Has anyone read The Golden Compass?

**mcphlips** · 12-11-2007, 05:23 PM

Just wondering if anyone has read The Golden Compass? There is a movie out in theater's based on the book. Several of my students have read and enjoyed this book, but there was a big article in our paper on Sunday about the Catholic Church saying the book puts them in "a poor light."
Just wondering if anyone had any comments?

I took the book out of my school's library. I wanted to see what all of the controversy was about.

**KJayEsq** · 12-11-2007, 09:00 PM

I have not read it, nor have I seen the movie. Our church (Catholic) encouraged people not to support it because the message (I think in subsequent books if it's a series? Not sure) is that God is killed. From what I have read about the book, that was the author's intent.

My secretary is a member of the Mormon church and her church took a similar stance on the film and on the book.

Again, I haven't read it myself, so I can't provide my personal opinions on it, but those are the positions of the Catholic and the Mormon church.

**acidcookie** · 12-11-2007, 09:25 PM

I have not read it, but would like to. I also encourage everyone who is curious to read it and make their own opinion. I don't like that people would be encouraged NOT to read something.

**Darlene** · 12-11-2007, 09:46 PM

Yep, read it and then decide. I read the books and like the Harry Potter series people read into it what they want. It just reenforced my belief that anything in excess is not a good thing, think for yourself and everything in moderation. I enjoyed the adventure & that's what they are, adventure books, fantasy.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 12-12-2007, 02:44 AM

DS#1 read it and liked it a lot. BTW, he read it waaaay before the movie was even mentioned in the news.

**Early Bird** · 12-12-2007, 11:01 PM

I believe that the author (Philip Pullman) is a militant athiest.

I read book one years ago, got partway through book 2, and put it down: the hero had to slice his hand, I think, to proceed with the quest. I found that disturbing.

I can see where the book would appeal to young people ... after all, every child has an animal companion/symbiote something like that.

But I'm not letting my kids see the movie.

**PB&J** · 12-12-2007, 11:25 PM

My 13 YO son read it a while back. It is in his school's library. He really liked it, too.

**Jeanna** · 12-13-2007, 11:04 AM

The Baptist church has took a stand against it as well. It is a series of 3 books and in the last one God is killed. I allow my children to watch/read Harry Potter, but I do take a stand when it comes to the killing of my Savior. I would stongly caution aginst it unless you are totally anti Christian. Just my humble opinion.

**KJayEsq** · 12-13-2007, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by Jeanna

The Baptist church has took a stand against it as well. It is a series of 3 books and in the last one God is killed. I allow my children to watch/read Harry Potter, but I do take a stand when it comes to the killing of my Savior. I would stongly caution aginst it unless you are totally anti Christian. Just my humble opinion.

I agree Jeanna. I don't have kids, but if I did, they wouldn't be reading that book or seeing that film. If the genre interested me, I might pick it up and check it out for myself just to see what the controversy is about...but really that genre isn't my thing anyway.

**forHISglory** · 12-13-2007, 01:46 PM

My concern on the book/movie is that it is based on the teachings of Nietzche. (not sure I spelled that correctly..... sorry....). Nietzche's philosophy and teachings led to the "God is Dead" movement. His teachings were also a basis of the Nihilists (based on the word "nil" and a basis of the word "anihilate"). It is a belief that there is no ultimate reality or authority in the universe. Like "nil", it meant nothing. Believe in nothing. Value nothing. Respect nothing or no one. The Nihilist movement was big in the late 1800s and early 20th century, starting in Europe. It preached destruction, anarchy, and the like and was a clarion call to revolution. I just don't see a positive message in the book, and that can negatively affect the children who read the writings or view the movie.

**inneedofhope** · 12-13-2007, 02:20 PM

I bought myself the complete collection. I haven't started it yet, but I am interested in reading it myself before I decide if it is appropriate for my child. I was told by a friend that the movie would be too scary for him. I'm also interested from a historical pholosophy standpoint. but then as an adult I can read for curiousity while staying firm to my own beliefs.

**AmyBoz** · 12-13-2007, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by acidcookie

I have not read it, but would like to. I also encourage everyone who is curious to read it and make their own opinion. I don't like that people would be encouraged NOT to read something.

I couldn't agree more.

**Ceashels** · 12-13-2007, 05:39 PM

I haven't read them yet either. I have a very difficult time however being told that I must be "anti-christian" if I do read the books, by a person who has not read them either.

If my faith isn't strong enough to stand up to testing now and then, it ISN'T faith.

A lot of churches are telling their parishioners not to read the books, not to make an informed decision for themselves. Not to question their beliefs because ..... of what? Are they afraid that if you question their authority they will lose authority over you?

From what I have heard of the books, there is a lot of story that leads up to the "killing of God." God became subjugated to the "religion" and wasn't doing the job well. The Religion had the power, not God. How effective is a God that bows to man? It is my understanding that the struggle in the books isn't about God at all, as much as it is about the authority that the religion holds and uses for their own good and profit, not the peoples. Now if you were a powerful church, would you want your parishioners to question your authority?

Now for something practical:

Read the book and make your own decision!

just my two cents worth

**fizzie** · 12-13-2007, 07:15 PM

Just wanted to pipe in to say that I LOVED these books. They are smart and beautifully written. The "hero" is a little girl which is really cool too!

This controversy reminds me of when Catholic and evangelical churches were protesting against The Last Temptation of Christ in the 1980s. I read it in college--and saw the movie that caused the uproar--at it was so incredibly Christian (the message that Jesus chose of his own free will to give up what might have been a normal, happy life) that I couldn't even see what the fuss was about. Then I learned that most of the complainers never even read it.

**Nada.Leona** · 12-13-2007, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Ceashels

I haven't read them yet either. I have a very difficult time however being told that I must be "anti-christian" if I do read the books, by a person who has not read them either.

If my faith isn't strong enough to stand up to testing now and then, it ISN'T faith.

I don't want to seem like I'm ganging up on anyone, but I agree with you Ceashels. I don't think it's appropriate to be told I'm "anti-Christian" for reading that book. I think that was a bit harsh to say, and not very polite or positive at all. I'm a Wiccan, myself, but I was raised Catholic and have a lot of Catholic-based beliefs yet. But I can't see how reading a work of fiction would possibly make me "anti-Christian".

A lot of churches are telling their parishioners not to read the books, not to make an informed decision for themselves. Not to question their beliefs because ..... of what? Are they afraid that if you question their authority they will lose authority over you?

From what I have heard of the books, there is a lot of story that leads up to the "killing of God." God became subjugated to the "religion" and wasn't doing the job well. The Religion had the power, not God. How effective is a God that bows to man? It is my understanding that the struggle in the books isn't about God at all, as much as it is about the authority that the religion holds and uses for their own good and profit, not the peoples. Now if you were a powerful church, would you want your parishioners to question your authority?

Now for something practical:

Read the book and make your own decision!

just my two cents worth

Again, I agree with everything you say here. So you can add my two cents and we've now got $0.04!