Hello Cherish,
I am very disturbed that you have placed this blog on the front page of the Shelby Star. Having this movie poster so prominently shown in this position is giving free publicity to a film that has deeply disturbing intent.

This is an endorsement of the Shelby Star for parents to give their kids money and drop them off to see this film as good children's fare. It is not.

Phillip Pullman is the author of this series of books that he penned as a response to C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. He has been quoted as saying that he hates the Chronicles of Narnia and all they represent because he is an outspoken atheist who wants to, and I quote, "kill God."
Information about this film and those who are behind it abounds on the Internet in the world press.

It took one Google search and only a few moments of research to unearth mountains of material about the film and the work on which it is based. If your time is short, then I suggest you visit just one of them. The Snoops.com website sums if up quite nicely. This is the link to the site I found this morning. (http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp).

Snoops.com reports that a simple Google search for a synopsis of the Compass text will reveal such ideas as female circumcision and male castration, in what is supposed to be a children's book.

Snoops.com also goes on to quote Pullman himself as in 2003 stating that the purpose of his books was to "kill God", and in a 2001 interview stating that his work is all about "undermining the basis of Christianity."
Peter Hitchens, a conservative British columnist labels Pullman "The most dangerous author in Brittan", and "The author atheists would be praying for, if they prayed".

I saw reported on Fox News last week that the activist atheist community is upset with the movie's producers because they "watered down" the anti-God themes in this particular movie to avoid some of the controversy. And they are trying not to too closely align themselves with the film - yet.

In my opinion, the reason is clear. They still want it to be a success. Then the studios will be pressured to make more of them, completing the whole trilogy. And, in these films they have more of an opportunity to get their anti-God message out there.
Why do I take this so personally? Look at the research from Snoops.com again. It is the Christian God they are after - Yahweh - not Allah. The atheists are not after Buddhists, Hindus, of Muslims. They attack and demean and come after the Christian faith and God. Ever wonder why?

Now, will viewing this movie make you evil? No. Am I saying I want to boycott this film? Oddly enough - No. What do I want then? It is quite simple, I want truth in reporting. You have placed this "endorsement" whether you wish to call it one or not, on the front page of your paper. Remember, you wrote that you "could not wait to see this movie". And, you said it on the front page.

There are no other responses to your blog here yet. And, most folks in Cleveland County will never respond here. But, they will read your endorsement of excitement and take that as a vote of confidence and approval from a trusted source that this film is "ok".
To be fair at this point, the Star owes a deeper explanation as to the motivations behind those who are bringing this film to the public, at Christmas, during a special time for Christians.

I do not know if you are Christian. You may be atheist. Pullman is entitled to his opinion. And, my God is big enough to handle him and the plans of the master he serves.

But, you are a reporter. This is a newspaper. I expect you to portray both sides of this issue fairly, and with full disclosure of the facts. I would have been just as happy if this endorsement had not been made, and further attention to the movie was not necessary. However, it has been made, and you owe the citizens of Cleveland County, and now the world since you put this on a blog, an unbiased look at this movie and the underlying motivations of those who conceived it. top

I just want to see a movie with James Bond, Sam Elliot and some CGI fightin' bears.

Really though, I've read all three of the books and still have my abiding belief in G-d. I'm just excited to see a movie that isn't about a frat boy chasing tail or mobsters shooting each other outside of a brothel. top

Are you afraid to write the name God? I'm puzzled by your abbreviated version. top

Judaism does not prohibit writing the Name of God per se; it prohibits only erasing or defacing a Name of God. However, observant Jews avoid writing any Name of God casually because of the risk that the written Name might later be defaced, obliterated or destroyed accidentally or by one who does not know better. Observant Jews avoid writing a Name of God on web sites like this one because there is a risk that someone else will print it out and deface it. To avoid writing the Name, Orthodox Jews (and sometimes other denominations) substitute letters or syllables, for example, writing "G-d" instead of "God." top

Point taken. However, shouldn't the same observant Jew be offended by a movie that's plot is based on the notion of destroying the God whom they serve. top

My faith is too strong to be shaken by a film with armored bears and shape-shifting outer-souls.

It's a good plot that sucks you in.
You fall in love with the little girl protagonist.
I didn't start believing in G-d just because I read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
For me, the books weren't about "killing G-d." It was about being concerned with organized religion pushing a political agenda and government pushing a religious agenda -- and I can get behind being wary of that. top

Yes, I'm very excited to see the movie. Despite radical comments about the author and his books, I still plan to go see it. It hurts me in no way to say that I'm a big fan of Pullman and that I greatly admire his work. A local pastor discouraged parents from taking their children to see the movie, which I thought was very stupid on the pastor's part. Some people take things too seriously. I say this as a Christian. top

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I can't wait to see the movie. Thanks for putting the movie poster on your blog; I haven't seen that one yet. The film looks very good, especially with stars like Nicole Kidman (Marisa Coulter) and Daniel Craig (Lord Asriel). Dakota Blue Richards (Lyra)is apparently an upcoming star, having no preceding acting career. I have read all the books and have been a fan since their first release in the U.S. Looking forward to the movie.( Also, someone needs to tell this "sputnamccc" that the website is Snopes.com, not "Snoops.com". And anyone who watches Fox News obviously has brain problems.) top

Ya ever notice how crazy Christians are and how lengthy (really, 12 paragraphs?) they like to comment over the most trivial things that they don't agree with? Next thing you know they'll be hopping on planes taking their thoughts and ideas to native tribes in the jungles trying to convince the locals that their beliefs aren't right and they must convert. Oh wait... they already do that. Please. It's just a movie. top

Annonymous is correct, it is snopes.com, and I stand corrected on that point. As far as being a crzay Christian, perhaps I am. There are worse things I could be accused of. Also, thank you annonymous for making my point.

If you believe differently than me that is your right. But, you saw the movie poster prominently displayed on the front page of the paper, and were affected enough by that to come blog here, and perhaps now are even more eager to watch the film. I wanted this information about Pullman to be made as prominently as the endorsement of the film was. Some people of faith would be reluctant to pay to see the film if they knew his message.

However, I disagree with you when you state that it is just a movie. Story speaks to the heart, where we form our values and learn anything that is worth remembering. I believe Jesus to be the smartest man that ever lived, and when he had an eternal truth to share, he chose the parable as the medium - a story. When you watch a movie, you like it because it makes you feel something - deep inside. And, they are like smells, you remember them years later, can quote lines from them, etc.

So if you do watch the film, God can speak to you through that medium even if the original intent of the person making it was to harm to God.

I did not tell anyone to go or not to go - I only stated that I thought that the motivations behind Pullman and the stories in general be made as evident as the movie poster was on the front page of the paper.

good discussions... top

sputnamccc - I wasn't brought here by the poster on the front of Cherish's blog. I read her blog regularly. I was more intrigued by the 9 comments that had been posted and then even more intrigured by the diatribe you wrote. I knew nothing about this movie not knowing of the author or the books. So, very much like that of a child I would see the movie without the insight that you have and I would enjoy an action movie with a giant CGI bear and feel comfortable knowing that Hollywood doesn't guide my principles or beliefs, as I doubt it does the doe eyed children who watch it too. top

This is the one with Gandalf as the talking bear?

Yeah, gotta see it.

I mean, it's a talking bear. You just don't see those every day.

Especially bears that sound like Magneto. top