How should Christians react to “The Golden Compass” movie?

Answer

How should Christians react to The Golden Compass, the movie based on the book by Philip Pullman? Questions are arising about the film’s content, considering the anti-religious stance of the books and their author. The book series His Dark Materials, on which The Golden Compass is based, is openly anti-Christian. There are numerous reasons for Christians to refrain from supporting this series through movie tickets or book purchases. It would be counterproductive to organize protests or overt boycotts as that would only generate free publicity for the studio promoting the film. Nevertheless, The Golden Compass must be taken seriously by Christian families because the source material is explicitly anti-Christian and aimed at children. Christian parents and children should be ready to address some of the false claims presented in this series.

The Golden Compass is the initial book in a trilogy named His Dark Materials. The author, Philip Pullman, is a vocal atheist who strongly criticizes Catholicism. In the trilogy, the church is depicted as evil, controlling, ignorant, intolerant of dissent, and sadistic. Pullman does not disguise the church as some other entity but directly attacks it. The books make use of terms like “original sin,” “baptized as a Christian,” “Vatican Council,” and “magisterium.” The Golden Compass, in comparison to its sequels, is more subtle in its criticisms of Christianity. The second and third books progressively become more “preachy” and openly hostile to Christianity. It can be expected that the movie will follow a similar path: the anti-religious messages in The Golden Compass will probably be subtle or toned down. Subsequent movies will not be able to maintain this approach without altering the story completely.

Pullman leaves no room for doubt regarding his beliefs and intentions. He has been labeled as “The Pied Piper of Atheism” due to his compelling storytelling abilities and his

Distaste for religion is evident in Philip Pullman’s books. Are the books intentionally atheistic? Pullman has stated, “My books are about killing God.” Are they anti-Christian? Once again, Pullman has expressed, “I’m trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief,” and “If there is a God, and he is as the Christians describe him, then he deserves to be put down and rebelled against.” In the trilogy, a significant character asserts, “The Christian religion is a powerful and convincing mistake, that’s all.” It would be disingenuous for anyone to argue that this trilogy, which includes The Golden Compass, is not purposefully anti-Christian.

The messages conveyed in the series do not align with a Christian perspective. The protagonist, named Lyra, is a chronic liar. Her falsehoods serve purely selfish motives, and there is no instance in the trilogy where she realizes the error of her ways. As part of her journey in the series, she engages in a sexual encounter as a very young teenager, which the author depicts as a component of her maturing religious defiance. She embodies a “second Eve,” whose defiance against God is portrayed as commendable in her pursuit of knowledge.

The Golden Compass, along with any other works associated with the His Dark Materials trilogy, is undeniably anti-Christian in both substance and purpose. The promotion of this film has been highly deceptive regarding the religious undertones it presents. The trilogy, encompassing both books and presumably the movies, gradually introduces atheistic themes, enticing children into the narrative as a means to subtly convey the message. Advertisements draw parallels between The Golden Compass and The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. Pullman’s work stands in stark moral contrast to that of Tolkien and Lewis. Scholastic has even developed a school curriculum package, featuring all three books, for public school reading initiatives.

Works of this nature must be countered, but in a manner reflective of Christ. Fundamentally, the His Dark Materials stories provide a fantastical backdrop for the atheistic worldview.

Where death marks the conclusion of all things, morals are entirely subjective, and any concept of God is viewed as a tool for malevolence. Christians ought not to react in manners that reinforce Pullman’s portrayals of believers as uninformed, tyrannical, and intolerant. A courteous reply paired with honest explanations can transform the debut of The Golden Compass into a significant chance to testify for the sake of Christ.