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clipped from snopes.comClaim: The 2007 film The Golden Compass is based on a series of books with anti-religious themes.
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| [Collected via e-mail, October 2007] There will be a new Children's movie out in December called THE GOLDEN COMPASS. It is written by Phillip Pullman, a proud athiest who belongs to secular humanist societies. He hates [Collected via e-mail, October 2007] I don't just generally dismiss a movie or book just because someone 'says' it's meant to be something else...but this is worth knowing if you plan to see it (or plan to take your kids). "Hi! I just wanted to inform you what I just learned about a movie that is coming out He's an atheist and his objective is to bash Christianity and promote atheism. I heard that he has made remarks that he wants to kill God in the minds of children, and that's what his books are all about. He despises They are hoping that unsuspecting parents will take their children to See the movie, that they will enjoy the movie and then the children will want the books for Christmas. That's the hook. Pullman says he wants the children to read the books and decide against God and the kingdom of heaven. If you decide that you do not want to support something like this, I suggest that you boycott the movie and the books. I googled a synopsis of THE GOLDEN COMPASS. As I skimmed it, I couldn't believe that in a children's book part of the story is about castration and female circumcision. |
Origins: The Golden Compass, a fantasy film starring Nicole Kidman that is scheduled to be released into theaters on 7 December 2007, has been drawing fire from concerned Christians. The film is based on Northern Lights (released in the U.S. as The Golden Compass), the first offering in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy of children's books, a series that follows the adventures of a streetwise girl who travels
through multiple worlds populated by witches, armor-plated bears, and sinister ecclesiastical assassins to defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God.
Books of the trilogy have sold more than 15 million copies around the world, with Northern Lights winning the Carnegie Medal for Children's Literature in 1995 and in 2007 being awarded the 'Carnegie of Carnegies' for the best children's book of the past 70 years. The Amber Spyglass, the final book of the series, won The Whitbread Prize in 2001, making it the first children's book to do so.
The series' author, Philip Pullman (wo has described himself as both an agnostic and an atheist), has averred that "I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God; I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words 'spiritual' or 'spirituality.'" Critics of Pullman's books point to the strong anti-religion and anti-God themes they incorporate, and although literary works are subject to a variety of interpretations, Pullman left little doubt about his books' intended meanings when he said in a 2003 interview that "My books are about killing God" and in a 2001 interview that he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief." (In 2002 conservative British columnist Peter Hitchens labeled Pullman "The Most Dangerous Author in Britain" and described him as the writer "the atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed.")
Bill Donohue, president of The Catholic League, has condemned The Golden Compass as a "pernicious" effort to indoctrinate children into anti-Christian beliefs and has produced a
Look, the movie is based on the least offensive of the three books. And they have dumbed down the worst elements in the movie because they don't want to make Christians angry and they want to make money. Our concern is this, unsuspecting Christian parents may want to take their kid to the movie, it opens up December 7th and say, this wasn't troubling, then we'll buy the books. So the movie is the bait for the books which are profoundly anti-Catholic and at the same time selling atheism.
Other reviewers, however, have described Pullman's works as being more generally anti-religion rather than specifically anti-Christian or anti-Catholic: In "His Dark Materials," Pullman's criticisms of organized religion come across as anti-authoritarian and anti-ascetic rather than anti-doctrinal. (Jesus isn't mentioned in any of the books, although Pullman has hinted that He might figure in a forthcoming sequel, "The Book of Dust.") His fundamental objection is to ideological tyranny and the rejection of this world in favor of an idealized afterlife, regardless of creed. As one of the novel's pagan characters puts it, "Every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling."
Last updated: 23 October 2007
The URL for this page is http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
Urban Legends Reference Pages © 1995-2007
by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson
This material may not be reproduced without permission.
