Christian Groups Claim Pro-Atheist 'Stealth Campaign' in Nicole Kidman Fantasy Film 'The Golden Comp

[underpants]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305487,00.html

A children’s fantasy film that stars Nicole Kidman and features a little girl on a quest to kill God has some Christian groups upset over what they believe is a ploy to promote atheism to kids.

The movie, “The Golden Compass,” is adapted from the first novel in a trilogy called “His Dark Materials” by English author Philip Pullman, an outspoken atheist. Critics fear that the film, due out in December, will encourage children to read the anti-Church series.

But the removal of the Godless themes from the movie has some Christian organizations seething.

"They’re intentionally watering down the most offensive element,” Donohue said. “I'm not really concerned about the movie, looks fairly innocuous. The movie is made for the books. ... It's a deceitful, stealth campaign. Pullman is hoping his books will fly off the shelves at Christmastime."

Some atheists and fans of the books aren't happy, either. They say the studio has caved to pressure from the Christian right by sanitizing the tale for the big screen.

[Jacobin]

1. What am I missing here?

If a little girl is on a mission to kill gawd, wouldn't that pre-suppose that a deity existed to kill?

Nevermind.

[Gruenemann]

5. At the risk of putting out a spoiler here...

The character named God in the trilogy is a senile old man living in a glass bubble, mute and unable to move without assistance. He has no power; that's all been taken over by the corrupt Church. He is actually grateful when the little girl breaks him out of the bubble and lets him die.

[underpants]

9. Okay now THAT sounds interesting

I will definitely see it now. Sounds like he wants the girl to do the....uh..."good Christian thing"

[cali]

12. read the books!

They are amazing. Well worth the time, and beautifully written.

[NewJeffCT]

2. well, if Bill Donohue is speaking out against it

I'll have to make sure I bring my daughter opening night...

and then buy the book when she's old enough.

[underpants]

8. He is afraid of it moving into some of his turf

Denigrating Christianity-CHECK Bill does that all the time

thrash the Catholic Church -that is what Bill's supposed fundie allies do all the time (he either doesn't know about it or choses to ignore it)

the virtues of atheism-unwittingly they do that together

[niyad]

3. sheesh, now that the harry potter sage is finished, the morans need a new target.

[underpants]

10. There is always science

but yeah that gets old. You need a new boogieman now and again.

[Warpy]

4. Why aren't those crybabies satisfied with boycotting the film?

Hell, I think most theater owners would be thrilled if they picketed.

However, they seem to want to make sure it is never distributed so their god and its followers can go through life being unoffended.

That's a very weak god they're worshiping.

[Cha]

13. But,, the corporatemedia-

whores love their god cause it likes war and bushit.

[Pirate Smile]

6. I received a RW chain e-mail about this - forwarded to me by the Mom

of a classmate of one of my kids. It is making the rounds. I hadn't heard about the movie and I was scanning the e-mail and saw "the hidden atheist agenda" and mentioning Bill Donahue's group.:eyes:

[Glorfindel]

7. Cool...I'm definitely buying the books, ASAP!

Also, seeing the movie. But then I love fantasy and the previews look great.

[Der Blaue Engel]

11. What a pathetic God they must follow

or what pathetic parents they must be if their beliefs are so weak that a fairytale can turn their children away from them.

Sad.

[cali]

14. Oh, it's more than a fairy tale. it's a powerful philosphical

work in the guise of fantasy. Plus, the last in the series has a twelve and fourteen year old, making love. That an killing god, really sets them off.

[Der Blaue Engel]

17. My point is that these nutjobs flip out like this

over anything that might present another view than their own, even if it's a fantasy. "Atheists are trying to indoctrinate our children!" "Gays are trying to indoctrinate our children!" To me, that says they have either very weak faith or very weak parenting skills.

:shrug:

[SidDithers]

15. Oooh, I know what my daughter is getting in her stocking...nt

Sid

[endarkenment]

16. Stealth? Philip Pullman is quite open about his atheism

But calling this book "a quest to kill God" is complete bullshit. Wonderful books by the way.

[qb]

18. What's wrong with promoting atheism to children?

I'm not saying that's the intent of the filmmakers, but with all of the twisted religious influences out there we could definitely use some balance.