in God or not, so I’m not promoting anything of that sort. What I do care about is whether people are cruel or whether they’re kind, whether they act for democracy or for tyranny, whether they believe in open-minded enquiry or in shutting the freedom of thought and expression. Good things have been done in the name of religion, and so have bad things; and both good things and bad things have been done with no religion at all. What I care about is the good, wherever it comes from.

I think it's important that both sides of the story are told, and that's what I'm doing. I am NOT trying to fuel any kind of Christianity vs. Atheism debate in any way, shape, or form, so please don't take it as such.

Pullman has also stated that the kids aren't killing God as most would think it. Rather, they are killing the God for which bad things (killings, suicide bombings, terrorism, wars) are done.

The Chronicles of Narnia have as many Christian metaphors as anything I've ever read; the whole thing is a Christian analogy. Is this not promoting Christianity? From an Atheist's perspective, the books are promoting beliefs that he/she does not hold. Pullman's articles are similar to this for Christians. I think it's also important to remember that Atheists aren't always bad or morally corrupt people, and Christians aren't always morally and ethically sound. In no way does Atheism itself promote evil, crime, loose morals, etc.

 

[GoshenGipper]

The previews make it look like a good movie too, and it might be worth taking your kids to so you could talk about how that viewpoint is wrong (if you believe it's wrong). I'm not sure insulating your kids from other viewpoints is smart. It's better for them to know about them and know why they are incorrect than to just hide them from them. I guess it depends on how old your kids are as well. But it would be wise to go with them, and to make sure you talk about any anti-God themes. They will hear them one way or another, it's better that they hear about what YOU believe at the same time.

That's what I'll do with my niece and nephew. Completely shielding kids from life makes them immature and they often lack self control or learn moderation if you do so. Not that I think it's a good idea to go watch it and fill their minds with it but they should understand it and know why the parent feels the way they do if they are old enough to comprehend it.

 

[notredomer23]

IF I go Ill just boo the whole movie. This country has put up with to much shit from the athiests. First Taking God out of schools. Now they want to take the ten commandments out of Washington. Now this. Even if it is a metaphor like the chronicles of narnia, it still has a more powerful message.

 

[johnnd05]

I read a long essay about the movie the other day ... basically there's no doubt that the books themselves are thoroughly atheistic, anti-religious, anti-Catholic, etc., but they've taken them and given them the same "Hollywood" treatment they gave to Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, etc.: i.e., they've turned it into a cheesy, spiritualistic movie about how good triumphs over evil, innocence can save the world, etc. It's hard to imagine the movie being the kind of thing that affords a nice philosophical discussion with your kids, but at the end of the day the anti-religiosity in the film is so bland that there's probably no harm in watching it ... unless it leads to wanting all the books for Christmas, etc. etc. Because the books are REALLY anti-religious ...

 

[WalshND]

It's sad that it's so in vogue to bash christianity in this country.

 

[goldandblue]

Have fun in Hell Pullman, I'm not spending my money to further empower an anti-christian to be able to do more works in the name of athiesm.

 

[NDChatt]

I have read all three books and while I respect the author for his work ( the books are really well written), I greatly disagree with his message. His books are not a promotion of his beliefs but a direct attack on Christianty and more importantly, to me, the Catholic Church. I truely believe that an author should be able to write about anything they wish if it is intended for adults. However, Mr. Pullman's books are directed at children. Unfortunatley we are in an age where parents are taking less responsibility in raising their children. This allows for many of our youth to be lost and confused about the world. Parents and Christians need to take a stand for the children an ensure that the meesage of the books or movie will be correctly explained.

I am now stepping off my soapbox.

 

[WalshND]

I have read all three books and while I respect the author for his work ( the books are really well written), I greatly disagree with his message. His books are not a promotion of his beliefs but a direct attack on Christianty and more importantly, to me, the Catholic Church. I truely believe that an author should be able to write about anything they wish if it is intended for adults. However, Mr. Pullman's books are directed at children. Unfortunatley we are in an age where parents are taking less responsibility in raising their children. This allows for many of our youth to be lost and confused about the world. Parents and Christians need to take a stand for the children an ensure that the meesage of the books or movie will be correctly explained.

I am now stepping off my soapbox.

Great post! Reps for you sir.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

IF I go Ill just boo the whole movie. This country has put up with to much shit from the athiests. First Taking God out of schools. Now they want to take the ten commandments out of Washington.

Ummm...you mean people are trying to put things in school that were not supposed to be there in the first place.

Atheists tried to protect the Pledge of Allegiance, but it was corrupted by placing "Under God" in the 50's.

Allowing teachers to lead prayer creates outcasts among those who do not pray. Students Praying on their own has ALWAYS been allowed and has not been challenged.

