The Register is running an interesting AP article on The Golden Compass, which opens this week:
Based on the first volume in the award-winning trilogy “His Dark Materials” by religious skeptic Philip Pullman, the movie already has been condemned by conservative Roman Catholics and evangelicals. They say it will hook children into Pullman’s books and a dark, individualistic world where all religion is evil.
But at least one liberal scholar has called the trilogy a “theological masterpiece,” and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops rates the film “intelligent and well-crafted entertainment.”
Meanwhile, some secularists complain the movie from New Line Cinemas waters down Pullman’s religious critique. They feel sold out by the author, who has described himself as both an atheist and agnostic.
I love fights like this. From the research I’ve done, yes, the book has strong anti-religion themes. Yes, the movie waters them down considerably. And yes, all the controversy is making people like me who had no idea what “The Golden Compass” was last month go out and buy books and movie tickets.
