Following the Golden Compass
Another film for Christians to start shouting about? I haven’t had chance to see the film yet, but I am now grown up enough to ignore the protests. Kim has a helpful post on the growing Christian reaction to the film, on the Faith and Theology blog. His basic stance being that the kind of God that Pullman sets out to destroy in his books and film actually does the church a service!
I must admit to being irritated by the way the film seems to be using some of the Narnia imagery to tell its story. Shame they couldn’t be more creative. I think though we would be better engaging with the film, rather than just boycotting it. Especially if you know God to be other than the wrinkled mortal old man presented in the film.
I suppose there will now be the inevitable endless stream of expensive anti-Compass weaponary (books, study guides, DVDs by clever people etc), like we saw with Da Vinci. Why not just go and see the film with a friend and talk about it afterwards over a coffee. What kind of God do you know?
Others on this:
- The Internet Monk - I’m Not Afraid of Atheists (or Their Movie)
- Andy Goodliff - Why Pullman Killing God is no Bad Thing
- Rowan Williams on the stage play version in 2004
Exactly… I’ve written about this as well, and there’s an excellent, well-balanced movie review at Christianity Today linked in my entry.
Another thought:
Isn’t it somewhat disturbing that the anti-whatever materials make lots of money just being anti-whatever? These folks are just rubbing their hands together and counting the incoming cash thrown at them by worried Christians who think Pullman, Brown and others pose a serious threat to God.
Tim,
I think it’s disturbing that we aren’t quick to speak out against what’s evil. And the message of this book is evil. It was written by an atheist to be a contradiction of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia, where Aslan is a loving, compassionate and forgiving character. If we want to engage the culture about this subject, we don’t have to pay Hollywood, who is motivated by money. Instead just go to the library and read the book (which several schools here in the states are forcing students to read).
I’m against boycotts without a counter engagement, so read reviews of the movie, synopses, or the book (from the library) so you can be informed, but don’t waste your money on a bad movie. You don’t have to use drugs to speak out against them.
Yes, and according to reviews the movie leaves out a lot of the more controversial bits of the books.
And I do think we should speak out against evil. It is just that we do rather pick and choose which evils to speak out against. If the folk passionately protesting outside cinemas were as passionate about unfair world trade or the ongoing issue of slavery or the shocking amount we spend at Christmas on ourselves, then nobody would notice these movies!
To be honest, I’m happier about people/books/films who are openly antagonistic about Christianity, than the underhand image of Christians or subtle promotion of other faiths/lifestyle choices the goes on in much of mainstream media.
I’m not particularly worried about this film. Unlike much of the Christian press, I don’t worry much about violence and swearing in films. I am much more worried about some of the images of “love” that are portrayed in childrens film, and adult romantic comedies.
However, I am equally aware that a lot of this posturing actually damages the church, and does nothing to help us share the gospel with people.