Hutchinson Leader - LETTER: ‘The Golden Compass’ is anti-Christian - Comments

On the contrary, anyone has

itsjustme — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:08:31 -0600

On the contrary, anyone has the right to tell you not to see the movie. It's call Freedom of Speech and it's right up there with that freedom of religion thing. Now just because someone tells you not to see the movie doesn't mean you have to comply or even listen to them. Free speech doesn't compel anyone to listen. I also find it a bit ironic that in castigating judgement and self righteousness you are being a bit judgemental and self righteous yourself.

As a Christian I do not

just1opinion — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:57:25 -0600

As a Christian I do not consider myself self righteous. I realize that it is impossible for me to be made righteous except by the shed blood of my Lord Jesus Christ and it is only by that blood that I am saved. I also understand that if I do not live according to ALL that He has commanded (and in John 1:1 - 14 we learn He is the Word of God) my salvation is not secure. I know that I will be judged according to my faithfullness to the Word of God, not according to what I think the Word of God says. I know that I do not have the power to condemn but I also know that I am to consider what comes out of a persons life in order to know what type of person they are (Matt 7). I also know that if God can save me He can save anyone because there is no sin greater than another (with the exception of denying Jesus as Savior). I know that I am to live a life of repentance. That does not mean I am to say 'I'm sorry' but to repent is to make a 180 degree turn around and not repeat the sin. To repent because I know it's wrong, not just because I got caught. I am not to be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom 1:16). All that being said, I also know that I am to avoid evil and to make others aware of the evil that is in front of them. Not out of judgement, but out of the same compassion that Jesus walked in, that they too may be saved. If I do that from compassion and not judgement, but others receive it as judgement, then maybe that person needs to examine their own heart to see whether or not their heart and motives are clean before God. He (God) desires all men be saved but knows that many will not enter the Kingdom of God (Luke 13:1 - 5, 22 - 27).

Welcome to the United

Madrigorne — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:16:49 -0600

Welcome to the United States, where people are allowed to believe and think whatever they want - free from religious persecution, as was the mainstay of our founding forefathers. Now, you don't have to read the books or go see the movie. But you have no right whatsoever to tell me I can't because of what you believe, nor do you have the right to block it from coming to the theatre, so as to stop other people from seeing something you do not believe in. You can hope it doesn't come here, you can express your opinion, but you cannot force others to capitulate. By trying, you seem smug and self righteous, and appear to be looking down upon others as sinners and less faithful, and thus less worthy of salvation than yourself. Your casting of judgement becomes in and of itself somewhat obscene, only God can judge who is and who is not worthy - and in that your opinion does not matter. Jesus loves everyone, sinner and saint alike, and did not walk town to town with the big pointy finger saying "YOU WILL NOT BE SAVED". Read that book again, especially the words of Jesus himself, and you will see that. Don't see the movie if you think its sacrilegious, don't let your children see it either...or go and see it and offer an honest, first hand review, and then talk it over with your children and explain just what you found offensive and why, and let them see the underlying symbolism that they'd miss entirely, and get to know you and your beliefs and your way of seeing the world.

I agree the books are great,

Joe Pa — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:33:41 -0600

I agree the books are great, and their religious themes just add to a great storyline, but must respectfully refute the statement that Lewis was an atheist when he wrote the Chronicles of Narnia. It is well documented that he converted back to Christianity around the 1930s and the series of books was not written until the late 1940s. (By the way, f you appreciate the Chrnoicles series, check out his space trilogy starting with Out of the Silent Planet)

Thank you for your thoughts

just1opinion — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 07:39:32 -0600

Thank you for your thoughts

I have never read these

vmcknabb — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:24:38 -0600

I have never read these books or seen the movie but I am a parent. I would consider myself a christian. A christian and a sinner and in no way better than anyone else becuase of what religion I believe. I would simply say I am saved. Now with that out of the way, I would like to speak my opinion about this movie if anyone cares to read further. I don't think its wrong for people to be aware of what they are letting their kids go see. I think now days poeple have become more judgmental where they do not have the right to be. Just becuase someone believes something and makes a movie about it for others to believe does not mean they are against you. I think its that attitude that brings a lot of controversy into the picture. My view is they don't believe what I believe, so I don't think going to see this movie would build my faith but rather make me question it. For that reason I choose not to allow my son to see this movie becuase he is young and impressionable but when he is older the choice is his. I think its wrong to tell people they shouldn't go see this movie or that it is anti-God, like someone said earlier telling them they shouldn't just feeds curiosity and causes people to make early judgments. But I don't see anything wrong with warning people of the same belief that the movie portrays different views contrary to the christian belief.

potato salad doesn't affect

Aura_Lee — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 15:39:57 -0600

potato salad doesn't affect me at all because i choose not to eat it.

the answer is so simple it

Aura_Lee — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 08:31:10 -0600

the answer is so simple it is almost pointless to even mention it, however, i feel i must. if you don't like movies that you feel are bad for your kids...don't take your kids to see the movies that you feel are against your values and beliefs. .....WOW!...could it really be that simple? let's think about it....... i myself don't like "music" that talks about drive by shootings and wild women. i tried not listening to it and it worked. i didn't by the cds, i don't watch the tv channels that show the videos, and i don't allow that type of music in my house. another thing i don't like is potato salad. whenever someone offers some potato salad to me, i just politely say, "no thank you, it's not for me.".....and guess what, i don't ever have to eat potato salad. what a concept. how silly would it be of me to stand outside of cashwise protesting the sale of potato salad and chastising anyone that comes out of the store carrying potato salad. i don't know about anyone else, but when someone tells me i shouldn't see a movie for moral reasons, it compels me to go see it to see what the fuss is all about. i sometimes feel that when people protest movies, cds, or video games it actually boosts the sales of said products. i myself can't wait for the movie to come so we can discuss what the movie is about and not what some website claims it is about.