The Ten Commandments have NEVER been part of Washington. The whole statement of the Ten Commandments benig fundamental to US Law is bogus anyway... Here are the Ten Commandments:
Ten Commandments - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

3 are in law:
Thou Shalt Not Kill
Thou Shalt Not Steal
Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor

7 are not and should not:
Thou shalt have no other gods before me
Thou shalt not make for thyself an idol
Thou shalt not make wrongful use of the name of thy God
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
Honor thy Father and Mother
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife

Unless you think it's a good idea to throw people in jail for coveting nice houses and hot women...

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

This is from an interview done with Pullman on the second of November.

Pullman not promoting atheism in ‘Golden Compass’ - Al's Book Club - MSNBC.com

I think it's important that both sides of the story are told, and that's what I'm doing. I am NOT trying to fuel any kind of Christianity vs. Atheism debate in any way, shape, or form, so please don't take it as such.

Pullman has also stated that the kids aren't killing God as most would think it. Rather, they are killing the God for which bad things (killings, suicide bombings, terrorism, wars) are done.

The Chronicles of Narnia have as many Christian metaphors as anything I've ever read; the whole thing is a Christian analogy. Is this not promoting Christianity? From an Atheist's perspective, the books are promoting beliefs that he/she does not hold. Pullman's articles are similar to this for Christians. I think it's also important to remember that Atheists aren't always bad or morally corrupt people, and Christians aren't always morally and ethically sound. In no way does Atheism itself promote evil, crime, loose morals, etc.

Good post...although it will be lost. People will believe what they WANT to believe. They don't really care what the author believes or why he/she wrote something. People need a boogeyman to fight and this movie is the latest one.

Thanks for the post though...too bad people won't care.

 

[Fishin'_Irish]

Ummm...you mean people are trying to put things in school that were not supposed to be there in the first place.

Atheists tried to protect the Pledge of Allegiance, but it was corrupted by placing "Under God" in the 50's.

Allowing teachers to lead prayer creates outcasts among those who do not pray. Students Praying on their own has ALWAYS been allowed and has not been challenged.

The Ten Commandments have NEVER been part of Washington. The whole statement of the Ten Commandments benig fundamental to US Law is bogus anyway... Here are the Ten Commandments:
Ten Commandments - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

3 are in law:
Thou Shalt Not Kill
Thou Shalt Not Steal
Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor

7 are not and should not:
Thou shalt have no other gods before me
Thou shalt not make for thyself an idol
Thou shalt not make wrongful use of the name of thy God
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
Honor thy Father and Mother
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife

Unless you think it's a good idea to throw people in jail for coveting nice houses and hot women...

Good post, you echoed my thoughts there.

 

[NDChatt]

Good post...although it will be lost. People will believe what they WANT to believe. They don't really care what the author believes or why he/she wrote something. People need a boogeyman to fight and this movie is the latest one.

Thanks for the post though...too bad people won't care.

I have read all three of his books and will read the fourth when published, that being said he is not promoting his beliefs he is attacking Christianity and the power and influence Christianity has and has had in the past. He poses questions in his books that can be very confusing to his target age. I want to clarify that I am not attack Mr. Pullman by any means, other than disagreeing with his message, I really enjoyed his writing style. My concern is the age group he is targeting with his books.

 

[Folsteam_Ahead]

give children some credit. they're more intelligent than you think. in addition, keep in mind that religion (or lack there of) is a personal choice. i obviously dont know the details about pullman's agenda, but if he's representing atheism by being anti-religion then fine. if it's directly attacking religion then that would be an issue. you can't blind children by only giving them information on life from a single perspective. he's not a monster just for having his beliefs and expressing them in literary form. if you take the position that the book is attacking religion simply bc it isnt in line with christianity, then who's to say the bible isnt attacking everyone who isnt christian. maybe i'm too liberal on these matters, but dont think banning this kind of media from your childs life will make them better catholics. they'll be better catholics if they digest this material and still hold their faith anyways. open dialogue people...you have to see the other side to actually be making a choice. it's a movie. big whoop. it's just a book series. not a brainwashing tool. if a book like this brainwashes someone then too many people failed them in life by not allowing them to understand their current beliefs and why they have them. wouldnt that mean they were brainwashed in the first place before encountering something new like this? just a thought. feel free to discuss, but dont attack me or what i've mentioned here. its only fuel to get people seeing more than one side.

 

[WalshND]

Lot's of interesting posts, and great discussion. I'm just wondering, how many practicing catholics we have here? Or, just football fans.

