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Add to NewsvineSo said Phillip Pullman, author of "The Golden Compass," the movie version of which is soon to be released. One expects that religious parents will keep their children away from the film.
"But why?" the question arises from liberals. "What are you afraid of?"
My children losing God, especially before they have a firm hold on Him, that's what. At some point they will question the existence of God. I did. It's normal to do so. I want more than anything else I want for my children, even their own happiness in this life, for them to believe in God, Who is their salvation. If you believe in God, and that the loss of God is the worst thing that can happen to a person, then you would sooner give your child a rattlesnake to play with than expose him or her at an early age to the work of a man who openly says he wishes to destroy God in the minds of his audience.
Because so many liberals refuse to take God seriously, they have trouble understanding people -- Jews, Muslims, Christians and others -- who do.
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It takes the average child until age 5 before they begin to know the difference between what they see on the screen in a movie and what happens in the real world as different. Knowing that, there's a whole lot of movies I wouldn't take a 4 year old to, including The Brave Little Toaster which is a great kids film but there's some scary scenes that I wouldn't expose a 4 year old to. That said, the first thing is for a film to be age appropriate. The Golden Compass is rated PG-13 due to Sequences of Fantasy Violence.
I just saw the film and would recommend it to anyone with a daughter around the main character Lyra's age (the actress is 12). Lyra is a feisty, courageous, polite, loyal, selfless and loving friend and daughter who seeks answers and truth. These are characteristics to be striven for as a Christian or any other religion. I don't think the viewing of this film will change anyone's faith. If anything, people will interpret things in the film according to their faith to strengthen it. I haven't read the books so I can't comment on that. That may be another matter. I intend to read them next and see what I think then.
Posted by: organicgal | December 23, 2007 6:19 AM
(this message is to what Joanne said)
Acknowledging the enemy isn't "worshipping" or "opening a door to him".
I agree that you should rebuke the enemy in JESUS's name, but not just forget about him, or what's happening.We have to (like in the case of the "golden compass") warn others of the danger, or what they are exposing their children, or themselves to.Oh, and what it means in the bible about opening a door to the enemy, it's about when you sin.
Posted by: Marco | December 30, 2007 2:25 PM
The fact that people are arguing about whether a movie should be seen by their children is pure ignorance. I'm 17 years old and saw this movie. It was reeeeally good. I've read the books and have know the true meaning of them. They have in no way change my opinion on God or anything to do with my faith in Him. The books are only literature. Just like Harry Potter or the Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings. Pullman might have not written them from a Christian viewpoint like Lewis or Tolkien but that makes no difference. They're still good books to read.
Posted by: Mica | February 14, 2008 11:06 AM
Such incredible power, words have. Merely speaking a thought transforms all that hears them into permanent and instantaneous believers in whatever the thought was. I would suggest that it is not "Liberals who do not take God seriously," but conservatives. Conservatives, by and large, believe in a powerful and controlling God, but they act as if God is weak and indefensible.
Last week's lectionary text was the story of doubting Thomas. Too often, I have heard Thomas being portrayed as a poor Christian in danger of losing his faith, but the Bible portrayed him as a strong Christian ready to die for his faith when the other disciples were ready to back off and stop following Jesus. His time of doubt did not lead to him turning away from God, but lead to a moment of deep epiphany where he touched and felt the wounds of Christ.
Don't turn your eyes away from those who disagree with you and stop your ears from their arguments. If you want an atheist to listen to why your faith matters to you, you will first have to listen to why that person has the left the church. It is impossible for that person not to have been inundated with all your arguments for the whole of their life, but it is easy to avoid the criticism of atheists if you want to keep a shallow faith without substance.
Posted by: campuspastor | April 3, 2008 5:22 PM
I would rather watch these types of movies or read these types of books with my kids and use them as tools to open discussion regarding faith. I am not about to put my head in the sand thinking that my kids will listen to me and not watch or read what I forbid. I know they watch movies at friends houses and read books at school.
When it comes to controversial works like this one I would rather participate with them than let them go it alone.
Posted by: shannon | June 3, 2008 12:50 AM
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