The expected blockbuster, “The Golden Compass,” is named after the American title of best-selling author Philip Pullman’s novel “Northern Lights” and will star actress Nicole Kidman and James Bond star Daniel Craig.
The original children’s novel, part of Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” series, rejects organized religion – in particular, the Catholic Church – and critics of the movie version say the anti-religious elements of the book have been taken out of the storyline so as not to offend faithful moviegoers in the United Kingdom and United States.
“It was clear right from the start that the makers of this film intended to take out the anti-religious elements of Pullman's book. In doing that they are taking the heart out of it, losing the point of it, castrating it,” said Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, a British organization that promotes secularism and which Pullman is an honorary associate of.
“It seems that religion has now completely conquered America's cultural life and it is much the poorer for it," she said in The Guardian newspaper Sunday. "What a shame that we have to endure such censorship here too.”
To be quite honest with you, I think they should have left the atheistic aspects in the movie. That way, parents could see the true goal of the author in his books: To kill God. Think I'm kidding? Splinters of Silver, with a quote from Snopes.com:
The series' author, Philip Pullman, is an avowed atheist who has averred that "I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God; I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words 'spiritual' or 'spirituality.'" Critics of Pullman's books point to the strong anti-religion and anti-God themes they incorporate, and although literary works are subject to a variety of interpretations, Pullman left little doubt about his intentions when he said in a 2003 interview that "My books are about killing God." (Conservative British columnist Peter Hitchens labeled Pullman "The Most Dangerous Author in Britain" and described him as the writer "the atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed.")
I know some parents who read this--and who hear about the true intentions of the movie--will make some excuse so they can take their kids to see it. "Oh, it's just a fantasy. It's not going to do children any harm. Besdies, the special effects look cool!" They'll hear Nicole Kidman say something like this:
I grew up Catholic, it's part of my essence. I wouldn't do this movie if it was anti-Catholic.(Not that I'm condoning Catholicism. Just pointing out her hypocrisy.) But let me ask you parents something: Would you want to take your kids to a movie that made fun of your family? Then why would you take them to a movie based on a series of books written by an author whose goal was to kill your Heavenly Father? Who do you fear more? Your kids...or God?
