'Golden Compass' incenses both Christians and atheists
By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY
Rarely can one movie annoy stalwart defenders of Christianity and atheists alike.
Now, The Golden Compass, based on the first book of British author Philip Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials, has done it.
The movie is sure to be as anti-Christianity as the fantasy novels, says William Donohue, head of the Catholic League, which fights anti-Catholic bias. He wants parents to avoid the PG-13-rated film.
Evangelical clergy and scholars also are concerned that Pullman's fiction is dangerous to faith, says Baptist Press news service.
But Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists, worries over rumors that the film has been "watered down" and is not anti-God, anti-Church enough.
Neither has yet seen the film, which opens Dec. 7.
Among the points of contention:
The movie refers to the ominous "Magisterium." But is this simply a totalitarian "authority," as the filmmakers say, or does it refer to the Roman Catholic Magisterium — meaning the pope in communion with the bishops?
Are mystical particles called "Dust" a euphemism for sin?
That's the implication in Random House's teacher's guide, which suggests students "use the Bible, a storybook, or an encyclopedia to read about the Garden of Eden and the fall of Adam and Eve."
In the publisher's interview with Pullman, he says his books depict "the Temptation and Fall not as the source of all woe and misery, as in traditional Christian teaching, but as the beginning of true human freedom, something to be celebrated, not lamented."
A spokeswoman for New Line Cinema did not return requests for comment. On the studio's website, however, director Chris Weitz extols Compass as a story of "things that matter, like the human spirit, loyalty, kindness and free will."
The Catholic League will have none of that. "We're just taking Pullman at his word," says Donohue. The League produced a pamphlet, The Golden Compass: Agenda Unmasked, debunking Pullman on 95 different points; copies have been distributed to every Catholic bishop in the USA.
"The movie is just bait for the books, which are worse," and the chance to make more movies, Donohue says. "We don't want unsuspecting Christian parents to … take the kids to the film, buy the trilogy, and unknowingly introduce their children to the wonders of atheism and the damnation of Catholicism."
Johnson calls it "a sad state of affairs when the Catholic Church has to go after a kids' movie. Remember when (the late Rev. Jerry) Falwell went after (Teletubby) Tinky Winky," claiming he was gay? "If clergy really were powerful, they wouldn't have to go after movies."
She frets that New Line has edited out or blurred the most atheistic parts of the books, potentially depriving young people of inspiring humanist role models.
Young people can readily find challenges to religious teachings, she says: "Everything undermines theology. Atheism is reality. It's positive action over prayer. It's evidence over faith, reason over dogma."
Debbie Elliott Frieden, co-founder of TeachWithMovies.org, has read the trilogy and eagerly awaits the movie. She says families have nothing to fear.
"There are so many characters and worlds they visit and life-and-death struggles to grip kids' attention that few will be diverted to questioning their religion or atheism," says Frieden, who produces learning guides for parents and teachers about cultural issues in films.
"You can have faith and ask questions."
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