Many Christians avoiding new film, 'The Golden Compass'
BY LISA NEWELL Gulf Breeze News lisa@gulfbreezenews.com

Herman

The email is clear: "Parents - Be aware of new movie," it states, and goes on to tell how some Christians are boycotting "The Golden Compass" starring Nicole Kidman, because of the author's atheism and the antichurch views espoused in the printed trilogy upon which the movie is based.

Rev. Rory Hermann of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gulf Breeze said that he's not an expert on the book or series, but once heard the first book in the trilogy on tape.

"I never got any further than that," Hermann said. "It was an interesting story, but I do remember things that made me feel uneasy at the time."

Rev. Hermann said he's received faxes asking Christians to boycott the movie because its motive is to turn people away from the church.

"From all I've read and heard, I'm not recommending it," Rev. Hermann said of "The Golden Compass."

Jennifer Keenan, Children's Ministries Director at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church, sent an email warning parents about the undertones in the movie.

"The movie has been described as "atheism for kids" and is based on the first book of a trilogy entitled "His Dark Materials" that was written by Phillip Pullman. Pullman is a militant atheist and secular humanist who despises C. S. Lewis and the "Chronicles of Narnia." His motivation for writing this trilogy was specifically to counteract Lewis' symbolism of Christ that are portrayed in the Narnia series," Keenan stated.

She continued: "Clearly, Pullman's main objective is to bash Christianity and promote atheismPullman left little doubt about his intentions when he said in a 2003 interview that "my books are about killing God." He has even stated that he wants to "kill God in the minds of children." It has been said of Pullman that he is "the writer the atheists would be praying for, if atheists prayed."

Monsignor Luke Hunt of the St. Ann Catholic Parish wasn't familiar with the series, but said he's heard it was based on a book written by an atheist "who didn't have a good message."

Keenan stated that she fears unsuspecting parents will take their children to see the movie, in which the anti-religious message has been watered down, and then purchase the books for Christmas.

"In the trilogy, a young streetwise girl becomes enmeshed in an epic struggle to ultimately defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God. Another character, an exnun, describes Christianity as 'a very powerful and convincing mistake.' In the final book, characters representing Adam and Eve eventually kill God, who at times is called Yahweh. Each book in the trilogy gets progressively worse regarding Pullman's hatred of Jesus Christ," Keenan said.

Keenan sent the email so that parents would learn more about the movie and books and consider a boycott.