The Golden Compass

[Maryjane]

It's not fun to be tarred by a small group of people with whom you disagree but whom incidentally claim to think the same as you, is it?

No, I expect Christians don't care much for Fred Phelps do they?

[Sillystarryeyes]

It honestly all goes back to the very first thing i said.
I think the main problem is in the fact that certain religious groups feel the need to squash anything that doesn't fit into their religious beliefs. Which i find rather amusing. Jesus taught that nobody was really better than anybody else, so why are those so called Christians trying to stop someone who doesn't believe like them from creating something that fits into their own viewpoints? Everyone has the right to believe what they want, and further they have the right to say what they want (be it in a book or a movie) Again, like i stated before, if you don't like it that much, don't go see it. Simple enough you'd think. I think that the people out protesting are really just making themselves look kinda silly. It's wasting their time. It doesn't matter how much you protest a movie because the writer has his rights protected under the constitution. So stop wasting your time and ours and stop protesting it and i think everyone would be a lot happier.

[shawmutt]

Quote by: Maryjane Ahh...I see. They weren't really a "group of Atheists", trying to convert you or anything...just a bunch of punks and vandals. Gotcha!

Basically, when provided with an example of atheists exhibiting unacceptable behavior, they are merely on the troublesome fringe. Yet provided with the same example from Christians, you are content with the broad brush treatment--Gotcha!

Atheists and skeptics can be just as bad as the fundamentalist proselytizing Christian.

[Sillystarryeyes]

Quote by: shawmutt Atheists and skeptics can be just as bad as the fundamentalist proselytizing Christian.

I completely agree. I just think that anybody trying to force their beliefs on anybody else is wrong, PERIOD. Everyone has the right to believe what they want, even if someone else thinks it's wrong.

[Becky14]

Quote by: Chris Its a funny thing that you dont have scientists banging on the doors Sunday Schools. But you get Christians banging on the doors of the science classrooms.

I will not be a bit surprised when we get parents bitching about us learning about evolution in Bio this year.


Especailly because I live in a very catholic-heavy town.

[Maryjane]

Yet provided with the same example from Christians, you are content with the broad brush treatment--Gotcha!

My broad brush had a purpose... He and I both agree, it's not hard to get along if we look beyond religious convictions and respect each other as people. He understands what it's like to be confronted and how ridiculous it is to push your opinions on someone else. It didn't change his convictions, it only reinforced them. I can't tell you how many times I've been told by various formally affiliated religious folk I'm going to burn in hell, I have no morals, or had my parenting questioned because my children don't go to church.

I will say, have my doubts if the confrontation had as much to do with religious beliefs as it did with an adolescent personal vendetta over whom was kung fu, whoop ass master of the day. Since he admits they weren't a formally affiliated atheist group, I'm willing to bet their pronouncement of atheism was merely posturing and intimidation on the part of a gang of miscreants. I managed hockey teams for 12 years. I know boys...I know trash talking...

[Rainbow]

A children’s fantasy film that stars Nicole Kidman and features a little girl on a quest to kill God has some Christian groups upset over what they believe is a ploy to promote atheism to kids.

In other words :
- 12 years old grl, goes on a killing quest
Regardless of target, but promoting a killing task to be carried out by 12 years old (greatly immature) individual, indicates a strong lack of judging the events around the globe (with unknown consequences) that may follow.
It is a sort of unique encouragment that may prompt youngsters to preceed with similar quests, and yet they will be glorified as the final result, where alleged victims seem to be irrelevant subject(s), especially since youngsters are very influencial individuals - what a screenplay writer overlooked and/or neglected greatly.
That film ("The Golden Compass") is yet another example that money matters over real outcomes (not to mention logic and/or common sense, at least.)

Off Topic/On Topic

In "Compass," the curious 12-year-old protagonist, Lyra (played by British newcomer Dakota Blue Richards)

Am I to understand that :
- Dakota Blue is the name ?
Why not California or Kazakhstan or Crystal or Spring or Paris , ect. ?
Why should we blame youngsters, since their parents are not less intellectually impaired, evenly ?
It seems some guys think that Democracy grants them intellect by default. Is that so ?

[Sillystarryeyes]

Truthfully, if parents are doing their jobs, children shouldn't even think about something as radical as going on a killing spree, even if they see it in a movie. That falls completely on the parents and the way they are raising their children. If people watch the movie from the right prospective, they will not have thoughts that will lead to anything so stupid.

[The Bacon Guy]

I don't think there's anything wrong with kids being taught to fight opression. The article and many people in this thread have it wrong by the way: she doesn't kill God; she kills an dictator who overthrew God and used his power for opression. Seems like a very sound moral message to me, one which wouldn't attract any attention were it not for the percieved religious factor.

[Sillystarryeyes]

Yeah, it's been a long time since i've read the books. Probably will do that sometime soon again. I know for sure that i am going to see the movie one way or another. I'll let you all know what i think i'm sure.

And i agree that it's not a bad moral argument when you are trying to stop oppression. That's something i think we can all agree on.

[Rainbow]

What I question is : age.
What parents and/or guardians do, and parents and/or guardians should do, there are 2 different subjects.

[mark3748]

Quote by: Rainbow What I question is : age. What parents and/or guardians do, and parents and/or guardians should do, there are 2 different subjects.

The age is because the main inspiration is from the Chronicles of Narnia, which basically had the exact same thing, a group of young kids setting off to kill the White Witch.

