The Golden Compass

[buffettbride]

Can't reply - never heard of it. But aren't all movies fantasy. It's all just pretend anyway.

This particular movie is under a lot of scrutiny because the author of the books on which the movie is based is a professed athiest/agnostic and certain Christian groups are accusing him of persuading children to deny the existence of God, etc.

I guess one of the underlying themes is that the children in the stories are trying to kill God. I'm not much more familiar with it than that.

Other than that, movies = pretend.

Agnosticism and Atheism is not the same thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism

Yes, I'm quite familar with the differences between the two. I've just begun reading up on the author and he'd been referred to as either. More recent interviews he's confirmed atheism.

[citcat]

All's I know is: when I saw the movie trailer on tv, I said "Good gosh....that looks AWFUL !" meaning I would NOT go to see it...it looked weird and boring. I hate wasting money on bad movies.

[gassman]

Can't reply - never heard of it. But aren't all movies fantasy. It's all just pretend anyway.

This particular movie is under a lot of scrutiny because the author of the books on which the movie is based is a professed athiest/agnostic and certain Christian groups are accusing him of persuading children to deny the existence of God, etc.

I guess one of the underlying themes is that the children in the stories are trying to kill God. I'm not much more familiar with it than that.

Other than that, movies = pretend.

Agnosticism and Atheism is not the same thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism

Yes, I'm quite familar with the differences between the two. I've just begun reading up on the author and he'd been referred to as either. More recent interviews he's confirmed atheism.

yeah i just read the article on snopes hope i didn't offend you

[buffettbride]

Can't reply - never heard of it. But aren't all movies fantasy. It's all just pretend anyway.

This particular movie is under a lot of scrutiny because the author of the books on which the movie is based is a professed athiest/agnostic and certain Christian groups are accusing him of persuading children to deny the existence of God, etc.

I guess one of the underlying themes is that the children in the stories are trying to kill God. I'm not much more familiar with it than that.

Other than that, movies = pretend.

Agnosticism and Atheism is not the same thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism

Yes, I'm quite familar with the differences between the two. I've just begun reading up on the author and he'd been referred to as either. More recent interviews he's confirmed atheism.

yeah i just read the article on snopes hope i didn't offend you

Oh gosh. It takes a lot more than that to offend me. Just don't start spanking your children.

[buffettbride]

All's I know is: when I saw the movie trailer on tv, I said "Good gosh....that looks AWFUL !" meaning I would NOT go to see it...it looked weird and boring. I hate wasting money on bad movies.

I just wanted to see what the fuss was about and if it had any merit. It would be remiss of me to let my daughter see a movie her school thinks she shouldn't see without due diligence.

[gassman]

Don't have any or want any so you don't have to worry about that.

[Skibo]

Last Temptation of Christ?

Now that was a horrible movie. I remember all the protests over that one. Decided to run it on campus (I was the films chairman) Of course plenty of curious people showed up. Most walked out, not because it was offensive but because it was just plain bad, including me.

[gassman]

Last Temptation of Christ?

Now that was a horrible movie. I remember all the protests over that one. Decided to run it on campus (I was the films chairman) Of course plenty of curious people showed up. Most walked out, not because it was offensive but because it was just plain bad, including me.

i remember the jewish community was all upset because it was anti semitic. then gibson get all liquored up and shows the world he is anti semitic. ha that is classic

[karat]

I went through 12 years of Catholic Schooling.

You know the nuns in black that believed in punishment by having your child kneel on hard cold floors with their nose to a chaulk board, would not allow you to go to the bathroom - even when you raised your hand and said please, punished the entire class for ONE person talking...you know the ones?!

I will see it and if I had a child old enough to see it I would take them. Is there sex, gross bloodshed, outlandish use of language and beating of each others heads in? More than likely not.

Who raises your child? You or the school. To he77 with them, go see the movie if you allow it (by your assumption as guardian, not the school's).

[alphabits]

I just want a real reason other than the Catholic Church saying so to tell me why we shouldn't see it.

The Golden Compass makes Baby Jesus cry.

[Skibo]

So when the christians promote censorship because something offends their religion, it is just, but when the muslims do the same they are a bunch of crazy radicals?

