The golden compass movie is an adaptation of part of an objectionable trilogy of novels 10 million copies sold. His dark materials is a trilogy of fantasy novels by philip pullman consisting of northern lights 1995 published as the golden compass in north america, the subtle knife 1997, and the amber spyglass 2000. Christian groups protested the antireligion stance of the author while academic bodies invited pullman for guest lectures. The novels have won a number of awards, including the. In the parallel universe where the golden compass takes place, every person has a daemon, and the daemons of children are constantly shifting shape, from one animal to. Most christians familiar with the golden compass based on the pornographic scribblings of unrepentant godhater and quite possibly heroin addicted child diddler, philip pullman, know it is an atheist recruitment film marketed towards our precious children. In 2007, christians launched a boycott over the film the golden compass claiming it was an antichristian film where kids kill god. Most people answering are saying stuff like, christians are only boycotting this movie because they are bored w their own pathetic lives christians are not boycotting this movie because they are, bored with their own pathetic lives. As pullmans first book in the series, the golden compass called. Meet our protagonist, lyra, and her daemon pantalaimon the shapeshifting animal that is her soul, or pan for short. Ted baehr of the christian film and television commission calls the golden compass an atheists narnia knockoff, referring to the best selling books the chronicles of narnia by c.
British author phillip pullman has publicly denied allegations that his work, including the golden compass which is being adapted onto the big screen, is anticatholic and promotes atheism the movie, slated for a dec. This is the first book in author philip pullmans trilogy, his dark materials. This first science fictionfantasy book in the his dark materials series by philip pullman is published by knopf books for young readers, an imprint of random house childrens books. Nailbiting, violent fantasy has elements of mystery. Golden compass actually, the whole hdm trilogy is one of my favorite books, and has been since i was a child. Philip pullmans the golden compass deals with the loss of innocence a bit differently from many other books. Fans of the bookincluding those who disagree with the trilogys antireligious thrust but enjoy pullmans obvious skills as a writerwill find. Its firstly released in 1995 with the golden compass name in north america and his dark materials name in the world and written by philip pullman. Bill donohue, president of the catholic league, has condemned the golden compass as a pernicious effort to indoctrinate children into antichristian beliefs and has produced a 23page. It follows the coming of age of two children, lyra belacqua and will parry, as they wander through a series of parallel universes. The golden compass is rightly regarded as a classic of young adult fantasy. They are aimed at children and were written by antigod activist phillip pullman who was featured in the 2005. Those whove debated philip pullmans awardwinning trilogy since the first books publication in 1995 will tell. Find the classic favorite books from your childhood, the little golden book series.
In 2002, conservative uk journalist peter hitchens published an article about pullman titled this is the most dangerous author in britain. The catholic league has called for a boycott of the golden compass. There are ample reasons for christians to avoid supporting this series through movie tickets or book sales. The religious controversy surrounding philip pullmans his. Golden compass has drawn a lot of flak from church groups over the killinggod thing, incidentally, and i can only presume that, as usual, most of the people protesting havent actually read the. It has a lot of positive and thoughtprovoking themes to think about, and if youre looking for an educational book or just an absolutely amazing fantasy story for you or your child who enjoys a challenging read, then i highly suggest the golden compass and the whole of his dark materials. It says that pullmans fantasy trilogy is openly antichristian. Here, the loss of innocence is not necessarily such a bad thing.
Theres a lot of questions on here asking if the golden compass is antichristian, and stuff like that. At the 2007 cannes film festival, in a press conference with cast members of the golden compass, a reporter asked if there was any pressure to tone down the antichristian elements of the story. How should christians react to the golden compass movie. Pullman is a militant atheist, and hes made it known that he detests religion. Compass books offer a great selection of bibles, books, commentaries, christian gifts, jewelry and home decor. Many of the themes of atheist philip pullmans book are merely reactionary devices to the chronicles of narnia that try to express pullmans hate for parents in general, his hate for christianity. Overview in a parallel world, one young girl begins a journey through different worlds and sparks a controversy in this world because of what her story says about god and the church. The golden compass a briefing for concerned christians. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The great enemy of humanity in the three books, the golden compass, the subtle knife, and the amber spyglass together known as his dark materials is the christian church, identified as the evil magisterium. I am referring to the email that is circulating about the upcoming fantasy film the golden compass, based on the book by philip pullman.
Though the series eventually finds two young protagonists and a supporting cast of witches, armored polar bears, scientists and angels confronting the authoritya standin for. How many books are there in the golden compass series. The golden compass series is one of the most popular fantasy series in the world. Main story is about adventures of two children lyra belacqua and will parry in parallel universes. I read it as antiauthoritarianism, antidogmatic, and certainly in favor of free thinking. The film the golden compass is a controversy among. Lyras world is beautifully realized and populated with compelling characters, and the brisklypaced plot is wholly original. He is a king who knows no equal and is not the least. Every single religious character is a terror in these books, said mccaffrey. The golden compass book 1 mass market paperback september 9, 2003.
Philip pullman realizes killing god not the ideal sales pitch would the golden compass be easier. Each book becomes progressively more aggressive in its denigration of christianity and promotion of atheism. Philip pullmans his dark materials series was number 8 on the top 100 bannedchallenged books list for 20002009. In 2007, the catholic league campaigned against the golden compass, declaring. Is the golden compass too antichristian, or not antichristian enough. The three books follow preteen protagonists lyra belacqua and will parry on an epic journey through multiple worlds, harrowing adventures. The book series his dark materials, on which the golden compass is based, is aggressively antichristian. The golden compass, a film adaptation of the first book in a trilogy by author phillip pullman, is stirring unrest in some christian souls. The great enemy of humanity in the three books, the golden compass, the subtle knife, and the amber spyglass together known as his dark materials is the christian church, identified as the evil. Golden compass author denies promoting atheism in books. Loss of innocence is a dominant theme in literature, from the epic fall of mankind into sin in miltons paradise lost to a young childs first experience with death in childrens books like bridge to terabithia. Titled his dark materials, the books were written to be an influential atheistic counterpart to the chronicles of narnia and the lord of the rings.
The book made it perfectly clear that philip pullman had a specific problem with the catholic church, but the film diluted. The golden compass opens british author philip pullmans his dark materials trilogy, an awardwinning but theologically controversial series of childrens books. Is the 2007 film the golden compass based on books with antireligious themes. The subtle knife is more provocative than the golden compass and the amber spyglass is the most inyourface assault on christian sensibilities of the three volumes. The first movie adaptation in the controversial antigod fantasy series, his dark materials by phillip pullman.
1045 1607 1516 1122 1283 595 1585 416 458 828 1478 760 171 981 111 1558 918 1581 1487 776 349 861 980 1595 137 1113 441 1132 153 160 1501 281 1525 1610 17 888 419 1193 276 293 1321 255 319 248 32 438 596