[Kakumei]

I think any kids who want to see this movie will just see it as a movie anyway. Especially young ones. Who cares what it 'might' promote. Eventhough it doesnt promote anything seeing as how its just a movie for entertainment. Its not like the 9/11 movie or the September Dawn movies (which were very shallow, uneducated and a waste of money)

[Zhavric]

Quote by: Rainbow In other words : - 12 years old grl, goes on a killing quest Regardless of target, but promoting a killing task to be carried out by 12 years old (greatly immature) individual, indicates a strong lack of judging the events around the globe (with unknown consequences) that may follow. It is a sort of unique encouragment that may prompt youngsters to preceed with similar quests, and yet they will be glorified as the final result, where alleged victims seem to be irrelevant subject(s), especially since youngsters are very influencial individuals - what a screenplay writer overlooked and/or neglected greatly. That film ("The Golden Compass") is yet another example that money matters over real outcomes (not to mention logic and/or common sense, at least.)

1) Lyra isn't out to "kill god" when the film starts.

2) There is no god in the books. There is an angel who calls himself The Authority. He was the first angel and had the other angels follow him as soon as creation started. It's never stated that there even is a god. He's also old and feeble by the time we meet him.

3) The books portray the church (called the Magisterium) quite accurately; terrified of new ideas, looking to outlaw what it doesn't understand, and having no problems with murdering those who disagree. I know people don't like to be reminded of it, but that is the legacy of every Christian institution.

4) You clearly haven't given your argument a lot of thought or bothered to read the books / see the film. How you think Lyra is going to inspire children to violence is beyond me. To address the elephant in the room, Christians are terrified of a Harry Potter / Narnia-esque series of books and films that encourage kids to reject Christianity. That's why there's all this idiocy going on in the media.

[mark3748]

Quote by: Zhavric To address the elephant in the room, Christians are terrified of a Harry Potter / Narnia-esque series of books and films that encourage kids to reject Christianity. That's why there's all this idiocy going on in the media.

Christian's seem to feel threatened by anything fantasy-related whatsoever

This whole thing reminds me of the controversy surrounding the movie Dogma written and directed by Kevin Smith. Like he said:

Quote by: Kevin Smith It's got a frickin rubber poop-monster, how can anyone take it seriously?

[HelioPrime]

Quote by: Zhavric 1) Lyra isn't out to "kill god" when the film starts. 2) There is no god in the books. There is an angel who calls himself The Authority. He was the first angel and had the other angels follow him as soon as creation started. It's never stated that there even is a god. He's also old and feeble by the time we meet him. 3) The books portray the church (called the Magisterium) quite accurately; terrified of new ideas, looking to outlaw what it doesn't understand, and having no problems with murdering those who disagree. I know people don't like to be reminded of it, but that is the legacy of every Christian institution. 4) You clearly haven't given your argument a lot of thought or bothered to read the books / see the film. How you think Lyra is going to inspire children to violence is beyond me. To address the elephant in the room, Christians are terrified of a Harry Potter / Narnia-esque series of books and films that encourage kids to reject Christianity. That's why there's all this idiocy going on in the media.

Zhavric I missed you!

[another day]

I find it hilarious how Nicole Kidman has said, in response to questions about the film's anti-religious nature, "I wouldn't have starred in it if it was an anti-catholic movie, since my grandma is catholic"

Lol...I keep hearing this echoed in papers, that the movie and story are not in any way anti-church, anti-catholic, anti-religious. And yet, the author himself has vehemently stated that it is highly anti-church.

[Derach]

Its a fantasy movie for entertainment purposes.

Whackos on both sides will take WAY more out of it than that.

I fear more from a society that infringes on the ability of moviemakers to express themselves freely than I fear the possibility a movie will brainwash our youth.

In the US there are more examples of attempts of fringe groups to keep these 'scandalous' movies out of theaters, with the exact opposite result.

The movie will make millions, even if a handful give out pamphlets to audiences outside of theaters.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: Zhavric 1) Lyra isn't out to "kill god" when the film starts. 2) There is no god in the books. There is an angel who calls himself The Authority. He was the first angel and had the other angels follow him as soon as creation started. It's never stated that there even is a god. He's also old and feeble by the time we meet him. 3) The books portray the church (called the Magisterium) quite accurately; terrified of new ideas, looking to outlaw what it doesn't understand, and having no problems with murdering those who disagree. I know people don't like to be reminded of it, but that is the legacy of every Christian institution. 4) You clearly haven't given your argument a lot of thought or bothered to read the books / see the film. How you think Lyra is going to inspire children to violence is beyond me. To address the elephant in the room, Christians are terrified of a Harry Potter / Narnia-esque series of books and films that encourage kids to reject Christianity. That's why there's all this idiocy going on in the media.

This is the initial post I reply to.
Link : The Golden Compass

What is your argument :
- book (itself)
- the initialized (this thread) post
???

I think you are yet another victim of Atheism vs Theism syndrome, and/or suffer due to and/or deeply occupied by that. Try to stay aside of that issue, and you understand my determination, easily.

[Sillystarryeyes]

Has anybody seen the movie yet? I haven't gotten the chance to.
From what i hear they changed it from the book, some say drastically. I don't know if it's true, and i would like to hear from someone who has seen it.

And onward we go. I agree with a few statements above. The main one being that Christian Churches are terrified of anything new. I grew up a christian, and they always seemed to be afraid of anything that might put into question all the stuff they are trying to force everyone to believe. When something new comes along they always go out of their way to discredit it, or to make people see why it's not a good idea to see it, or whatever. It's frustrating to me that they preach about equality, and about acceptance, but they won't accept things equally. But whatever, that's just me.