 

[NDChatt]

give children some credit. they're more intelligent than you think. in addition, keep in mind that religion (or lack there of) is a personal choice. i obviously dont know the details about pullman's agenda, but if he's representing atheism by being anti-religion then fine. if it's directly attacking religion then that would be an issue. you can't blind children by only giving them information on life from a single perspective. he's not a monster just for having his beliefs and expressing them in literary form. if you take the position that the book is attacking religion simply bc it isnt in line with christianity, then who's to say the bible isnt attacking everyone who isnt christian. maybe i'm too liberal on these matters, but dont think banning this kind of media from your childs life will make them better catholics. they'll be better catholics if they digest this material and still hold their faith anyways. open dialogue people...you have to see the other side to actually be making a choice. it's a movie. big whoop. it's just a book series. not a brainwashing tool. if a book like this brainwashes someone then too many people failed them in life by not allowing them to understand their current beliefs and why they have them. wouldnt that mean they were brainwashed in the first place before encountering something new like this? just a thought. feel free to discuss, but dont attack me or what i've mentioned here. its only fuel to get people seeing more than one side.

I am not attacking you by any means but did you full read my post? I said that parents should disscuss the books with their children not blind them from the books. I also said I disagree with his message but fully appreciated his books for the works of fiction they are and said he should be able to write what he wants. The book attacks Chrisitanity and other religions. As for brianwashing, no one said the book would brainwash anyone. I said it could very well confuse the target audience, which it could.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Good post, you echoed my thoughts there.

Thanks...coming from a Protestant background I am naturally a bit more distrustful of authority figure types. I am by no means an Atheist...but the whole "Atheists are trying to destroy America" boogeyman gets old...it's so fundamentally off-base it's not even funny.

 

[GoIrish41]

Most of those who posted negatively about this trilogy/movie have not read the books or watched the movie. Someone told them what it was about and they immediately began to pile on. That strikes me as an oddly un-Christian thing to do. The quotes from the author above tell us what the book is about, but others said the message is anti-Catholic or athiestic and it caused some to defend the honor of Christianity. Are you really that insecure in what you believe that someone else can't present an alternative viewpoint?

 

[NDChatt]

Most of those who posted negatively about this trilogy/movie have not read the books or watched the movie. Someone told them what it was about and they immediately began to pile on. That strikes me as an oddly un-Christian thing to do. The quotes from the author above tell us what the book is about, but others said the message is anti-Catholic or athiestic and it caused some to defend the honor of Christianity. Are you really that insecure in what you believe that someone else can't present an alternative viewpoint?

I don't know if your post is directed to me or not, but my whole argument has been his target audience and the responsibility of the parents. As I have said before he can write whatever he wants, I believe anyone can write whatever they want. I do not and will not ever agree with his beliefs. As for his quotes in the article above, I would like to see the entire transcript of the interview. Quotes can be manipulated to fit any circumstance. My opinion is based on reading the three books ( and as I said earlier I will read the fourth) and hearing him lecture on the role of religion in childrens ltterature at UNC. I am not attacking his book or insecure in my beliefs, I am stating my opinion formed from reading his works and attending his lecture. I think I am well enough educated on this subject to state my opinion.

 

[Folsteam_Ahead]

I am not attacking you by any means but did you full read my post? I said that parents should disscuss the books with their children not blind them from the books. I also said I disagree with his message but fully appreciated his books for the works of fiction they are and said he should be able to write what he wants. The book attacks Chrisitanity and other religions. As for brianwashing, no one said the book would brainwash anyone. I said it could very well confuse the target audience, which it could.

don't worry. i wasnt addressing anything you said specifically. my points were made more on generalities. i think you're right about confusion, i wasnt attaching brainwashing to that. i liked your post. target group does play a huge role here. i was just throwing it out there to let us stop and realize some kids actually are brainwashed by their parents.

as someone previously posted, parents should be more involved in helping their kids process what their bombarded with in our culture. its a really nice compliment to your post.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Most of those who posted negatively about this trilogy/movie have not read the books or watched the movie. Someone told them what it was about and they immediately began to pile on. That strikes me as an oddly un-Christian thing to do. The quotes from the author above tell us what the book is about, but others said the message is anti-Catholic or athiestic and it caused some to defend the honor of Christianity. Are you really that insecure in what you believe that someone else can't present an alternative viewpoint?

The pile-on is the easiest way to go.

 

[GoIrish41]

I don't know if your post is directed to me or not, but my whole argument has been his target audience and the responsibility of the parents. As I have said before he can write whatever he wants, I believe anyone can write whatever they want. I do not and will not ever agree with his beliefs. As for his quotes in the article above, I would like to see the entire transcript of the interview. Quotes can be manipulated to fit any circumstance. My opinion is based on reading the three books ( and as I said earlier I will read the fourth) and hearing him lecture on the role of religion in childrens ltterature at UNC. I am not attacking his book or insecure in my beliefs, I am stating my opinion formed from reading his works and attending his lecture. I think I am well enough educated on this subject to state my opinion.

my comments were not directed at you or anyone specifically NDChatt. Indeed, you were the only person who posted who said they had read the books. The comments were sort of directed at the general tone of this thread, where one person makes a statement and everyone piles on without having any knowledge other that what they were told. I have no wish to get into a religious debate, but a couple of the posts were correct, in my view, to dismiss the notion that someone who believes in anything other than Christianity is what is wrong with the world. I think the author's quotes are important because they speak to that very thing. I believe I was speaking to the irony that tolerance is a basic Christian concept. That is the only point I was trying to make.

