Comments on: 'The Golden Compass', Catholics, Atheists and Ignorance http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/the_golden_compass_catholics_atheists_and_ignorance The best and latest movie news, reviews, features and editorials - updated daily Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:52:45 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: bradbrevet http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/the_golden_compass_catholics_atheists_and_ignorance#comment-964 bradbrevet Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:54:30 +0000 http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/news/?p=7912#comment-964 Exactly CaliPunkRockGrl, when loveAlot83 says, "It doesn't take much to figure out that the Magesterium is supposed to be the Catholic Church," that is only directed at those that have read the book and have made that connection already. Anyone going into this movie fresh will not make that assumption. As I watched the movie the first time I had already heard about this controversy and was able to see a little bit more into the story that Philip Pullman originated, but there is nothing for the Catholic League to point their fingers at. As fr judging a film on your own terms, this is what the Catholic League does not want you to do. They have judged the film for you and tell you it is not good. Ironically this whole thing can be compared to the way the Magesterium acts in the movie, trying to tell everyone what is good for them and banning what they believe to be bad. This is why it confuses me how people can support the Catholic League's decision as none of them have seen the film. Exactly CaliPunkRockGrl, when loveAlot83 says, "It doesn't take much to figure out that the Magesterium is supposed to be the Catholic Church," that is only directed at those that have read the book and have made that connection already. Anyone going into this movie fresh will not make that assumption. As I watched the movie the first time I had already heard about this controversy and was able to see a little bit more into the story that Philip Pullman originated, but there is nothing for the Catholic League to point their fingers at.

As fr judging a film on your own terms, this is what the Catholic League does not want you to do. They have judged the film for you and tell you it is not good. Ironically this whole thing can be compared to the way the Magesterium acts in the movie, trying to tell everyone what is good for them and banning what they believe to be bad.

This is why it confuses me how people can support the Catholic League's decision as none of them have seen the film.

]]> By: CaliPunkRockGrl http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/the_golden_compass_catholics_atheists_and_ignorance#comment-963 CaliPunkRockGrl Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:25:38 +0000 http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/news/?p=7912#comment-963 To me, the basic problem with staging a boycott of this film is that, if it is in fact 'watered down', then most people wouldn't have had any clue that it was anti christian or catholic. I was also raised Lutheran and wouldn't have known that the Magesterium had anything to do with Catholics at all if it hadn't all come out in this controversy. Nor would I have had any idea what the underlying themes were supposedly representing. I personally like to just watch a film and, if it's good, think about it and analyze it on my own terms. I had the same problem with all the pro-Narnia pub from Christians that went around before its release. To me, the basic problem with staging a boycott of this film is that, if it is in fact 'watered down', then most people wouldn't have had any clue that it was anti christian or catholic. I was also raised Lutheran and wouldn't have known that the Magesterium had anything to do with Catholics at all if it hadn't all come out in this controversy. Nor would I have had any idea what the underlying themes were supposedly representing. I personally like to just watch a film and, if it's good, think about it and analyze it on my own terms. I had the same problem with all the pro-Narnia pub from Christians that went around before its release.

]]> By: loveAlot83 http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/the_golden_compass_catholics_atheists_and_ignorance#comment-960 loveAlot83 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:37:33 +0000 http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/news/?p=7912#comment-960 This is such a good argument! (Really, no hard feelings, Brad, because I enjoy this site and your other articles very much.) First of all, is the movie so different from the book that the messege is different? If the movie is not different, then yes, I can judge it before I see it. If, however, the movie has a totally different meaning and messege than the book, then we have something else. But aside from being "watered down," the references to the Church are still there. It doesn't take much to figure out that the "Magesterium" is supposed to be the Catholic Church, and that is what offends people and tranishes Catholic reputation. If, for example, Scientology or any other religion was being insulted, they would probably boycott the film too. It has nothing to do with telling you what to believe in, but a request from Catholics to Catholics to take a stand for their religion. This is such a good argument! (Really, no hard feelings, Brad, because I enjoy this site and your other articles very much.) First of all, is the movie so different from the book that the messege is different? If the movie is not different, then yes, I can judge it before I see it. If, however, the movie has a totally different meaning and messege than the book, then we have something else. But aside from being "watered down," the references to the Church are still there. It doesn't take much to figure out that the "Magesterium" is supposed to be the Catholic Church, and that is what offends people and tranishes Catholic reputation. If, for example, Scientology or any other religion was being insulted, they would probably boycott the film too. It has nothing to do with telling you what to believe in, but a request from Catholics to Catholics to take a stand for their religion.

