Christian groups slam Golden Compass

[Stan4dSteph]

Is it really all Christian groups? I thought it was mainly the Catholic League who were actively engaged in boycotting the film?

It will be interesting to see what they do with the next two films, assuming they make them. Those are definitely more anti-religion, but maybe they'll be toned down as well. Nicole Kidman is Catholic and I seem to recall her saying she wouldn't be in a film that was overtly anti-Catholic.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Stan4dSteph

Is it really all Christian groups? I thought it was mainly the Catholic League who were actively engaged in boycotting the film?

I think other Christian groups have jumped on the bandwagon. I know Focus on Family has made a statement about it and plans to say more.

I just love these two statements. The both couldn't be further from my own values dealing with learning and experience.

The evangelical-activist group Focus on the Family, which plans to release a statement about the film early next week, says it's in agreement with Christian leaders and organizations on the issue. Adam Holz, associate editor of Focus on the Family's Plugged In magazine, told MTV News he fears the movie would "plant seeds" to "ultimately encourage some fans to reject God."

"Each book becomes more provocative, more aggressive and more anti-Christian." — Bill Donohue, Catholic League president, on the "His Dark Materials" trilogy

[Gemini Cricket]

I still think this is some sort of device to get publicity pumping for a film that's getting rather blah reviews...

Other movies I can think of that were boycotted by the Catholic Church:

Hail Mary
The Last Temptation of Christ
Sister Act
Priest
The Da Vinci Code

and
the "Bloody Mary" episode of South Park... where the boycott actually helped increase viewership of that episode.

My mom's really into following "anti-Catholic" films and "pro-family films". So, I hear about it all the time. Right now she's really into promoting the film "Bella".
:shrug:

[Alex]

Re this:

he fears the movie would "plant seeds" to "ultimately encourage some fans to reject God."

It is an irony I didn't want to get into in my review, but

Spoiler:

The "evil goal" of the bad guys in the movie is their experimentation in pursuit of a way to completely protect children from the temptation towards questioning received authority and even awareness of its existence.

So, seeing as I would disagree with such approaches, seeing certain groups advocate just that very thing in response to this movie makes me smile while being sad about it.

As one commentator I saw said, if you're faith is going to be destroyed by a movie, then there were other problems with it (your faith) anyway.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I kinda lost interest in the movie when the bear started talking in the trailer.

What if they had a talking twink?

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

What if they had a talking twink?

Then I would see it over and over and over.

[Tref]

Originally Posted by Chernabog

Frankly, the Christians who are protesting this movie are being idiots considering the movie takes out the heavy-handedness of the books (I mean, why not SEE a movie first, THEN protest it)..

I mean, god forbid someone actually hear different viewpoints or think for themselves. I believe that people who question their religion and then come to similar conclusions of their religion (or spiritual beliefs) come out that much stronger in their faith. How is it that Mother Theresa questions her belief in God, making her a stronger person of faith in the eyes of the Church, and yet when a child hears a viewpoint that questions the belief in God or organized religion, it is evil?

Idiots? That seems a tad strong, what? The books have a clear anti-Catholic bent -- no one, including the author, would argue that point, so does it not behoove the Catholic Church to defend itself against a sugar coated tome that propagates atheism at the church's expense? I say, absolutely. An attack is an attack no matter how subtle or discreet.

I won't be seeing it but not necessarily because of its content. I am just tired of CGI animals and fantasy movies. They are starting to look all alike.

[Chernabog]

Originally Posted by Tref

Idiots? That seems a tad strong, what?

Yeah, I think people are idiots for protesting a movie that they not only haven't seen, but haven't even read whether the things they're protesting in the source material are even in the movie.

I mean, why not protest John Cusak's latest movie, Martian Child? The book's about gay parenting, and you all know where THAT leads. Blasphemy, pedophilia, and eventually, Nazi-riding dinosaurs.

Oh wait, you mean they took that gay stuff out of the movie? Well so what, people might like the movie, then read the book, and THEN they'll read about that gay parenting stuff, and since gay parenting is wrong and not a topic open for discussion, we need to protest it anway!

But it wasn't the Christians who protested, it was actually people in the gay community who were annoyed when the gay themes were removed.

Perhaps it's the atheists who should be protesting "The Golden Compass".