Baptist Press - 'Golden Compass' movie opening to controversy - News with a Christian Perspective
The Christian Crushing Movie - Brent Bozell III
Last year C. S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe was a big hit at the movie theater with Christians and non-Christians alike. Seeking to capitalize on the popularity of the fantasy genre, New Line Cinema is releasing The Golden Compass this Christmas season. But beware, this isn't your Father's Narnia! This movie is based on the first of three books by author Philip Pullman. The Baptist Press article says Pullman has a strong distaste for Christianity. It quotes him directly as saying his books are about killing God.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia series written by C. S. Lewis. This Baptist Press article says that Pullman has expressed disdain for Lewis' Narnia, calling it "propaganda in the service of a life-hating ideology."
Beware of this movie, which has been toned down to pave the way for more explicit movies based on the latter two books in his series. But don't let your vigilance stop at the box office. The Golden Compass is the first book in Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy, which are being marketed in public schools through Scholastic Book clubs. Christian parents will want to keep these books out of the hands of their children.
If your children liked The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe then turn them on to the rest of the books in the Narnia series. They'll make great bedtime reading, and lay a great groundwork for sharing the gospel with your children.
Friday, November 16, 2007
"Golden Compass" movie opening to controversy
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Golden Compass,
Narnia
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3 comments:
Hey Everyone,
As you talk about this movie, understand that seekers
and skepticts are listening. How we approach a
subject like this could mean the difference between
their listening or just writing it off as another of
the "Radical Right Wing Christian" groups wanting to
ban books and literature. Let the Holy Spirit guide
your discussions and speak out of love. I am
currently talking with a guy at work who began seeking
after reading "The Divinci Code." He has gotten
interested in church history and the truth. He has
become more open to learning the truth than he was
before. God can and will use anything to draw people
to Himself.
James
Thank you so much James. I was bothered ever since things about this movie started coming out, I believe I first heard about it from a email like this.
My first reaction was that of disappointment and anger. In thinking about it and realizing this may be an opportunity to share, God used your email to seal it for me. How many times in the past has there been something that goes against all we know and believe and it opened the door to share His truth? (but I was too busy fusing about it to see what God was doing and what I should do.)
God can and will use anything to bring the lost to Him. We never have to approach any subject with defense or argument, we have to approach it with the backdrop of the cross right behind us. God will give us all we need to show and share Him.
.....oh and remember unfortunately about half the people who read the email will go to see this movie out of curiosity, pray that God will guard their hearts. I'm not saying we don't need to allert people about the movie, we do, but we also need to help them understand what our reaction should be.
Our energy will best be served by praying for the man responsible for this, Phillip Pullman a staunch atheist belonging to the secular humanist societies. Reading about him made me very sad, what happened in his life that he carries so much hate? Changing his heart is something only God can do. Lets all commit to praying for him.
In His Love!
Lynn
I don't think that Christians should be publicly bad mouthing the movie. I guess maybe by blogging about it here you could argue that I've done that. I guess I just don't think there are enough people, especially non-Christians, reading here to really make much of a difference. I write here mainly as a way to share my thoughts with my congregation.
If we start calling for national boycotts, etc., then we will be branded and ignored just as James said. I don't even think it is awful if mature well grounded Christians see this movie in order that they can have a dialogue with non-believers about it.
But I'd caution any Christian thinking of watching this movie to be honest with themselves about their motives. How often do you engage non-believers is spiritual discussions now? If not very often, it's doubtful that you are going to do so as a result of seeing this movie.
My main reason for writing about the movie is that it is targeted toward children in the spirit of last year's The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I can't see any justification for a Christian parent allowing a child to read Pullman's books or view a movie based on them.
Mike
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