The Golden Compass - A Hidden Meaning?
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The Golden Compass is a very famous book. And I will admit that I have not yet read it, however it is on my list. Here is a quick summary of the book:
“The story begins when Lyra Belacqua—an orphaned, eleven-year-old girl residing at Jordan College, Oxford—secretly enters the Retiring Room, despite resistance from her dæmon, Pantalaimon; an animal-formed, shape-shifting manifestation of her soul. Inside the room, they see the Master of Jordan College attempt to poison Lord Asriel, Lyra’s uncle. Lord Asriel shows the resident scholars a picture of mysterious elementary particles called Dust. Shortly afterwards Lord Asriel goes north, and Lyra continues with her normal life.
However, before long her friend Roger is kidnapped by “the Gobblers”, who are the subject of a children’s superstition. Lyra vows to rescue him, and finds her chance when a visiting woman of great importance, Mrs. Marisa Coulter, offers to take Lyra away from Jordan College to become her apprentice. Lyra assents, but before she leaves is entrusted with a priceless object by the Master of the College: an alethiometer. Resembling a golden compass, it is a device able to reveal the answer to any question asked by the user.” (Link)
The novel has been adapted into a movie, and is set to release soon. Here is a teaser for the film:
Now, for the real reason behind the post. About a month ago someone I know (I am not saying who), sent me an email which was part of a nationwide movement to get people to not watch this movie. The claim was that the movie is anti-god, and therefore no one should watch it.
What bothered me the most is that the email did not explain why the movie and/or book is considered to be anti-god. Just because someone watches a movie does not mean that they have to believe every thing that the movie is talking about. In all seriousness the movie is not true (I mean there are talking polar bears in it). Why can someone not take this for what it is — a form of entertainment?
Does anyone know what parts of this movie are considered to be “anti-god”? Please explain in a comment below.
-Justin
10 Comments
Aryeh Goretsky
December 2nd, 2007
at 1:40am
Hello,
Philip Pullman’s biography on Wikipedia contains more information about him and his stories, as well as links to articles about them. Perhaps that would be a good starting point for you.
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky
Carlton79
December 2nd, 2007
at 6:41am
Without spoiling the book/movie for you, I believe the idea of the anti-God agenda spurs from a statement one of the characters makes later on in the story. This character, discovers a (possible SPOILER>>)portal to another place, and wonders if it will lead them to God. If it does, then this character plans to meet God and take His place.
Personally speaking as a Christian, I had no problems reading this book, as I considered this character to be the antagonist…hence, why would I think the antagonist to be the mouthpiece for the author’s values? Isn’t that usually the job of the Protagonist? Those are my 2cents.
Taylor Helton
December 7th, 2007
at 10:13am
I watched it…. It’s a kid’s movie! Yes of course it has some deeper meanings, but it’s should be nothing new. The reality of knowldge and the reality of human nature will collide, but the truth will guide us there.
Lucius
December 9th, 2007
at 7:58pm
well I’m going to ruin it for you, so don’t read if you don’t want to know the end. They kill god in the end. and It is the authers purpose to turn people away from god. How do you know this you ask, he specificly said it andwhy would he lie about it? and the daemons in some language (greek or something…) it means demons. so I don’t know if you watch it with a christian attitude in your head then it could be a very enjoyalbe movie but if you have doubts well…
jfcapasso
December 10th, 2007
at 9:32am
daemon in Greek means ’some god’
Steve
January 2nd, 2008
at 10:27am
I watched this movie and it is great! It explains how we are stripped of believing in whatever we want to believe. I think everyone should watch this movie. I believe that the magesterium was the church and how we are forced into believing in one thing. In this movie they were trying to prove that their are other things in this world that we should not ignore. I am a strong beleiver in having spiritual guides, or “daemons” and how are minds can go so much further than we think it can. In this day and age we have to see things to believe them. Just because we cannot see it we do not believe it. We cannot see it because the key is we do not believe it. If we open our minds to things and believe that anything is possible, I bet we would be pretty amazed at what our minds our capable of and what we can see.
Mickey Barry
May 19th, 2008
at 12:49pm
Haha!! Cracks me up to listen to society. We are a society of freedoms, freedom of speach, freedom of religion, freedom freedom freedom!! We come here to america so people would leave us alone and we could be free. yes this country was founded by christianity. I’m christian and i believe there’s a god. but because I do,, doesn’t mean I have to black ball everyone else that doesn’t.. People believe in certain things that make them feel comfort. why take that from them. I could care less if you believed in god. or trees. or the wind. or the devil.. the fact is that you believe. and that’s what makes your heart feel warmth. as a society we need to give up on trying to make people believe in what YOU want to believe and let people live their lives in their own beliefs. Happiness is all that matters. if you don’t like the movie or it’s beliefs use your FREEDOM and don’t watch it.
ta da!!
adam
August 8th, 2008
at 10:58pm
I just watched the movie and I have no clue waht these people are talking about. No one kills “GoD” at the end. No one tries to take Gods throne. I seriously think this all came about from the old whisper game. Whisper something to someone and 20 people later it’s something totally different. This movie is about the world telling us how to live instead of us following our hearts. That is it. There is no god, no one dies, nothing christian in the whole movie.
Grow up, go watch the movie.
Justin Capasso
August 10th, 2008
at 8:23pm
It has to do with the third and final book. However no one is saying it is real. It is a book and a movie to enjoy.
Jennifer Zwerin
September 15th, 2008
at 5:42am
What I get is an interpretation of our world today. I have not read the book, but I would like to. How I see it is how the government wants to have total control. For centuries they have been slowly trying to make us into these walking zombies. Instilling fear to make us believe things need to be a certain way for our own good. People have become disconnected from the Divine therefore they are disconnected from themselves and each other. That is changing. I suggest you find some books on spiritual metaphysics.