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November 02, 2007
The hub-bub on the book
I didn't put the title of the book in the post title. I really don't want to step into the fray. But here's the thing--
So what if The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1) is written by an atheist? Do I check every books author to see what he/she believes? No.
Now let's move to the next question, shall we? So what if the author hated Narnia? Isn't he allowed. My kids read Narnia, we saw the movie too, but we chose to ignore the religious allegory and enjoy it as fictional fantasy. (I am attempting not to make too many snarky comments about religion vs. fantasy). Doesn't this author have as much right to write fantasy based on his beliefs? Goose, gander, you get it, right?
Some of my favorite reviews over at Amazon are the ones that claim that this book is "dangerously anti-religious." Dangerously? Am I dangerous? What if I went on to review Narnia as "dangerously religious?" Silly, yes? How are other people's views dangerous? How is your child at risk by reading a text if your beliefs are so strongly reinforced through church and family?
And....if a movie is made out of this film is it necessarily some underhanded plot to turn the world to atheism? Give me a damn break. But if there were a movie written by an atheist with a scientific or secular approach to the fantastical elements where is the harm? Did we not have screenings of The Nativity Story last season? How is that ok and this isn't? Especially when Golden Compass is being sold as a fictional story? This isn't fiction being wrapped up in a pretty package and sold as history. Isn't that infinitely more dangerous?
So you don't believe what the author believes--so what. So don't go see the film. Or go see the film and enjoy it as a nice work of fiction. No one is trying to convert anyone. And the saddest part is that the movie makers were so concerned with impending controversy that they dulled the movie down so as not to offend the easily offended. So now? We have a film that is being criticized for being too religious and not religious enough. Have at it crazies. Glad we could entertain you.
I just have to wonder why it was ok to show the other film, which was the damn Xmas story as told in the bible, nothing subtle there, but not this, a piece of fiction that has some allegorical atheist elements that the target audience probably won't even notice. J is reading the books right now and doesn't see them as religious works. You bring agendas with you to a reading. Sometimes fiction is just fiction when you're a kid--sometimes it's true even as an adult.
And in case you're wondering why the ranting--it's because I just came from reading a home school blog where it was being discussed. Home schooling is a post for another day--pros, cons and the dangers of the crazies.
Posted by michelle at November 2, 2007 12:48 PM