The Golden Compass(12)

The Golden Compass is the first book in a series that was turned into a movie that was later released in December of 2007. Once the movie hit the box office, it received bad reviews. Many critics believe that the director attempts to attack the Christian faith. During his adolescence years, the author, Phillip Pullman, began questioning his faith. He was brought up an Anglican but never really believed in its teachings. He began writing his books because he said he "was never really convinced of the teachings of Christianity." Pullman said, "It began to seem impossible to reconcile the creation story with the scientific account. It became increasingly implausible that life continued after the body died. The claims of some religions – the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven, the infallibility of the Pope – seemed to me such howling nonsense…" These are the very reasons that sparked Pullman's ideas that are mentioned in his books. The ideas of Dust and the Magisterium are some of the ideas that Pullman tries to portray as the "evil doings" of the Christian faith. In my opinion, this movie does not “attack” Christianity. However, it does make references of getting rid of Authority by the people of the Magisterium wanting to get rid of Dust (that was referred to being created by God). I wouldn’t have realized all of these points if they were not explain. Pullman's intention of his stories is for people to make their own opinion about them. He wrote this story with the sole purpose of entertaing its viewers. So what if he's an Athesis? That's his business and he has to deal with that on the final judgement day. If other brilliant authors such as himself can write amazing action filled stories such as The Golden Compass, including religious views, what is the difference? This movie is a fantasy. People should look at it as just that. Ignorance is bliss.





Work Cited
"Heat and Dust." ThirdWay. 2000. 21 May 2008 .