I am so tired of

just1opinion — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 21:54:33 -0500

I am so tired of "Christians" thinking it is okay to participate in things that are critical of, or contrary to, the Bible. You would not find a satanist, muslim, buddist, etc. celebrating Christmas. I doubt that many of them went to see the movie 'The Passion of The Christ'. Yet, so called Christians will go to movies that mock God and come up with some excuses like it's just entertainment, or I just want to have an open mind, etc. My God, make a stand and have the backbone to live what you say you are. The name Christian implies 'Christ like'. If that's what you say you are then live up to the name. Anyone who has ever spent any amount of time reading the Bible can tell you that Jesus Christ would not have tolerated things like that. Now someone will say I am angry and that's why I've responded this way. I am not angry but I am frustrated. I am frustrated by people who can't be true to what they say they believe in. And by the way, God does NOT work in mysterious ways. He never does anything contrary to, or aside from, the Bible. It's only a mystery if you don't know and understand the Bible.

C.S. Lewis was an atheist

Timmy66 — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:22:06 -0500

C.S. Lewis was an atheist when he wrote "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." God works in mysterious ways... I've read the books and I love them.. My faith is strong enough that I can be a Christian and also enjoy the fantasy genre of "The Golden Compass" JMG is right it shows many positive values and is a wonderful story. So sit back and just enjoy a good movie!

I would like to clarify a

mseekon — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 19:17:29 -0500

I would like to clarify a few things.

First, I submitted the editorial regarding the Golden Compass notifying the newspaper that it was copied from an e-mail that I received. This is not noted in the editorial/opinion column, however I had no control over this. I also did not provide the title. The only original content in the column is: "I am totally outraged about the movie “The Golden Compass,” an upcoming movie for children in December. It is my hope that I do not see this movie at any Hutchinson movie theater. I want to warn all readers not to solicit this movie." This is my opinion, thus I submitted it to the editorials/opinion page. Precisely why others do the same.

Secondly, I would like to address the comment from Avid Reader: "If our faith is as strong and as pure as we want people to think, it will not falter when confronted by those who do not believe the way we do. If you must direct your religious anger at someone, then please direct it at..."
My faith is strong and has not faltered, and I still hope this move is not shown in Hutchinson. I do not have religious anger. Avid Reader might be angry. After all, there is a specific group of people Avid reader suggested anger to be directed at!

Thirdly JMG writes: "For every time Ms. Seekon does not see this movie, I'm going to see it twice." Well I don't plan on ever seeing this movie. If my math education is correct, zero times two is zero!

I believe this movie will encourage much provocative thought. My hope is that these thoughts turn people to God.

Ms. Seekon

I think that Ms. Seekon

JMG — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:22:01 -0500

I think that Ms. Seekon needs more education than is provided on an Internet rumor site. If she had actually taken the time to read the book, rather than simply jump onto a misguided bandwagon, then she would learn that the books do not promote any sort of atheism. As someone who has read the series multiple times, I can tell you that The Golden Compass and its two sequels are a positive, life-affirming story about friendship, experience, and love.

For every time Ms. Seekon does not see this movie, I'm going to see it twice.

Response to the Golden

Avid reader — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:26:55 -0500

Response to the Golden Compass Letter.
I also read the article in Snoops. However, I decided to further investigate the information. And what I found was that much of the information in Snoops was either incorrect or taken out of context. Like Pullman, I too am disappointed in the history of the Christian religious movement. We, as mislead human beings, have done some horrible injustices in the past 2000 years all in the name of Christ. And Christ had nothing to do with our human fears and frailties. It makes me very sad when I realize how badly we have acted in the past as Christians. And just because someone does not think like me (a Christian) does not mean he is in league with the devil. Mr. Pullman sees flaws in our (Christain) history and other religious (non-Christian) histories and chooses not to believe in God. Or at least the mainstream God that most of the world believes in no matter what name that God goes by. I learned very early in life because my parents were avid readers and encouraged me to read and seek information that not everything we have been spoon-fed all of our life is true. If our faith is as strong and as pure as we want people to think, it will not falter when confronted by those who do not believe the way we do. If you must direct your religious anger at someone, then please direct it at the radical Moslem crazies who are killing people everyday (even other Moslems) because these radicals/terrorists believe that they have to be right (they think they are right) and they have to control and they want to make everyone as miserable as they are. That is what frightens me and what makes me angry. I cringe at the thought of my grandson growing up in a world controlled by that type of person.

So please, before you jump on the band wagon to drag someone’s name though the mud make sure you know all the facts.

Avid Reader

LETTER: ‘The Golden Compass’ is anti-Christian

Melissa Sullivan — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:00:00 -0500

From Mary Seekon
Hutchinson