It’s been quite a time since I last posted an article of my own in this blog mainly due to the tons of stuff that I have to do at work and my other obligations. The reason why I decided to write this amidst my workload is that it’s just plain wrong. Today, I’ve received an email - actually the second of this kind - from a friend who is a Christian warning against watching the movie “The Golden Compass“. Here’s the letter itself.
For anyone with kids, grandkids other relatives or friends who this may concern, I have checked it out at
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp and it is true. Read the info on the link.
All,
There will be a new children’s movie out in December called “The Golden Compass”. The movie has been described as “atheism for kids” and is based on the first book of a trilogy entitled “His Dark Materials” that was written by Phillip Pullman. Pullman is a militant atheist and secular humanist who despises C. S. Lewis and the “Chronicles of Narnia”. His motivation for writing this trilogy was specifically to counteract Lewis’ symbolisms of Christ that are portrayed in the Narnia series.
Clearly, Pullman’s main objective is to bash Christianity and promote atheism. Pullman left little doubt about his intentions when he said in a 2003 interview that “my books are about killing God.” He has even stated that he wants to “kill God in the minds of children”. It has been said of Pullman that he is “the writer the atheists would be praying for, if atheists prayed.”
While “The Golden Compass” movie itself may seem mild and innocent, the books are a much different story. In the trilogy, a young streetwise girl becomes enmeshed in an epic struggle to ultimately defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God. Another character, an ex-nun, describes Christianity as “a very powerful and convincing mistake.” In the final book, characters representing Adam and Eve eventually kill God, who at times is called YAHWEH. Each book in the trilogy gets progressively worse regarding Pullman ’s hatred of Jesus Christ.
“The Golden Compass” is set to premier on December 7, during the Christmas season (and staring Nicole Kidman), and will probably be heavily advertised. Promoters hope that unsuspecting parents will take their children to see the movie, that they will enjoy the movie, and that the children will want the books for Christmas.
Please consider a boycott of the movie and the books. Also, pass this information along to everyone you know (including church leaders). This will help to educate parents, so that they will know the agenda of the movie.
So what about it? Shouldn’t I support the request in the email? By all means no! I haven’t watched the movie yet since it’s still yet to be shown in the movies but that’s beside the point. What bothers me is how this people act against atheism who have not done them any harm - or if any most probably just a little - that they want to actually boycott the film! So here’s my reply to the email.
Hi To All!
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this movie and in fact I don’t see anything wrong with atheism. How many wars have you seen in the name of atheism? And how many wars have you seen that were started and fought in the name of God? The 9/11 Plane Attacks on the World Trade Center were inspired by belief in God. Most wars in the middle east are fought as Holy Wars between The God of the Jews/Christians and The God of the Muslims. And there have been many murders by both Christians and Muslims that were made in the name of God. Of course, you might say that these people were lost in their belief or that they didn’t fully understand the things that they have to do but that’s beside the point. I think a world without God will be a far more peaceful world than a world with God.
On the other hand, what if God can really be killed - as will be portrayed in the movie The Golden Compass? If he can be killed then he is not god at all and if he is truly god then he cannot be killed - what are these people so afraid of? Are they afraid of what this movie might “teach” their children? Are they not themselves brainwashing their children by teaching them from childhood to obey the teachings of their own religion and consider other religions as evil??? If such a movie is indeed an abomination then I say let God himself deal with it. Let him punish all those involved in it and let him not allow the movie to be shown on the big screens. However, my greatest fear is not what God will do but what the believers will do… Will they burn down movie houses? Will they murder the author of the movie? The director, the producer, the actors? Will they threaten them? Will they start rallies that will clog our streets and might even cause violence? I hope not but such fears are not far fetched as the world has already seen such acts made in the name of God.
Lastly, if Christians, Jews, Muslims and all of the world’s religions are allowed to announce their belief then why not the Atheists? If movies in the name of Jehovah, Yahweh, Christ, Allah, Mohammed, Buddah and the rest are allowed to be shown in the movies then why not movies about Atheism? Is it not unfair to allow the “believers” to do what they want to do - and perhaps even start wars in the name of their Gods - and not allow the Atheists to simply express their thoughts either in plain words, books, or in this case a movie? I can’t remember any war started in the name of Atheists but I do remember wars started in the name of Allah, Jesus, and Yahweh - some wars so grotesque that God even orders his followers to slaughter an entire city - men, women, children, and even cattle.
Just my two cents worth…
Now, my dear reader what do you have to say about this?
