The Childrens Movie Golden Compass is About Killing God?

[M.D. Holloway]

Something I just got from a friend…

‘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 alot 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.’


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

This may be an interesting flick - I don't know if it is tasteless or thought provoking. I have not read the book so I can't comment.

My gut tells me that Kids and many adults really do need the interest and concept of God. By killing God you kill hope.

Any of you ever hear about the movie or book The Golden Compass?

[berettafan]

don't know about the Golden Compass but i am very careful about what my little guy watches. i happened to see a Scooby Doo 'movie' lenght cartoon a week or two ago (one of the new ones) that wasn't just about witches but wicken (sp?). kinda bothered me when Velma used the term and REALLY bothered me when the witches band did a song at the end about loving the earth.

then there was the time i saw Margaret Cho hosting Sesame Street.

regardless of your beliefs the lesson is to pay very close attention to what your kids are exposed to. there are people in the world who are anxious to push their very adult concepts on them at an early age and show no shame in doing so.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by berettafan

. . . snip . . .

there are people in the world who are anxious to push their very adult concepts on them at an early age and show no shame in doing so.

Like parents and their religious beliefs?

I am teaching my kid about the various belief systems in the world and trying very hard not to push my beliefs on her. Not an easy task. I want her to be able to think and reason, not just accept anything she is told re religions/deities.

It's unfortunate, IMO, that so many parents indoctrinate their children into their own specific religious beliefs at very early ages.

Best,

Kurt

[berettafan]

Kurt if i truly believe certain things regarding heaven, hell and Jesus/God then i would be one sorry father if i failed to share them with my family.

We probably would both agree that encouraging critical thought, even in the subject of religion, is a good thing for our kids.

[jyl]

My wife and kids are listening to the stories on tape, and I think they've read some of the books. "Golden Compass" is part of a series, IIRC. I haven't heard any mention of an anti-religious or anti-God aspect. My wife is pretty sensitive to religious things, being a lifelong Catholic and all, and my daughter is as well, so they wouldn't have overlooked such a message.

Anyway, that's my two cents. I don't plan to read the books myself to say firsthand. The bits I've heard on tape have been a bit boring.

I note that religious groups often seem to squawk about various children's books as anti-God, I think they've rather blown their credibility by now. I recall they went after the Harry Potter series, to this day some of the duller people I know still think the Harry Potter books are the devil's work.

[mtelliott]

Wasn't Happy Feet anti God.

Give me a break.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Kurt if i truly believe certain things regarding heaven, hell and Jesus/God then i would be one sorry father if i failed to share them with my family.

We probably would both agree that encouraging critical thought, even in the subject of religion, is a good thing for our kids.

When my Daughter asks about "God" I do my best to tell her of the many different religions and their different deity beliefs; I answer the same when she asks about what happens after we die. I think this is reasonable for young children and believe anything else is indoctrination - this is just my opinion, of course.

IMHO, critical thought regarding religions entails teaching our children of the many different religions all over the Earth, how those religions originated and the differences and similarities of all of them.

I feel that I would be a "sorry father" if I did anything else. There will be plenty of time for me to express my beliefs and my Daughter and I to debate when she has matured and developed her own belief systems.

FWIW.

Best,

Kurt

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Trailer looks awesome. Polar bears may be the new penguin this Christmas.

Anyway, if all this is true, it's a great teaching opportunity for parents. Any religion or faith that is so easily threatened by a movie probably isn't worth the membership dues.

[Hawktel]

Humm. I've never read his books and just seen the one trailer and read this thread.

So lets get to making up stories on what ever else its suppose to promote.

By portraying a polar bear character, its very anti global warming, and Al Gore used part of the money he made from creating the internet to fund part of the movie. And Coke has been in the polar bear business for years, they funded part of it.

And the Catholic church is making Nicole Kidman do the movie for free as part of her penence for marrying Tom Cruise, the nut... err Noted Scientologist.