]]> By: bradbrevet http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/the_golden_compass_catholics_atheists_and_ignorance#comment-959 bradbrevet Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:50:02 +0000 http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/news/?p=7912#comment-959 Here is the problem; you are judging something before you see it, and to ask if there is "harm" in it is silly and an unfair question. As long as you aren't hurting anyone there is no harm in it, no, but that is hardly the issue. If you are looking for reassurance that you can have your boycott then you have my blessing. I just wish it was a researched boycott rather than an ill informed one. If you have a problem with the books then boycott the books, but to bash another piece of work before you have seen it, and therefore have no basis, is ridiculous. Answer me this, how is The Golden Compass (THE MOVIE) tarnishing your church's image? Here is the problem; you are judging something before you see it, and to ask if there is "harm" in it is silly and an unfair question. As long as you aren't hurting anyone there is no harm in it, no, but that is hardly the issue. If you are looking for reassurance that you can have your boycott then you have my blessing. I just wish it was a researched boycott rather than an ill informed one. If you have a problem with the books then boycott the books, but to bash another piece of work before you have seen it, and therefore have no basis, is ridiculous.

Answer me this, how is The Golden Compass (THE MOVIE) tarnishing your church's image?

]]> By: loveAlot83 http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/the_golden_compass_catholics_atheists_and_ignorance#comment-958 loveAlot83 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:24:10 +0000 http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/news/?p=7912#comment-958 Actually, I have read The Golden Compass. Have you read the Catholic League's brochure? Now, since I am a normal movie goer, and not a critic, I cannot see the movie ahead of its release. I'm sure Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig and all the cast are charming; I'm sure it's well acted, produced, written, everything. But that does not have to mean that I agree with its inherently atheistic message and I do have the right to be offended by Phillip Pullman's insulting remarks about people who he's never even met (ie, me, a Catholic). The Catholic League can ask fellow Catholics to support their church's image, as any other church would do if their image was being tarnished. There's no harm in that, is there? Actually, I have read The Golden Compass. Have you read the Catholic League's brochure? Now, since I am a normal movie goer, and not a critic, I cannot see the movie ahead of its release. I'm sure Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig and all the cast are charming; I'm sure it's well acted, produced, written, everything. But that does not have to mean that I agree with its inherently atheistic message and I do have the right to be offended by Phillip Pullman's insulting remarks about people who he's never even met (ie, me, a Catholic). The Catholic League can ask fellow Catholics to support their church's image, as any other church would do if their image was being tarnished. There's no harm in that, is there?

]]> By: bradbrevet http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/the_golden_compass_catholics_atheists_and_ignorance#comment-957 bradbrevet Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:45:54 +0000 http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/news/?p=7912#comment-957 It doesn't hurt me personally, but I can still have an opinion. However, based on the Catholic League's comments I am assuming that if my opinion doesn't match their's then it must be wrong. I am curious though, are you one of the people boycotting the film because you saw it and disapprove? Have you even read the books? It doesn't hurt me personally, but I can still have an opinion. However, based on the Catholic League's comments I am assuming that if my opinion doesn't match their's then it must be wrong.

I am curious though, are you one of the people boycotting the film because you saw it and disapprove? Have you even read the books?

]]> By: loveAlot83 http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/the_golden_compass_catholics_atheists_and_ignorance#comment-956 loveAlot83 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:14:18 +0000 http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/news/?p=7912#comment-956 Since I am myself a Catholic, I can honestly say that I support the Catholic League's position. If you're not Catholic or Christian (by the way, it isn't only Catholics boycotting this film), or if you just don't care, get over it and move on. How is this boycott going to hurt you personally? Since I am myself a Catholic, I can honestly say that I support the Catholic League's position. If you're not Catholic or Christian (by the way, it isn't only Catholics boycotting this film), or if you just don't care, get over it and move on. How is this boycott going to hurt you personally?

]]> By: oliversourpuss http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/the_golden_compass_catholics_atheists_and_ignorance#comment-954 oliversourpuss Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:16:56 +0000 http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/news/?p=7912#comment-954 great article brad. really looking forward to seeing how this one pans out but I can't help thinking that the grand ideas were what made the books so great - kind of provided the emotional linchpin to the whole world for me. not sure that a watered down version of this was exactly what the world needed. great article brad. really looking forward to seeing how this one pans out but I can't help thinking that the grand ideas were what made the books so great – kind of provided the emotional linchpin to the whole world for me. not sure that a watered down version of this was exactly what the world needed.

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