There is a movie coming out at Christmas that we need to warn our friends and families about. It is dubbed as a children's movie...... but it is far from being safe for children.

The movie is called the 'Golden Compass'.. - http://www.goldencompassmovie.com

This movie greatly concerns me. It is based upon a series of books titled - "His Dark Materials Trilogy" by Philip Pullman

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, is an avowed atheist who 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 intentions when he said in a 2003 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald that "My books are about killing God." (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.") ¹

The movie the Golden Compass is the first installment of creating the trilogy in movie form. A few minutes on the website, and I am very, very concerned about this movie.

The very concept of animal familiars and that they are called Daemons (actually pronounced dee-mon), should be enough for any discerning mind. The fact that they are sugar coating some sinister literature with special effects and imagery is only going to encourage people (namely children) to read the books because they loved the movie. Although the premise of the 'church is bad' (typicted as The Magisterium in the stories) is targeted at perhaps the Roman Catholic Church, the very message of these books is clearly anti-God at the core.

In the first book, the clergy are portrayed as being kidnappers of children, who want to enslave their spirits to serve the Authority, which is God. The whole series is about rebelling against the Church and ultimately killing the Authority, in order to achieve true freedom. There’s a subtle message of atheism being glorified and religion being diminished in the book. Philip Pullman is aiming the series at children because he wants to mess up their relationship with God and lead them into the lonely wilderness of atheism and chaos. ²

This is not a safe, harmless children's story.

I recall this verse:

Luk 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

From what I can tell in researching this topic is that the Golden Compass is based on the least offensive of the three books. They have also modified the movie from the novel to remove the most offensive elements of the story. By most offensive, I mean those aspects that target the church... target Christianity. No doubt they were ultimately concerned about the almighty dollar, and as such were more interested in making the movie palatable to everyone - including Christians; Here is where our greatest fear should lie. The movie is set to open on December 7th. If Christian parents were to take their children to this movie and see the dumbed down version of Mr. Pullman's actual story, they might be inclined to think there was nothing at all troubling about it. With these books being already on the bookshelves of childrens literature, they may then be inclined to allow their children to read the books. This would be a grave mistake. This movie should be seen as the bait to get your children reading the books. Books, that in the words of the author, kill God in the eyes of children.

Please take careful note. These books are not soon to be released. These books have been released for sometime. They could in fact be on the bookshelves in your children's school.

The message of the movie the Golden Compass and the books upon which it is based, is disturbing. The message needs to be sent out our friends, family and those in the churches to let them know that this movie (and books) should not be promoted, read, watched, nor visited by anyone.

The fact that it is written by an atheist and is Anti-God is one thing. The other items hidden within the story are far more dangerous than just an opinion on the existence of God.

A few minutes on the movies' website and you will find:

• Familiar Spirits (Daemons)
• Witches
• Wizardry
• Fortune Telling - Divination: The Golden Compass itself is called an Alethiometer, and it is reminisce of a Ouji board, where you turn some dials, form a question in your mind, and it will reveal the answer.

Deuteronomy is the basis for our concern with this movie, and the books.

Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination (witchcraft), or an observer of times (fortune teller/horoscopes), or an enchanter, or a witch,
Deu 18:11 Or a charmer(spellcaster), or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer (talks to the dead).
Deu 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Notice that these things are an Abomination to the Lord.

The word abomination is from the Hebrew: תּועבה - toebah  (to-ay-baw', to-ay-baw') Meaning: properly something disgusting (morally), that is, (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol: - abominable (custom,thing), abomination.

So my question to Christians everywhere who think that this stuff is safe for their kids...

What part of Abomination don't you understand?

-- J.R. Hall

Sources:
1. http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
2. ibid.

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