But Bible Society asked Luke Walton, its Arts Officer, and Lindsay Shaw, editor of its Reel Issues film and faith discussion service, to comment on this particular film for three reasons:
The film's engagement with issues of faith and spirituality,
The immense popularity of the His Dark Materials novel trilogy which lies behind The Golden Compass and
Because of concerns the trilogy and film has prompted in some sections of the Church.
'Bible Society is committed to the biblical view that human creativity and use of the imagination are essential to what it means to be human and made in God's image,' the two Bible Society spokesmen agreed.
'Philip Pullman, the writer of the His Dark Materials trilogy in which this story is the first episode, comes in a long line of evocative fantasy storytellers,' Luke says. 'But unlike CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, who wrote from a Christian vision of the world, Pullman comes from a different and perhaps opposing position.
'Nevertheless, he has created a vivid and beguiling fantasy world. And only those who have dug into their Bibles will fully understand some of the story's underlying themes, even if we may disagree with his conclusions.
'We do not share Pullman's view that free will is the ultimate source of guidance for our lives,' Luke commented, 'But we welcome the opportunities this offers for Christians to talk with their friends about God's guidance through the Bible and prayer as a more trustworthy 'compass' for their lives.'
Some Christians have been especially concerned by Pullman's representation of a Church-like organisation, 'The Magisterium', the chief villains of the film (whose name the novelist borrowed from a term for the authoritative teaching of the Roman Catholic Church).
