in response to a forward

Subject: FW: Important for parents and grandparents

You may already know about this, but I just learned about a kids movie coming out in December starring Nicole Kidman. I believe it's called The Golden Compass, and while it will be a watered down version, it is based on a series of children's books about killing God (It is the anti-Narnia). Please follow this link, and then pass it on. From what I understand, the hope is to get a lot of kids to see the movie - which won't seem too bad - and then get the parents to buy the books for their kids for Christmas. The quotes from the author sum it all up. I'm going to tell everyone about this movie. I hope it totally bombs because we were all paying attention!

these are my thoughts:

I must say, after reading this e-mail, I was more worried about the content of the e-mail more than the anti-religious tone of the book/movie. As a writer, I worry when we make a blanket statement that a book is anti-religion and anti-God before reading the book ourselves, we then pass judgment on a work that might have something to teach or entertain us with.

I have not read the Golden Compass, or any of Pullman's novels, so I am just as naive about the authors work or intentions as most people. But, to denounce a book because it has anti-religious themes is, in my mind, a mistake. The author may be an atheist, and his work may include a God, but that does not mean his books do not have merit and something that we, and even our children, can enjoy.

From the reviews I read, it sounds like his books are more of a dystopia than anti-religious. And his "God" is described as "an oppressive, senile God." We often see in children's literature a domineering figure that is making wrong choices for society, and must be overthrown by a child. This God, if indeed oppressive and senile, is not the same God as the one we believe, but demonstrates another force entirely. Therefore, by the nature of the definition of God, we cannot call this character God (because he is not all-seeing, loving, knowing, etc).

We do not read The Chronicles of Narnia for the religious nature, we read our scriptures to achieve that. We read the Chronicles for entertainment. If we are worried about the nature and theme of a movie, we can choose not to take our children to that movie. Or, we can take them to that movie, and then open a dialog with our children about the nature of God, religion, and our beliefs.

If we jump to rash conclusions, and do not take time to step back and question the nature of those conclusions, than we will find ourselves becoming like the societies often found in dystopia books (the blind leading the blind). Our children our not stupid, and will question these conclusions. Therefore, as parents, we should read this book and then decide. If the book is popular enough, our children will read it. If we read it too, then we can talk to our children about any theme we might disagree with.

How many people have banned books from libraries that have merit and good values, even if those values are not exactly like ours (ie, Huckleberry Finn - which is one of the most banned book in our school because it says the "N" word). Let us not fall into that trap because of an e-mail. Let us think and decide ourselves, after being educated and informed, instead of letting a "forward" decide for us.