Posted by Gopher
- Dec 11 07 11:15Thanks for putting this on, PC. The second paragraph more or less sums up my view.
Posted by P.C.
- Dec 11 07 12:40 As usual, it sounds like it may be a matter of interpretation.
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, charges that the books, known as the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, are deeply anti-Christian. Donohue says he fears that the film will inspire parents to purchase "His Dark Materials" for their fantasy-hungry kids on Christmas, unaware that the third book of the series, "The Amber Spyglass," climaxes in an epic battle to destroy God. Some of the book's villains are referred to as the Magisterium - a term used to refer to the Catholic hierarchy. The British author, Philip Pullman, has said openly that he is an atheist, and Donohue charges that his books are designed to eradicate faith among children.
But this is a sad misreading of the trilogy. These books are deeply theological, and deeply Christian in their theology. The universe of "His Dark Materials" is permeated by a God in love with creation, who watches out for the meekest of all beings - the poor, the marginalized, and the lost. It is a God who yearns to be loved through our respect for the body, the earth, and through our lives in the here and now. This is a rejection of the more classical notion of a detached, transcendent God, but I am a Catholic theologian, and reading this fantasy trilogy enhanced my sense of the divine, of virtue, of the soul, of my faith in God.
[A href="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2007/11/25/god_in_the_dust/?p1=email_to_a_friend"]http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2007/11/25/god_in_the_dust/?p1=email_to_a_friend[/A]
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, charges that the books, known as the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, are deeply anti-Christian. Donohue says he fears that the film will inspire parents to purchase "His Dark Materials" for their fantasy-hungry kids on Christmas, unaware that the third book of the series, "The Amber Spyglass," climaxes in an epic battle to destroy God. Some of the book's villains are referred to as the Magisterium - a term used to refer to the Catholic hierarchy. The British author, Philip Pullman, has said openly that he is an atheist, and Donohue charges that his books are designed to eradicate faith among children.
But this is a sad misreading of the trilogy. These books are deeply theological, and deeply Christian in their theology. The universe of "His Dark Materials" is permeated by a God in love with creation, who watches out for the meekest of all beings - the poor, the marginalized, and the lost. It is a God who yearns to be loved through our respect for the body, the earth, and through our lives in the here and now. This is a rejection of the more classical notion of a detached, transcendent God, but I am a Catholic theologian, and reading this fantasy trilogy enhanced my sense of the divine, of virtue, of the soul, of my faith in God.
[A href="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2007/11/25/god_in_the_dust/?p1=email_to_a_friend"]http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2007/11/25/god_in_the_dust/?p1=email_to_a_friend[/A]
Posted by purelife
- Dec 10 07 04:15i have no idea, SD. i don't really pay attention to whether the movie is against religion or not. i heard that the books were banned from canada. we just ended up getting ours from the states for $13.
Posted by Sportsdude
- Dec 10 07 01:25Could be, but apparently the moive is this one giant rant against christianity according to the christian groups.
Posted by purelife
- Dec 10 07 01:23do you mean when they talk about spirits that take form of animals?
Posted by Sportsdude
- Dec 10 07 01:20since you've seen it purelife, is the movie infact anti christian?
Posted by purelife
- Dec 10 07 01:14I saw the movie on Friday. It was ok. I bet the book is better. I might give it a go.
Posted by Sportsdude
- Dec 10 07 12:21really? omg, tell that to phil donahue and the catholic league. lol!
I wanted to see the movie because I like Daniel Craig movies, he's one of the best actors around.
I wanted to see the movie because I like Daniel Craig movies, he's one of the best actors around.
Posted by Gopher
- Dec 10 07 11:23The trilogy, of which the Golden Compass is the first part, is a fantastic book - His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman. It can be read on 1001 levels. I found it ultra-spiritual, despite the views of others.
Posted by Sportsdude
- Dec 09 07 06:09bummer.
I've had enough of those people, wish my cell phone had a block call/text option.
[a href="http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/071209/entertainment/entertainment_boxoffice_col_188"]http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/071209/entertainment/entertainment_boxoffice_col_188[/a]
I've had enough of those people, wish my cell phone had a block call/text option.
[a href="http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/071209/entertainment/entertainment_boxoffice_col_188"]http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/071209/entertainment/entertainment_boxoffice_col_188[/a]