Posted on 11/30/2007 10:33:58 AM PST by NYer
Kudos to Peters for his analytical coverage of this upcoming film.
It’s getting to the point that the mere sight of “US Bishops” makes me nauseous.
The flyer makes it clear that the HDM trilogy and the movie are anti-Catholic garbage, encourages parents not to patronize Pullman's work and suggests other works of fiction more suitable, like Narnia.
The floor of hell is paved with (US) bishops.
I've been thinking about the Golden Compass and trying to better formulate why I'm so opposed to it. I have not seen the movie, nor have I read the books.
Well, there goes the author's credibility.
You need more than a superficial understanding of the material before you know if you're "so opposed to it." Maybe the author has an agenda, maybe he doesn't (maybe that motivation is really to make pots of money). But the material stands on its own, unless the author provides a lecture before every screening.
How can you possibly judge a film harmful to a child's imagination unless you've seen it, or at least read the source material?
You don’t have to smell crap to know that it stinks.
“How can you possibly judge a film harmful to a child’s imagination unless you’ve seen it, or at least read the source material?”
The author has stated that his purpose is to lead people, especially children, away from faith in God.
Why in the world do I want to read his dreck to find out how well or poorly he’s done at his evil job?
Why in the world would I permit my own sons to read his dreck, to see how well it worked on their young minds?
I’ve never jumped off a bridge, shot myself in the head, overdosed on drugs, or slit my wrists to see if any of these might kill me. Yet, I’m pretty sure that I don’t need to try to figure out that I don’t want to.
sitetest
The author recently noted that his intention with the books is to “kill God”—this is a direct quote.
LOL! That’s my feeling, too. The USCCB never disappoints.
For those who need it:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/hisdarkmaterials/
Study Guides for each:
Golden Compass
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/hisdarkmaterials/section1.html
The Subtle Knife
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/hisdarkmaterials/section2.rhtml
The Amber Spyglass
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/hisdarkmaterials/section3.rhtml
I made the same statement on the Harry Potter stuff and got beat up. My argument was as yours, I don’t have to read something that has been publicly identified as not suitable with my beliefs to chose not to read it.
“I made the same statement on the Harry Potter stuff and got beat up. My argument was as yours, I don’t have to read something that has been publicly identified as not suitable with my beliefs to chose not to read it.”
The difference between the two sets of works was that, previously, an argument could be advanced that the Rowling books were not evil, at least not based on the known philosophies/religious beliefs of the authors.
It was reported previously that Ms. Rowling is a Christian, while it is also well-established that Mr. Pullman is a militant atheist.
Thus, there were those willing to give the most charitable interpretation to Ms. Rowling’s work, interpreting it according to her alleged Christian belief. Conversely, it’s difficult to give as charitable an interpretation to the work of a man who says his goal with his writing is to kill God in the minds of children.
One poster here who made an effort to give Ms. Rowling the benefit of the doubt is Antoninus. He wrote a series of essays on the first four or five of the Potter novels.
However, once Ms. Rowling informed us that one of the major “good” characters of the series was homosexual, it became impossible to any longer make a charitable interpretation of the work. Ms. Rowling is no more Christian in belief than the Archdruid of Canterbury, Mr. Williams.
For me, I didn’t let my children get into the Potter works, not because I was entirely convinced at the time that they were evil, but because there was considerable question about their worthiness. Not having the time to delve deeply into the question, my prudential judgment was that it was better to have my children leave them unread, with the possibility that perhaps they were missing out on something fun and entertaining, if not entirely wholesome and good. The alternative would have been to permit my children to read something that, it turns out, is indeed evil and pernicious.
sitetest
Apparently, Ms Rowling is a homosexual activist, as is clear from her public statement that Dumbledore is gay.
That fact will cause all children who’ve read the books to consider gay and acceptable and kind thing, when in fact it is deadly behavior that kills.
It should also require all to reinterpret the books in light of that fact.
It is no longer a good triumphs over evil morality play. It is good triumphs over evil, but the watchful, powerful good man is gay.
Gay triumphs over evil is, of course, impossible, since ‘gay’ is an abomination to God.
I too declined the Potter books not based on “evil” but on redeeming value which according to close relatives who did read and convey to me the contents was not what I wanted my kids to read. It seems in hindsight I made the right decision and could upgrade my decision on Rowling not being a true Christian is she supports homosexuality in a positive manner ( making a sodomite a hero ) in her writings.
I was merely stating that I too do not have to actually read/see/hear something to know it has no value to me or anyone under my charge. Rap music is a good example.
What do you want? The god-damned fudge-packer who reviewed “Brokeback Mountain” couldn’t finish praising it as a beautiful love story.
“I was merely stating that I too do not have to actually read/see/hear something to know it has no value to me or anyone under my charge. Rap music is a good example.”
LOL. Agreed.
Good to hear this. However, there is some merit to parents reading the books and seeing the movie. Children are precocious. If not now, then somewhere down the road, they will be invited to a friend's house and see this film on DVD. It's good to be prepared with responses to the questions sure to follow.
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