[buffettbride]

I just want a real reason other than the Catholic Church saying so to tell me why we shouldn't see it.

The Golden Compass makes Baby Jesus cry.

Since when has that been a deterrent for me?

[UAHparrothead]

If a work of fiction and a moive threatens your faith then your faith must not be that strong to begin with. (I mean that as a general statement not directed to anyone specifically on this thread just to be clear.) The thing is if you tell someone not to do something what is the first thing they are going to do. My strategy would be to encourage people to see it and then have a church forum to discuss the meanings and implications of the movie. I think many church leaders underestimate the intelligence of their people.

[Conolulu]

If a work of fiction and a moive threatens your faith then your faith must not be that strong to begin with. (I mean that as a general statement not directed to anyone specifically on this thread just to be clear.) The thing is if you tell someone not to do something what is the first thing they are going to do. My strategy would be to encourage people to see it and then have a church forum to discuss the meanings and implications of the movie. I think many church leaders underestimate the intelligence of their people.

The Church I attended back home was like this , Brad....

Haven't found one here ..yet.

I wish yours was just a wee bit closer...

[Carolinadreamin']

Never heard of the movie until a saw a trailer. Not something me or my youngest (16) would see.
Didn't the Catholic Church say the kids shouldn't see/read Harry Potter?

Mal...you're an intelligent woman....go see the movie and decide for yourself. Victoria also seems to be the kind of kid to figure this movie's fantasy vs reality theme out for herself.

I don't like when someone tells me not to see this movie or burn that book. Other people have different opinions/beliefs than I do. I have a Catholic faith in which I brought up my kids. That doesn't mean I always agree with everything the church says.

We loved all the Harry Potter movies. My youngest, even though she read them starting in the 2nd grade, knows that magic wands and crystal balls are not part of reality.

[buffettbride]

If a work of fiction and a moive threatens your faith then your faith must not be that strong to begin with. (I mean that as a general statement not directed to anyone specifically on this thread just to be clear.) The thing is if you tell someone not to do something what is the first thing they are going to do. My strategy would be to encourage people to see it and then have a church forum to discuss the meanings and implications of the movie. I think many church leaders underestimate the intelligence of their people.

Ok. If preacher Brad says people should be able to make up their own minds (and my daughter is deeply rooted in her faith--how that happened is beyond me considering her parents), then that pretty much seals the deal for me. Thanks Brad.

[alphabits]

If a work of fiction and a moive threatens your faith then your faith must not be that strong to begin with. (I mean that as a general statement not directed to anyone specifically on this thread just to be clear.) The thing is if you tell someone not to do something what is the first thing they are going to do. My strategy would be to encourage people to see it and then have a church forum to discuss the meanings and implications of the movie. I think many church leaders underestimate the intelligence of their people.

Aw Brad, now there you go trying to use common sense and logic.

[Dezdmona]

I read the book and didn't make the religious connection until I started getting the emails & looked it up.
To be honest, I saw the Magisterium as analogous to the Nazis rather than the Catholic Church as I was reading it.
I think it'd be a stretch for a kid to make a religious connection unless they were told to.

There were a couple of scenes in the book that bothered me; but I understand there has been some "scrubbing" to remove any offensive content from the film.

Overall, I like fantasy tales and thought there were some interesting concepts and ideas in this story.

Here's a link to some info on the controversies surrounding the flim and what the flimakers have done to dilute what's in the novel.
For a brief outline of the book look here
For a detailed examination, look here

I haven't read the other two books in the series, yet, but I own them and plan on reading them soon.
At this point I plan on taking Luke to see the film.
Not only do I trust his Faith, I also trust his intelligence.

[gassman]

The Golden Compass makes Baby Jesus cry.

ha

[buffettbride]

I guess my biggest problem isn't really her seeing it or the themes that may or may not be in the movie. It's that I'm allowing her to defy the 2nd most important authority figure in her life; her school. I think a lot of consideration should go along with that, and make sure she doesn't feel guilty for doing something behind her school's back.

I think she is going to go see it with my step-father-in-law. He is somewhat of a spiritual mentor for her and a great guy and helps keep that perspective of their Catholic faith in check when it comes to seeing things like that.