I saw The Golden Compass and didn’t turn into a pillar of salt
December 22nd, 2007 | by Jeremy |I went to see The Golden Compass this afternoon, the fantasy movie based on a series of books that has sparked some controversy due to its supposedly anti-religion message. I must say, it was better than I though it would be and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in the fantasy genre.
The movie takes place in a world parallel to ours where people’s souls live outside of them in animal form. A scientist comes across some research which proves a stream of particles, called “dust”, links people in their world to others in parallel worlds. A shadowy organization called the Magisterium doesn’t want proof of dust to surface for fear that it will unseat their power…
This is the “science versus religion” debate that has some people calling for boycotts of the movie. (although, I saw no specific examples in the movie that made me think the Magisterium was actually a religious group. I haven’t read the books, though…) It’s probably the same people calling for boycotts of Harry Potter. If anything, the movie shows that any group can use propaganda and their power to control the minds of the people and that information being released to that group can unseat the power of that controlling authority. It’s happening in China today — that’s why the Chinese government wants to censor the Internet. It’s happening in North Korea as well. And the Roman Catholic Church has a history of doing things such as withholding the Bible from “the commoners” because only the “priests” have the knowledge and understanding to interpret scripture. (actually, if Roman Catholics in the 1600s had gotten a hold of the Bible, they would have figured out the Church’s practice of collecting indulgences to wisk people out of purgatory was just a clever way to pay for building new cathedrals)
I don’t think allowing children to see this movie is going to condemn them any more than allowing them to see The Chronicles of Narnia is going to save them. It does not have overtly anti-God or even anti-Christian undertones. At worst, it shows the danger of information and knowledge being held in the hands of a select few.
It’s actually ironic that parents are not allowing their children to see this movie. In the film, the Magisterium doesn’t want children to know about dust. There’s some things you just don’t talk about and some knowledge that’s just too dangerous. They’re kidnapping children to bring them into a type of brainwashing school to control them, make them better and prevent them from acting independently.
If there’s truth in this world, the best way to reach it is by looking at all the information and viewpoints that are out there and coming to your own conclusions. Sticking your head in the stand and not listening to anyone that thinks something different than you isn’t making anyone grow or bringing anyone closer to truth.
One Response to “I saw The Golden Compass and didn’t turn into a pillar of salt”
By Erik on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply
I think you went a little too far with your criticism of the religious right. If they were calling for the movie to be pulled from the screen it is one thing, if they are trying to inform like minded people to avoid the movie. This way, those want to see it still can, those that want to boycott it can. This is the big difference between this and your China example.
As for the propaganda…well, it is true. Snopes confirms:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
The most foolish person/group in all of this is not the religious right or the author. Both are entitled to his/her opinions. You have to ask what New Line Cinema was doing dropping $180 million on this movie when its largest potential consumer is a country founded by Puritans.