MovieChat Forums > The Golden Compass (2007) Discussion > Why do the religious fear this film?

Why do the religious fear this film?

posted 12 years ago by nelliewilson
21 replies | jump to latest

Soon after seeing an advertisement for the movie I had commented on how I was looking forward to seeing it. Immediately I was told not to let my younger cousins to watch it. A family member even pleaded with me to please not let them see it. I was completely surprised to hear them say this. I had assumed this was a childs movie all along. But then someone mentioned the controversy. SPOILERS BELOW!

The controversy is that god is killed. This wasn't even mentioned within the movie though no one knew that it was going to be left out of the story(It's actually mentioned more in the final two books). Obviously, my younger cousins are indoctrinated with christian dogma and their grandparents feel threatened by a story that mentioned the death of "god". Why is it that the religious are so petty that they fear the mere mention of god being beaten/killed? They'd argue it isn't even possible. Their god is all powerful and without flaws. So why care at all? It's fiction. The almighty demands to be praised at all times and doesn't like to play second fiddle? I find it humorous. The biblical god is petty just like a pubescent child and many stories within the bible are filled with rape, incest, mass murder, and etc. But The Golden Compass is earth-shattering for kids? Come on.

These kids would not go nuts from seeing this movie or join a satanic cult. Is this style of parenting bordering extremism? Fundamental christians come off as being book-burners and opponents of free speech. What is to fear from TGC and how does preventing children from seeing it protect them? Discuss.

* I killed god and all I got was this awesome signature!

[–] ChazzJazz 12 years ago

does it feel good after that internet rant? lol

You may not agree with it but people have the right to bring up their kids however that they want.

[–] nelliewilson 12 years ago

It's a question. Do I feel good after asking my question? No, because I have yet to get an answer. Perhaps you're not happy that my question implies that some religious people/groups are rather silly and react childishly to things that don't fall in line with their beliefs. You didn't bother to answer the question. Instead you stated that people have the right to raise their children as they see fit, which is inaccurate. You can't spank your child in certain states, for example. Even if the bible says that you should, it's still forbidden by law. But the bible also stated that disobedient children should be stoned (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). That isn't permitted anywhere.

So now I ask, do you feel good having expressed yourself while avoiding the subject entirely?

* I killed god and all I got was this awesome signature!

[–] ChazzJazz 12 years ago

maybe like the movie, you didnt express yourself very well...if you ask the right question, how can you expect an answer?

Maybe the Religious dont fear the film at all, they just dont care for it.

Why do you feel the need to impose your view on others? ;)

[–] nelliewilson 12 years ago

"Maybe the Religious dont fear the film at all, they just dont care for it."

If they didn't fear the film they wouldn't bother boycotting it.

"Why do you feel the need to impose your view on others?"

I didn't. That's the job of the religious. And they do it with the threat of eternal torture. But I'm the bad guy, right?

* I killed god and all I got was this awesome signature!

[–] gath-na-gealaich 12 years ago

You may not agree with it but people have the right to bring up their kids however that they want.

Actually, in most countries, they don't.

[–] BertramWilberforceWooster 12 years ago

I recommended this series to a lady I know. She was asking for a fantasy series, but her answer, when I said "Northern Lights/The Golden Compass" was complete horror. She wanted something "wholesome that my children can enjoy, not that atheistic garbage." I didn't bother to tell her it has a better message than C.S. Lewis (in the final Narnia book, two of the kids from LWATW are not allowed to come back because they no longer believe, but the two killed in a bus crash are because they do believe).

--
Once upon a time, we had a love affair with fire.
http://athinkersblog.com/

[–] laurent-b-collin 12 years ago

The lady's reaction is strange, because atheists do not believe in gods and anything supernatural. In these books, there IS a god plus angels, talking pets (some called deamons!!!), flying witches, etc! Very un-atheistic! :)

[–] BertramWilberforceWooster 12 years ago

I think the reason is because the books have a very anti-religion (not just anti-Xian) message so she wants to brainwash her kids with only Xian material.

