The Golden Compass

November 16, 2007

And just in time for Christmas-- The Golden Compass, a new children’s movie will open. What could be better than taking the little ones to the movie on a Saturday afternoon for some good entertainment? After all, kids love movies and this will be another outing of family fun and innocent entertainment. Right? - Wrong!
You should think twice about loading the kids up for a trip to the theater to see this December 7th release. This movie is based on a trilogy of books by a British author named Phillip Pullman, an atheist. That fact alone should cause Christian parents to reject the value and content of the movie! In addition, British columnist Peter Hitchens indicates that Pullman is, “The most dangerous author in Britain.” Pullman is quoted as saying, “Blake once wrote of Milton that he was a true poet, and of the Devil’s party, without knowing it. I am of the Devil’s party, and I know it.”
The movie comes across as a much toned down version of the books and is not intended to offend so that parents will see nothing wrong with it and be more likely to buy the book series for their children. According to snopes.com “The film is based on Northern Lights (released in the U.S. as The Golden Compass), the first offering in Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy of children’s books, a series that follows the adventures of a streetwise girl who travels through multiple worlds populated by witches, armor-plated bears, and sinister ecclesiastical assassins to defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God.” In the Golden Compass, the character Lyra Belacqua has a daemon which is pronounced dee-mon.
I went to the movies website and was astounded to read these words.“In Lyra’s world, a person’s soul lives on the outside of their body, in the form of a daemon- an animal spirit that accompanies them through life. A child’s daemon can change shape assuming all the forms that a child’s potential inspires; but as a person ages, their daemon gradually settles into one form, according to their character and nature. In our world it is possible that people have daemons as well, only they are invisible. If you would like to learn more about your daemon, and create a daemon avatar to take out into the world with you select “Meet you Daemon.”
This brings the current sermon series on Spiritual Warfare from Ephesians 6 into sharp focus!
According to Dr. Ted Baehr, Publisher of MOVIEGUIDE, “Phillip Pullman says that he wrote his fantasy trilogy, HIS DARK MATERIALS, because he was so upset by the Christian evangelism of C. S. Lewis in his series of Christian tales entitled THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. Pullman says he wanted to expose the “lie” of the Christian Church and assert his truth of an atheist vision of reality.”
Parents, I would strongly encourage you to avoid taking your children to this movie and, by all means, do not buy these books for your children. Children are easily caught in fascinating tales and can be easily misled. It simply makes no sense, with the abundance of other good and wholesome literature to read materials that are intended to destroy faith, promote the demonic world, and belittle the church.

Pastor Chuck