 

[NDChatt]

my comments were not directed at you or anyone specifically NDChatt. Indeed, you were the only person who posted who said they had read the books. The comments were sort of directed at the general tone of this thread, where one person makes a statement and everyone piles on without having any knowledge other that what they were told. I have no wish to get into a religious debate, but a couple of the posts were correct, in my view, to dismiss the notion that someone who believes in anything other than Christianity is what is wrong with the world. I think the author's quotes are important because they speak to that very thing. I believe I was speaking to the irony that tolerance is a basic Christian concept. That is the only point I was trying to make.

O.K. I really wasn't trying to debate religion. I agree with you about the pile-on that occured. What I drew from the book and his lecture greatly contradicts his quotes listed above that is why I would like to see the whole interview.

 

[NDChatt]

don't worry. i wasnt addressing anything you said specifically. my points were made more on generalities. i think you're right about confusion, i wasnt attaching brainwashing to that. i liked your post. target group does play a huge role here. i was just throwing it out there to let us stop and realize some kids actually are brainwashed by their parents.

as someone previously posted, parents should be more involved in helping their kids process what their bombarded with in our culture. its a really nice compliment to your post.

I know religion can be a touchy subject and the last thing I want to do is offend anyone. I wanted to make sure everyone knew that my post were not attcking in nature. There were a lot of good post on this thread.

 

[SouthernIrish]

I read the first book of this series years ago. They did not make me question my fundamental spirituality. They also didn't make me believe in talking warrior bears.

I really would not be too concerned with kids reading these books for a simple reason. These books are not kid lit. This is adult fantasy genre written ABOUT kids. It will take a serious reader to plow through these. Nothing at all like the writing style of Harry Potter or even Chronicles of Narnia. I am sure the movie fluffs up the worst parts. Even if the movie leads a child to want the rest of the books by the time he would be able to actually read and comprehend the book, he would be of age to handle it.

I have served on our county's book review committee so this is a hot button topic for me, was a member when Harry Potter first came out. Our county right now has had to go to court right up through the State Supreme court over the Potter books. A mother that is pursuing this has also admitted that she has never read ANY of the HP books. Just "knows" that it is against her religious beliefs, will confuse children and turn them against their Christianity. She wants them banned from everyone because they go against her beliefs.

That is a slippery slope. We also had a primary book brought up about a working mother. Only the working mother was a witch. It was a cute book, her briefcase had frog legs sticking out of it etc. The mother said that it promoted witchcraft, which is a religion and separation of religion and state yada yada. The thing she doesn't get is that the book shelves are filled with Christmas and Easter books. Ban that witch book opens the door to someone yanking Rudolph off the shelves.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

I read the first book of this series years ago. They did not make me question my fundamental spirituality. They also didn't make me believe in talking warrior bears.

I little Acid would do that...but I doubt a book would.

 

[NDChatt]

I read the first book of this series years ago. They did not make me question my fundamental spirituality. They also didn't make me believe in talking warrior bears.

I really would not be too concerned with kids reading these books for a simple reason. These books are not kid lit. This is adult fantasy genre written ABOUT kids. It will take a serious reader to plow through these. Nothing at all like the writing style of Harry Potter or even Chronicles of Narnia. I am sure the movie fluffs up the worst parts. Even if the movie leads a child to want the rest of the books by the time he would be able to actually read and comprehend the book, he would be of age to handle it.

I have served on our county's book review committee so this is a hot button topic for me, was a member when Harry Potter first came out. Our county right now has had to go to court right up through the State Supreme court over the Potter books. A mother that is pursuing this has also admitted that she has never read ANY of the HP books. Just "knows" that it is against her religious beliefs, will confuse children and turn them against their Christianity. She wants them banned from everyone because they go against her beliefs.

That is a slippery slope. We also had a primary book brought up about a working mother. Only the working mother was a witch. It was a cute book, her briefcase had frog legs sticking out of it etc. The mother said that it promoted witchcraft, which is a religion and separation of religion and state yada yada. The thing she doesn't get is that the book shelves are filled with Christmas and Easter books. Ban that witch book opens the door to someone yanking Rudolph off the shelves.

The books are targeting kids/teens and by no means do I think they should be banned. If a kid/teen wants to read the books,and this is just my opinion, the parents should be responsible for explain sections that will cause them confusion. I get the feeling that I am not conveying my thoughts one the series accurately. I don't agree with the message of the books but also think he has the right to pen any book he wishes.