Church of Scotland rejects Golden Compass boycott calls
The Church of Scotland has rejected calls to boycott the Golden Compass movie and instead published a leaflet to mark the film's release.
by Maria Mackay
Posted: Thursday, November 29, 2007, 10:58 (GMT)
"Far from condemning the film, the Kirk looks forward to its release and the opportunities that it presents," the Church of Scotland concluded.
Pullman has hit out at critics, denying that he is using his books to sell "atheism for kids" on the US "Today" show with Al Roker.
Speaking on last Thursday's show, he said, "Well, you know, I always mistrust people who tell us how we should understand something. They know better than we do what the book means or what this means and how we should read it and whether we should read it or not."
"I don't think that's democratic," he continued. "I prefer to trust the reader. I prefer to trust what I call the democracy of reading - when everybody has the right to form their own opinion and read what they like and come to their own conclusion about it. So I trust the reader."
Kidman, a Catholic, has defended her role in the film by saying she would not want to star in a movie that was anti-religious.
The Catholic League, however, remains unconvinced by Pullman's assurances.
On its website, the group says: "It is his objective to bash Christianity and promote atheism. To kids."
President Bill Donohue voiced his scepticism in a statement last Thursday: "The last thing Pullman trusts is the people.
"That is why he tries to sneak his atheism in back-door to kids. If he had any courage, he'd defend his work, but instead he continues to do what he does best - practice deceit."
Donahue also doubted Pullman's claims that the he just intends readers to get a "good experience of a good story", pointing to a comment made several years ago by the writer.
"I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief," said Pullman in an article by The Washington Post, adding that CS Lewis, the Christian author of Chronicles of Narnia, would describe his books as the "Devil's work".
[Editor's note: Katherine T Phan in the US contributed to this article]
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Have your say on this article
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Thursday, December 20, 2007, 16:22 (GMT)
I just want to say that I took my children to see the movie. We have never read the books, and they are 9 years old. I usually disregard hysterical religious boycotts because they end up having the opposite effect and making a movie or book a smash success.
Anyway, we loved the film! It was a wonderful, exciting fantasy about a brave little girl and a fantastical world which touched the imagination and encouraged the human ideals to search for the truth, believe in what you think is right and stand up to the abuse of power and authority. It was about the sacredness of free will.
If the Church identifies with the evil Magisterium, that's a very sad state of affairs. Basically, they are identifying with everything wrong with those who which to quell progress, freedom of belief and human tolerance. To me, that is a shame, and what they end up doing is looking exactly like the kind of dangerous close-minded evil empire they are trying to say they are not.
See the movie, bring the kids and lose yourself in fantasy!
Wendy V A, New Jersey
Added: Monday, December 3, 2007, 16:42 (GMT)
I haven't seen the film, and just about everyone who is saying something good or bad ar in the same position. The film isn't out yet.
Still it is based on a very negative and evil book. I say stop the film! Anything based on a negative script, must be negative.
Jacobus, South Africa
Added: Monday, December 3, 2007, 9:31 (GMT)
We need to encourage our children to engage and teach them to discern. The Pullman trilogy is excellent writing. How many Christians have been hurt by the abuse of power within the Church? We need to be big enough to join in with a debate and yes, involved our children in that kind of discussion. The God that is "killed" is not the God I worship - however, a Church that exerts power and tells people what to think and how to act - isn't that exactly the kind of Church that is telling people, "you must not watch this film"?
Ali Campbell, Haywards Heath
Added: Thursday, November 29, 2007, 16:17 (GMT)
Well done, Church of Scotland. I am however irritated that just about everything gets turned into an opportunity for mission these days. The best way for Christianity to convince non-believers is to set its house in order by ceasing to discriminate against LGBT people and by acknowledging that other religions are valid paths to the Divine.
It must be emphasised that in Pullman's book, the Magisterium (and the Authority, clearly intended to be a being claiming to be God) exists in a different universe to the one we inhabit - so it could be claimed that any resemblance to the Catholic Church is a "coincidence" - and if the cap fits, wear it...
Personally I would like to see a debate around the book Shadowmancer, which was extremely offensive to Pagans (on the grounds that the Devil appears and claims to have been all the gods and goddesses worshipped by Pagans - now that really IS offensive).
Yvonne Aburrow, Bristol, UK
