Comments on: The Golden Compass http://www.intelliot.com/blog/archives/2007/11/11/the-golden-compass/ Thoughts, opinions and fascinating discoveries by Elliot, a student at USC Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:36:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Elliot Lee http://www.intelliot.com/blog/archives/2007/11/11/the-golden-compass/#comment-346567 Elliot Lee Mon, 19 Nov 2007 04:31:38 +0000 http://www.intelliot.com/blog/archives/2007/11/11/the-golden-compass/#comment-346567 Hmm, thanks for the review, perhaps I'll check them out. I liked Harry Potter, too, and didn't see anything in it anti-Christian. In fact, there are quite a few parallels between it and the Bible, intended or not. I think the reason Christians like Tolkien is the supposed Christian theme underlying the story. Hmm, thanks for the review, perhaps I’ll check them out. I liked Harry Potter, too, and didn’t see anything in it anti-Christian. In fact, there are quite a few parallels between it and the Bible, intended or not. I think the reason Christians like Tolkien is the supposed Christian theme underlying the story.

]]> By: Larissa http://www.intelliot.com/blog/archives/2007/11/11/the-golden-compass/#comment-345028 Larissa Sun, 18 Nov 2007 01:25:11 +0000 http://www.intelliot.com/blog/archives/2007/11/11/the-golden-compass/#comment-345028 I read the trilogy over the summer (not knowing much about the author's personal thoughts on religion), and enjoyed the books. They are imaginative, insightful, and fun, and I would recommend them as a good fictional read to anyone who is able to read with thoughtfulness and wisdom. Then again, I also highly recommend Harry Potter as some fantastic fiction, which would lead many Christians to label me as an evil heathen. Oh well. Speaking of Harry Potter, is it odd to anyone else that the Christians who bash JK Rowling for being pro-witchcraft have nothing against JRR Tolkien's love for wizardry in the Lord of the Rings books? I read the trilogy over the summer (not knowing much about the author’s personal thoughts on religion), and enjoyed the books.

They are imaginative, insightful, and fun, and I would recommend them as a good fictional read to anyone who is able to read with thoughtfulness and wisdom.

Then again, I also highly recommend Harry Potter as some fantastic fiction, which would lead many Christians to label me as an evil heathen. Oh well.

Speaking of Harry Potter, is it odd to anyone else that the Christians who bash JK Rowling for being pro-witchcraft have nothing against JRR Tolkien’s love for wizardry in the Lord of the Rings books?

]]> By: Ben H http://www.intelliot.com/blog/archives/2007/11/11/the-golden-compass/#comment-339144 Ben H Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:57:45 +0000 http://www.intelliot.com/blog/archives/2007/11/11/the-golden-compass/#comment-339144 I think I can understand how you feel. I appreciate your open mindedness a lot. I would recommend that you hear some of the words (or read at least) from his own mouth in addition to all the sites that really are trying to keep people away from him. Here is a like for an interview of him: http://www.thirdway.org.uk/past/showpage.asp?page=3949 You can just copy and paste it in your address bar. He says in the interview that he does not hate C. S. Lewis: "But when he was talking about writing for children, and about literature in general, Lewis was very, very acute and said some very perceptive and wise things. As a critic… And as a psychologist – The Screwtape Letters, for example, is full of very shrewd stuff about what it’s like to be tempted. I rate him very highly..." He goes on to say that he doesn't like his fiction and Children's literature and explains why. He also explains that his books are against "Monotheism," not simply Christianity. He would include the Taliban, and for that matter the Soviet Union (because they worked off the "same kind of mindset." He is opposed to the oppression and witch burnings, etc that come from what he would call "that kind of virtue." Please don't get me wrong. I am a follower of Jesus, and am currently in university majoring in Biblical and Theological Studies, so I am not trying to argue from the other side or say there are themes that I may not agree with. I simply think that we need to be careful about talking about jumping to conclusions. I personally enjoy the books. I find them very thought provoking in a spiritual way. I my opinion they are going to theater because they are highly successful, having achieved various awards, not because of some sort of agenda. If that is the case though, we are guilty of having an agenda with our 'church Narnia kits' two year ago too. As for the concern for children, sure, I would agree that if they are too young you might want some of that information and story in their head before they are of an age to be able to work it out and discuss it with you. Hope this contributes. Ben I think I can understand how you feel. I appreciate your open mindedness a lot. I would recommend that you hear some of the words (or read at least) from his own mouth in addition to all the sites that really are trying to keep people away from him. Here is a like for an interview of him:

http://www.thirdway.org.uk/past/showpage.asp?page=3949

You can just copy and paste it in your address bar. He says in the interview that he does not hate C. S. Lewis:

“But when he was talking about writing for children, and about literature in general, Lewis was very, very acute and said some very perceptive and wise things. As a critic… And as a psychologist – The Screwtape Letters, for example, is full of very shrewd stuff about what it’s like to be tempted. I rate him very highly…”

He goes on to say that he doesn’t like his fiction and Children’s literature and explains why. He also explains that his books are against “Monotheism,” not simply Christianity. He would include the Taliban, and for that matter the Soviet Union (because they worked off the “same kind of mindset.” He is opposed to the oppression and witch burnings, etc that come from what he would call “that kind of virtue.”

Please don’t get me wrong. I am a follower of Jesus, and am currently in university majoring in Biblical and Theological Studies, so I am not trying to argue from the other side or say there are themes that I may not agree with. I simply think that we need to be careful about talking about jumping to conclusions.

I personally enjoy the books. I find them very thought provoking in a spiritual way. I my opinion they are going to theater because they are highly successful, having achieved various awards, not because of some sort of agenda. If that is the case though, we are guilty of having an agenda with our ‘church Narnia kits’ two year ago too.

As for the concern for children, sure, I would agree that if they are too young you might want some of that information and story in their head before they are of an age to be able to work it out and discuss it with you.

Hope this contributes.

Ben

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