--
Once upon a time, we had a love affair with fire.
http://athinkersblog.com/

[–] wielderofspoons 12 years ago

In these books, there IS a god

I must disagree on that. In the third book, the being everyone perceives as 'God' is actually an extremely aged man who immediately dies upon release into the world. There is never a God in the standard Christian image of an omnipotent, immortal being. What the books are effectively trying to say is that God as religious people view him does not exist and was a lie.

[–] nelliewilson 12 years ago

The entity in the third book is not just an extremely aged man. This is what Philip Pullman himself has said:

"I'm a great fan of J.K. Rowling, but the people - mainly from America's Bible Belt - who complain that Harry Potter promotes Satanism or witchcraft obviously haven't got enough in their lives. Meanwhile, I've been flying under the radar, saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry has said. My books are about killing God."

So the old man is god but when he is killed he is actually freed. No longer can he be used for the religious and their motives. And I think the Pullman meant for him to be the god of the bible even though he can be killed. His point being that the religious scholars got it wrong and god is not really immortal. That's how I see it.

* I killed god! Well... me and the internet.

[–] wielderofspoons 12 years ago

This is what Philip Pullman himself has said:

..."I've been flying under the radar, saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry has said. My books are about killing God."

Bearing in mind the first sentence, I think you're reading the second one too literally. Pullman is referring to his books attacking/undermining the Christian belief in God, not the death of 'God' within the last book.

So the old man is god but when he is killed

That's the problem right there. God as Christians believe in him cannot be killed. He is omnipotent. Any being that is subject to material power/effects (as the 'God' man clearly is) is not.

His point being that the religious scholars got it wrong and god is not really immortal.

Yet immortality and infallibility are the central characteristics of God as the divine being. Remove them and you simply do not have God.

[–] masterjedi-2 12 years ago

You completely lost me when you start your "The Biblical God is petty..."

Loser.

[–] nelliewilson 12 years ago

I can't say I'm shocked by your response. You worship a wrathful, jealous, intolerant, petty, vindictive and amoral entity and you decidedly emulate your idol by sharing your kind words. Way to go. And how you used an incorrect verb tense leads me to believe you're the loser or more precisely, you're parents are the losers.

"I love you...now worship me or I'll banish you to hell where you shall be tortured forever". Yes. Your god must be a petulant child.

* I killed god! Well... me and the internet.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] kaydenpat 12 years ago

I'm a Christian and loved this movie (rated it a 10). Not sure how this movie is anti-god. Just anti-authoritarianism (perhaps anti-Catholic). Too bad that because this film did so poorly, there probably will be no sequels.

[–] Jack_rabbit 12 years ago

If you could reason with religious people, there wouldn't be any.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] nykm 11 years ago

Daemon sound like Demon?

That's a joke, I think there's a lot of explanation in wikipedia page.

Not only the book itself, the author was also said to be anti-church or something.

I don't despise religion, just hate churches, mosques, temples or whatever organization that profited heavily in the name of Almighty. So I kind of like this film veryx2 much.

And I luv There Will Be Blood too, for the same reason.

[–] brooksyb22 11 years ago

People need to lighten up. It's a film for entertainment. No hidden messages. So what if the author is anti religious. Even hitler made the VW beetle famous and it was designed by a Jewish man.

[–] bagofants 10 years ago

Frankly, maybe they should fear this and other films like it. Face it, if you can buy into modern religion, you could probably be talked into pretty much anything. The personal base ethics of most religion is a good thing. The ever evolving delivery method and end results are severely flawed, however. The problem with religious protests for this and almost any other movie, concert, book, whatever, is that it is usually large group of people being led a couple of people who may or may have not seen, read or listened to what they protesting about. Being told what to think, what to say and how to act.

[–] prplayer 9 years ago

i feel sorry for the children of those parents

so many movies, so little time