Golden Compass update

Baptist Press - 'Golden Compass' disappoints at box office - News with a Christian Perspective

I never intended any of my previous posts about Golden Compass to be a call for boycott, only a warning to Christians to make an informed choice, especially with regard to allowing their children to see the movie. A boycott focuses on influencing the behavior of the movie studios and theaters by negatively impacting their revenues. My focus is on protecting the hearts, minds and souls of believers. That being said, it appears the warnings by email and the blogosphere may have had some impact. The Baptist Press article referenced above compares the opening weeks of Golden Compass with those of Narnia.

Although the movie may not have lived up to the pro-Christian Narnia, it seems to me that it has still done well financially, and will certainly turn a nice profit. It is not in the black yet, but it's been out less than two full weeks. It seems to me that is somewhat premature to be hanging a "Mission Accomplished" sign on the wall just yet.

Al Mohler on The Golden Compass

Dr. Albert Mohler is the current president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a former editor of the Georgia Baptist newspaper, The Christian Index.

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Christian Index reviews "Golden Compass"

In my last post I gave a link to a Baptist Press article on the upcoming movie, The Golden Compass. I have since discovered a copy of this book in my home. It seems my son, who is away in Arizona in the army, owns a copy. My daughter also told us she has read it and that it was a "great book." It was given to her to read by a seventh grade English teacher. Having not read it myself, I can't say whether:

1. the teacher had not read the book and was therefore unaware of it's anti-Christian message,
   
2. she had read it, but the message was so subtle she didn't catch it, or
   
3. she had read it and agreed with the message, and therefore sought to pass it on to the kids.

The most recent edition of The Christian Index (the official newspaper of the Georgia Baptist Convention) has a review of the book and movie that may give you more information. I also found reading the author's own words on his web site very informative. In his FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) Pullman says:

His Dark Materials seems to be against organised religion. Do you believe in God?

I don't know whether there's a God or not. Nobody does, no matter what they say. I think it's perfectly possible to explain how the universe came about without bringing God into it, but I don't know everything, and there may well be a God somewhere, hiding away.

Actually, if he is keeping out of sight, it's because he's ashamed of his followers and all the cruelty and ignorance they're responsible for promoting in his name. If I were him, I'd want nothing to do with them.

For further reading...

Golden Compass Warning
www.FamilyLifeCenter.net Why Golden Compass is Anti-Catholic CD Helps Parents & All Christians

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

And in the Interest of Fairness....
Pullman not promoting atheism in ‘Golden Compass’

"Golden Compass" movie opening to controversy

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.