The Golden Compass

December 22, 2007 | 1 Comment

In recent weeks, a number of you have asked my opinion about “The Golden Compass,” particularly the movie based on the first installment of the “His Dark Materials” trilogy by writer Philip Pullman. For those of you who don’t know, Pullman has professed a very “anti-religious” bias. In 2003 he said that his books were “about killing God.” In 2001 he said that one of the goals of his writing was “trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.” He is an outspoken critic of C.S. Lewis, particularly his “Chronicles of Narnia.”

Is there really anything left to be said about the movie? It’s received so much attention already, and I feel a little bit behind in talking about it. If you really want to read some insightful stuff about it after you’ve read my thoughts, click here and read Kim Fabricius’ blog entry about it. I’m about to say something very similar.

Before I get started I should clarify what I have and haven’t seen: I’ve seen the movie, and I’ve read the first two books of the “Dark Materials” trilogy.

As for the movie, I have to admit that I liked it very much. (If you’re not interested in a review just skip ahead.) As you may know, the anti-Christian rhetoric has been toned down considerably, a decision that angered many fans of the books. It is largely devoid of religious talk. What’s left is a fine movie. It’s beautiful to watch. The look of the movie is wonderful. The acting is solid. Nicole Kidman is perfect as the villainous Ms. Coulter. And I loved Dakota Blue Richards as the hero, Lyra. On top of all that, this movie has what is hands down the COOLEST polar bear smackdown I’ve ever seen. (Actually, it’s the only one I’ve seen, but I doubt anyone will top it.) I’m probably in the minority in regretting that the film’s poor showing at the box office has put its sequels in jeopardy.

So should you see it? Should you let your kids see it? My answer (as usual) is “It depends.” If, after screening it for yourself, you feel that your children might be unreasonably swayed by any hidden atheistic agenda, I would encourage you to protect them from it. Further, if you yourself fear that the same might happen to you, I would advise that you do the same. I’m basically taking the same approach to it that Paul takes to the issue of meat in his letter to Corinth. (Go read 1 Corinthians 8, or listen to my sermon from 01.07.07)

My opinion is that the film gives no such cause for alarm. For that matter, neither do the books. The god that the book is taking aim at bears no resemblance to the living, powerful, merciful, dynamic God whom I worship. And Pullman’s church is merely a shadow of the historic body of Christ. Pullman does what many do, he doesn’t present an accurate picture of faith or of the church. He presents caricatures and precedes to destroy them. Rhetorically speaking, Pullman’s God and Pullman’s church (called the Magisterium) would qualify as “straw men.” As Fabricius says, “…the death of this God would actually do the church a great service.” This is the problem that I have with much of what the “New Atheists” are doing, but that’s another blog entry.

Perhaps the ultimate irony is this: Pullman’s books actually hold forth some very Christian virtues. No doubt, Pullman would object to my use of that label, but there it is. The heroes of his books display selflessness, courage, creativity, and an openness to spirit (I would say, Spirit). In fact, I fail to see how you can talk about any of these virtues or talk about anything that transcends the natural world without appealing to the Creator who gives us these values.

So to repeat: you’ll have to draw your own conclusions on this movie depending upon your own faith or the ability of your children to think critically. My guess is that most of our kids won’t come away questioning their faith. They’ll probably just say the same thing I did: “That polar bear fight was AWESOME!”

Anyone else seen the movie or read the books? I’d love to hear your take.

Posted by Robert | Filed Under Blog 

What? We Have a Blog?

December 14, 2007 | Leave a Comment

So I was rummaging around the proverbial “internet attic” looking for something, and I stumbled across this box hidden behind a bunch of other stuff. Picking it up, I wondered out loud, “Hullo! What’s all this, then?” (I said it that way, because my internal voice is that of a British constable.) I held it up to the light and blew off an inch-thick layer of dust. Written in permanent marker on the outside of the box was the word “Blog.” Suddenly, I remembered: “Oh Yeah! This church has a blog!”

Ok. That’s how it happened in my imagination. Really, though, I’ve had a few faithful people send me some kind reminders that I need to get off my duff and get this thing going again. They are so right. To those of you who have “spurred me on,” thanks.

But man has it been hard. And the longer I’ve let it sit, the more immovable this thing appears to be. I guess, as with most other things, the trick is to stop fretting about how to start it up again and just start. So let’s just plunge right in…

It’s always nice when something you say is echoed by someone who is brilliant. Click here to read a great post from Ben Witherington about the modern picture of the Nativity Scene and how the biblical witness actually describes something else. He speaks to that whole “No Room in the inn” idea, saying, as I did last Sunday, that Jesus and his family weren’t forced to live in a barn because the Motel 6 didn’t have any vacancies. More likely, they slept in an attached bedroom that also housed livestock: a common practice in those days.

If you don’t read the whole article, at least check out this beautiful little paragraph at the end of his entry. I wish I had said this:

The old medieval Christmas poem said ‘though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born, if he’s not born in you, your heart is still forlorn.’ Let me just tell you however, if you let that Guest into your inner sanctum, even if you put him in the very back, he will surely take over and become the center of attention in due course.

Nicely said.

Coming Soon: The Golden Compass

Posted by Robert | Filed Under Blog 

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