See the Church knows the Nicole Kidman's career sucks, (when was she last in a good film that got a lot of box office?) so by forcing her into it, it will kill the movie, and no one will see it.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by jyl

My wife and kids are listening to the stories on tape, and I think they've read some of the books. "Golden Compass" is part of a series, IIRC. I haven't heard any mention of an anti-religious or anti-God aspect. My wife is pretty sensitive to religious things, being a lifelong Catholic and all, and my daughter is as well, so they wouldn't have overlooked such a message.

Anyway, that's my two cents. I don't plan to read the books myself to say firsthand. The bits I've heard on tape have been a bit boring.

I note that religious groups often seem to squawk about various children's books as anti-God, I think they've rather blown their credibility by now. I recall they went after the Harry Potter series, to this day some of the duller people I know still think the Harry Potter books are the devil's work.

No offense meant John, but if the author's specific and stated intent were to "kill God" in young minds, then your wife and daughter perhaps need to reassess their critical reading(or listening to books on tape) skills, or he is not that great an author, perhaps a little of both.

So Kurt, you are agnostic or atheist it appears. Every single parent I have talked with regarding religion feels it is important, gives the kid structrue and a base, or moral compass, if you will forgive the pun.

I am sure this movie will do very well, not "Passion of the Christ" well, but okay. Further, I am certain it will get excellent reviews, particularly in the New York Times. It will provide a good teaching opportunity Shaun. It will allow parents of all religions to illustrate to their children the lengths to which someone who "hates God" will go to further their message.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

Trailer looks awesome. Polar bears may be the new penguin this Christmas.

Anyway, if all this is true, it's a great teaching opportunity for parents. Any religion or faith that is so easily threatened by a movie probably isn't worth the membership dues.

True dat - hay, if Our Son reads the back of a cereal box I would be happy! If the kids saw this movie and it made them think or ask questions - even better. I am not so sure that there is such a thing as a threat to ones belief if it is sound, pure and held fast as a part of the family culture.

As for wicken goes - my Mom was into it and was a self proclaimed witch. Wicca is the religion practiced by witches. They are not devil worshipers. They worship nature and don't believe in hurting anything, even insects. Wiccans look to heal illnesses with herbs. My Mom was one of the kindest, most caring people I ever knew. She also made us go to Church every Sunday (she never went though) as well as go to a Catholic College. I guess I can forgive her for that.

If the kids read the Communist Manifesto, Mein Kampf or the Republic, bless them. I hope it brings about intelligent discussions leading to well thought out decisions and choices.

[tabs]

Man can climb to the top of the hill and proclaim himself to be enlightened and deny the existance of God. However deep down inside there still lives a fightened being who still shudders in the dark.

[rammstein]

Originally Posted by mtelliott

Wasn't Happy Feet anti God.

Give me a break.

Happy Feet was simply the worst movie I have ever seen.

You aren't supposed to wish death upon the protagonist, but I sure did.

[nostatic]

I don't force religious beliefs on my son. I offer him information about whatever he asks. I'm sorry, but I don't see how his "moral compass" needs to be tied to organized religion. Doing good works does not require a building and a deity.

[oldE]

I have read The Golden Compass (and its two sequels). I have no idea what they might have done to the screenplay, but the books are about a struggle for consolidation of power, stepping through doors between parallel universes and finding inner strength.

Crap on a crutch! Don't people have anything better to do?

Les

[Aerkuld]

Originally Posted by rammstein

Happy Feet was simply the worst movie I have ever seen.

You aren't supposed to wish death upon the protagonist, but I sure did.

PENGUIN HATER!!

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by rammstein

Happy Feet was simply the worst movie I have ever seen.

You aren't supposed to wish death upon the protagonist, but I sure did.

anti-penguite!

[kang]

The trailer actually looks pretty cool:

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/thegoldencompass.html?showVideo=1

Of course, it doesn’t say much about the plot or the movie or any other agenda that may or may not be present.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I don't force religious beliefs on my son. I offer him information about whatever he asks. I'm sorry, but I don't see how his "moral compass" needs to be tied to organized religion. Doing good works does not require a building and a deity.

Agreed

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by rammstein

Happy Feet was simply the worst movie I have ever seen.

You aren't supposed to wish death upon the protagonist, but I sure did.

How that movie beat Cars for the Oscar is beyond me.

I though it sucked.