The Golden Compass Movie Review: Why Christians Should Boycott This Movie
by Rich Deem

Introduction

Golden Compass or Compost?

The author of the original His Dark Materials trilogy specifically wrote the Golden Compass books as a means to "undermine the basis of Christian belief" among children. Although the movie is not as blatant in it's anti-Christian rhetoric as the book series, future renditions, if produced, would certainly be more anti-Christian. For such reasons, Christians should not take their children to these movies or encourage them to read His Dark Materials books.

Rich Deem

The Golden Compass is being advertised as the heir-apparent to the Lord of the Rings and Tales of Narnia. The movie is based upon atheist writer Philip Pullman's trilogy His Dark Materials, intended for children. If it's "just fantasy," why shouldn't Christians go see the movie?

Purpose of the trilogy

The book series follows the adventures of a girl who travels through fantasy worlds in order to defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God and the Magisterium, a thinly cloaked reference to the Roman Catholic Church. Pullman himself admitted in a 2003 interview that "My books are about killing God" and in a 2001 interview he said he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief." In order to not offend Christians, some of the anti-church rhetoric has been watered down in the film. Since the first book in the series is far less anti-Christian than subsequent books, it can be expected that, if the movies makes money, subsequent movies will become more dark and anti-religious.

Glorification of children's rebellion

Even though the anti-Christian aspect of the Golden Compass is largely absent from the film, it does send other unacceptable messages to younger viewers. In particular, the heroine of the movie is rebellious against her mother, and adults in general, who are involved in the evil Magisterium. It also encourages children to get involved in the occult. The movie website, in the "Meet Your Daemon" feature, itself encourages children to contact their own personal Daemon:

"To discover your very own Daemon, look into your heart, and answer the following 20 questions openly and honestly. Your true character and the form of your Daemon will be revealed."

Such anti-Christian spirituality is just a preview of what would come in future renditions of His Dark Materials.

Conclusion

If you are a Christian, you should not encourage your children to see the The Golden Compass or get involved in Philip Pullman's trilogy His Dark Materials. The message is anti-God and anti-Christian and should not be supported with our money.

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Last Modified December 6, 2007

Evidence for God from Science: Christian Apologetics