Sources: Gibson, John. "The Big Story with John Gibson." Fox News Network. 9 October 2007. Hitchens, Peter. "This Is the Most Dangerous Author in Britain." Mail on Sunday. 27 January 2002 (p. 63). Hoyle, Ben. "Pullman Writes a Book That Will Shed Light on Darkness of His Beliefs." The [London] Times. 1 August 2007 (p. 9). Lurie, Alison. "His Dark Materials." The Guardian. 3 December 2005 (Review; p. 12). Meacham, Steve. "The Shed Where God Died." The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 December 2003. Miller, Laura. "Far from Narnia." The New Yorker. 26 December 2005. Pauli, Michelle. "Pullman Wins 'Carnegie of Carnegies.'" The Guardian. 21 June 2007. Wartofsky, Alona. "Philip Pullman's Trilogy for Young Adults Ends with God's Death, and Remarkably Few Critics." The Washington Post. 19 February 2001. Sunday Mirror. "Kidman Movie Is 'Atheist.'" 21 October 2007 (p. 24).
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June 11th, 2007 at 7:52 am
Dr. Vollertsen,
I am an attorney in Texas, U.S.A.
Submitted by: AngieRecently, I met two North Korean refugees who are seeking asylum in the U.S. and became interested in learning about what is going on in North Korea.
I am so touched by what you are doing for Korea.
I'll keep you in my prayer, and in whatever way I can I will advocate for suffering North Koreans.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Dear Dr.Vollertsen,
Hello, my name is Beth Hong, and I am President of a student organization called North Korea Freedom Network, based at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. NKFN aims to advocate for North Korean human rights and educate students and the wider community about the human rights crisis, and mobilize to pressure the Canadian government to take action. We hope to attain NGO status in Quebec in a few months' time.
In March or April of 2008, we are planning to hold a one-day conference at McGill on the North Korean human rights crisis, similar to the one held at Yale on April14th. We are in the process of contacting and confirming potential speakers and experts on the field of North Korea and the various aspects of the human rights crisis. I believe that your presence at this conference will highlght the acute lack of basic healthcare services and civil liberties in North Korea.
The goal of our conference is what can be done about the crisis in a Canadian context. We would like participants of the conference to be able to walk away with a clear idea of what can be done to publicize and advocate for the North Korean human rights crisis- as students, Canadian citizens (or as a citizen of an industrialized country) and voters. I hope that your perspectives on the situation in North Korea, and your courageous dedication against such vehement opposition and danger can inspire participants to take action.
As a student club and soon-to-be start up NGO, our funds are limited. However, we are also in the process of searching for sponsors and donors to fund our conference, and we plan to pay for your transportation and accomodation for your time in Montreal. Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Beth Hong
Submitted by: Beth HongPresident, North Korea Freedom Network
Tel: (514) 616 3174
Email: nkfn.mcgill AT gmail DOT com
January 9th, 2007 at 3:04 am
Dr. Vollertsen,
I have been inspired by your recent activites in both North and South Korea over the past 5-6 years. I really want to make a difference and try and help and raise awareness of the plight of the North Koreans. If i can be of any help in your struggle to fight for the people of Korea please don't hesitate to contact me. Im located in Seoul and would really like to try and make a difference here to try and raise the awarenes within the expat population here.
Keep up your inspirational work
Submitted by: PeterCPeter Carney
December 28th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
Dr. Vollerstan,
Your hunger strikes and campaign of hope for NK refugees have made a great impact on me. I am just soley and individual like yourself but what you have shown the world is how desperate NK's refugees need our help. Thank you for your loyalty, bravery and most of all your will to spread the message of social injustice. Through yuor tireless efforts, Kim Jong Il will meet his ruin and the people of NK will be free.
Submitted by: GinaNovember 11th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
Dr. Vollertsen,
I cannot put into my words of love and graditude to what you are doing for the North Korean people. My heart goes out to you and others like you that sacrifice so this cause. You and many others like you are truly amazing and wonderful people. It is people like you that make this world worth living. You are an inspiration to everyone. Thank you for all you have done and sacrificed.
You will be in my prayers. Good will conquer Evil. Bless you.
Submitted by: Emily