Record-Journal
12-07-2007, 01:52 AM
By Jeffery Kurz, Record-Journal staff
MERIDEN — In previews, New Line Cinema’s “The Golden Compass” appears very much a fantastic tale in league with “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Chronicles of Narnia” or the Harry Potter films. But the film has generated considerable scorn from those who view it as carrying out an anti-God agenda.
The movie, in theaters today, has come under particular fire from the Catholic Church and other Christian faiths that see it as luring children into an introduction to atheism -- and at the height of the holiday season, no less.
The film is based on the first book of a trilogy by British author Philip Pullman, an avowed atheist. And while the movie is a considerably tamer version, one that omits to a large degree Pullman’s anti-religious fervor, critics still see it as a threat.
“The books are clearly anti-God,” said the Rev. Shawn T. Daly, of St. Joseph Church.
Though the film is a watered-down version, it still maintains an atheistic perspective and “an attack on the Catholic Church,” said Daly. “So we’re encouraging people not to take their children.”
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights has published a 23-page pamphlet, called “The Golden Compass: Agenda Unmasked,” that alerts readers to what is considered an anti-religious theme.
Since the first book was published in the mid-1990s, Pullman’s trilogy has earned widespread critical acclaim and is a best seller in England. Collectively, the novels are called “His Dark Materials,” a phrase from Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” Ostensibly a work for children, it has garnered a wide adult readership as well.
The film has earned praise from some critics, including Roger Ebert, who acknowledged that “the controversy surrounding it obscures its function as a splendid entertainment.”
The trilogy is at least as involved with the possibilities suggested by string theory as it is with religion. The theory posits that there are multiple universes occupying the same place and time, and Pullman’s story envisions what it would be like to be able to cross between worlds.
In the world depicted in the first book, and the movie, people wear their souls on the outside, as animals that are referred to as daemons. Children have daemons that can change from animal to animal, but by the time they reach adulthood their daemon has settled to a single form.
The story involves a plot to separate children from their daemons, which is perceived as an unpardonable crime because it robs individuals of their free will.
Though Pullman does not directly say the “Magisterium” in his books is the Catholic Church, there are enough similarities to have made it viewed by many as such.
There is “no mistake,” said Kiera McCaffrey, director of communications for the Catholic League.
The anti-church message intensifies from book to book, said McCaffrey.
“Is it our thought that a child will see the movie and lose his faith? No,” said McCaffrey. “But it’s our worry that the film will entice a child to read the books.”
“When you get to the third book, you realize that there isn’t a character associated with the church that isn’t a terror,” she said.
Others see New Line’s $150 million film, which stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, as far less threatening.
“At the end of the day, a movie is a movie,” said Rich Hanley, assistant journalism professor and graduate program director for Quinnipiac University’s School of Communications, which incorporates film criticism.
“I think the power of film is often overstated in terms of changing lives,” said Hanley.
The critical response to the film may be part of the playing out of cultural conflict, suggested Hanley.
“Right now, atheism is in a cultural ascendancy,” he said, citing the books “The God Delusion,” by Richard Dawkins and “God is Not Great,” by Christopher Hitchens.
There are also Christian leaders not overly concerned about the film or the books.
“I think God’s pretty big,” said the Rev. Will Marotti, pastor of New Life Church. “He can take care of himself.”
jkurz@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2213
MERIDEN — In previews, New Line Cinema’s “The Golden Compass” appears very much a fantastic tale in league with “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Chronicles of Narnia” or the Harry Potter films. But the film has generated considerable scorn from those who view it as carrying out an anti-God agenda.
The movie, in theaters today, has come under particular fire from the Catholic Church and other Christian faiths that see it as luring children into an introduction to atheism -- and at the height of the holiday season, no less.
The film is based on the first book of a trilogy by British author Philip Pullman, an avowed atheist. And while the movie is a considerably tamer version, one that omits to a large degree Pullman’s anti-religious fervor, critics still see it as a threat.
“The books are clearly anti-God,” said the Rev. Shawn T. Daly, of St. Joseph Church.
Though the film is a watered-down version, it still maintains an atheistic perspective and “an attack on the Catholic Church,” said Daly. “So we’re encouraging people not to take their children.”
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights has published a 23-page pamphlet, called “The Golden Compass: Agenda Unmasked,” that alerts readers to what is considered an anti-religious theme.
Since the first book was published in the mid-1990s, Pullman’s trilogy has earned widespread critical acclaim and is a best seller in England. Collectively, the novels are called “His Dark Materials,” a phrase from Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” Ostensibly a work for children, it has garnered a wide adult readership as well.
The film has earned praise from some critics, including Roger Ebert, who acknowledged that “the controversy surrounding it obscures its function as a splendid entertainment.”
The trilogy is at least as involved with the possibilities suggested by string theory as it is with religion. The theory posits that there are multiple universes occupying the same place and time, and Pullman’s story envisions what it would be like to be able to cross between worlds.
In the world depicted in the first book, and the movie, people wear their souls on the outside, as animals that are referred to as daemons. Children have daemons that can change from animal to animal, but by the time they reach adulthood their daemon has settled to a single form.
The story involves a plot to separate children from their daemons, which is perceived as an unpardonable crime because it robs individuals of their free will.
Though Pullman does not directly say the “Magisterium” in his books is the Catholic Church, there are enough similarities to have made it viewed by many as such.
There is “no mistake,” said Kiera McCaffrey, director of communications for the Catholic League.
The anti-church message intensifies from book to book, said McCaffrey.
“Is it our thought that a child will see the movie and lose his faith? No,” said McCaffrey. “But it’s our worry that the film will entice a child to read the books.”
“When you get to the third book, you realize that there isn’t a character associated with the church that isn’t a terror,” she said.
Others see New Line’s $150 million film, which stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, as far less threatening.
“At the end of the day, a movie is a movie,” said Rich Hanley, assistant journalism professor and graduate program director for Quinnipiac University’s School of Communications, which incorporates film criticism.
“I think the power of film is often overstated in terms of changing lives,” said Hanley.
The critical response to the film may be part of the playing out of cultural conflict, suggested Hanley.
“Right now, atheism is in a cultural ascendancy,” he said, citing the books “The God Delusion,” by Richard Dawkins and “God is Not Great,” by Christopher Hitchens.
There are also Christian leaders not overly concerned about the film or the books.
“I think God’s pretty big,” said the Rev. Will Marotti, pastor of New Life Church. “He can take care of himself.”
jkurz@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2213