Golden Opportunity (December 26, 2007)

Golden Opportunity
by Holly Vicente Robaina
The Golden Compass provides a new way to think and talk candidly about the church.

December 26, 2007 |
How often do non-Christian friends ask you to discuss your beliefs? How often does someone say to you, "My problem with the Christian church is … "? A new movie just might spark those conversations. But some Christians will never see it.

That's because The Golden Compass attracted controversy months before it opened on December 7. In October, the Catholic League called for a boycott of the film. An e-mail warning Christians to stay away from the movie circulated so widely, the mailing has become one of the top searches on the rumor-debunking website Snopes. A November news release from MOVIEGUIDE, a publication of the Christian Film & Television Commission, compared The Golden Compass to pro-Hitler Nazi films and stated, "If you are looking for a savior, you need look no further than Jesus Christ. If you are looking for bondage, go see The Golden Compass."

Why all this clamor? Primarily because the flick targets kids. The Golden Compass is based on the first book in the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman, who's been described as both atheist and agnostic. (Pullman seems hesitant to identify with either label—he says he's seen no evidence of God, but acknowledges God could exist.) The Catholic League believes Pullman is trying to "sell atheism to kids." A quick look at Pullman's work explains their assertion: The villains of His Dark Materials are an oppressive, authoritarian organization named the Magisterium—referred to as "the church" in the books, but not in this first movie—and God. The story takes place in a world where people's souls live outside their bodies, in the shape of animals called daemons (pronounced "demons").


I find this word usage off-putting, and it's likely meant to be. In 2001, Pullman told The Washington Post, "I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief." In his trilogy, one character, a former nun turned physicist, says, "The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake." The most troubling events occur in his trilogy's later books that characterize God as a deceptive liar. Pullman seems to clearly refer to the Judeo-Christian God when he writes, "The Authority, God, the Creator, the Lord, Yahweh, El, Adonai, the King, the Father, the Almighty—those were all names he gave himself." In the final book, God is killed.

This plotline offends and hurts me. Yet I still believe The Golden Compass movie provides incredible opportunities for Christians. Philip Pullman's opinions reflect a widely held criticism of the church—that it's cold and legalistic—and his assertions hold some truth. As Jeffrey Overstreet, a reviewer for ChristianityTodayMovies.com, expresses on his blog: "Here's a question worth considering: Why does Pullman have this wrongful impression of the church in the first place? Could it be that he's encountered arrogant, judgmental Christians? Could it be, to some degree, Christians' fault?"

Acknowledging our own flaws is difficult. I often need an outside source to expose mine. I view Pullman's work as an honest critique of the church, and an opportunity to assess areas needing improvement. Pullman inspires me to ask myself, Does my behavior cause others to turn away from God? What can I do to help change negative perceptions of the church?

And I immediately wonder: When Christian groups protest out of anger, how does their behavior reflect on the church? Certainly, Christians should offer their perspective on the film's content. (Here's mine: The Golden Compass contains violence, ethical ambiguities, and many dark and scary images.) But when Christian groups use strong-arm tactics to silence disagreement with the church, they do more harm than good. These actions make the church appear much like Pullman's Magisterium. Plus, such tactics are likely counterproductive. One New York Times reader wrote on the newspaper's website, "I hadn't even heard of [The Golden Compass] until all the media attention by the religious zealots. And if not for them, I probably wouldn't be going with my family to see it."

On the upside, the controversy has gotten many people talking about God. Suddenly, discussing religion with our co-workers, neighbors, and friends isn't taboo, because they've already heard an earful on the evening news—and they're itching to offer their opinions. Honestly, I didn't even like the movie, but I'm glad I saw it, because it's led to some amazing discussions.

Movies such as The Passion of The Christ and The Chronicles of Narnia have provided springboards for deep spiritual conversations. But Christian-themed blockbusters don't come out every day. And besides, people who aren't following Christ largely don't listen to Christian music, read Christian books, or watch Christian movies. The church needs to look beyond Christian fare to communicate the gospel. It's no surprise some of the best opportunities to share our faith spring from the greatest challenges to our faith.

Blessings,
Holly

What do you think about the controversy surrounding The Golden Compass? Have you had any conversations about it? Has a "non-Christian" book or movie ever sparked a discussion about faith for you?