The Golden Compass

I recently finished the book "The Golden Compass" which was, to me, a delightful children's book about a little girl on a hairy adventure who makes several allies and enemies on the way.  As I read it, it was overtly obvious that the book was not Christian, because the main institutions are arms of the church that act only in a secular and political manner while using spiritual trappings to maintain the appearance of a religious organization.  Not a very complimentary commentary on the church.

As with Harry Potter and many other paganly-penned works (and I do NOT mean that expression to be derogatory in any way), the book is not proposing a Christ-centered life, and therefore should be read with a scrutinizing eye and heart by those who consider a Christ-centered life to be an act of worship to God. The author is an Atheist and has publicly stated (according to articles that I have read) that the purpose of his books is specifically attack (his word was kill) the legitimacy of the notion of God in the minds of children.

Having said that, I really enjoyed the book, was glad I read it, and think that any Christian who has even a halfway sound relationship with the Lord would be just fine reading it. Not a threat to them. The story has many redeeming qualities. It portrays the value of courage, bravery, friendship, loyalty, integrity, compassion, gentleness, and family, and shows the damaging effects of the discontinuation of those virtues. The good characters are actually rather good (though Lyra has the common modern hero complex of being above the rules, and we're supposed to support her rebelliousness <cough.. harrypotter.. cough>), and the bad characters are certainly bad. Their main vices are the use and abuse of others for the sake of their own schemes. I think that that's a very important lesson for children to learn: that others suffer when we act selfishly for the love of power (or shellfishly for the love of seafood for that matter.)

It is, however, a book that mocks the Catholic Church and it does not promote the notion that faith in a higher power will save or redeem or bring courage. Its a very "you are your only hope.. you have the wisdom.. you have the power to change the world" kind of book. It does not teach faith in God, but rather in worthy allies and your own courage. In fact religion is a dry and dusty thing that is redeemed only by the fact that it is a facade for science, so any truth or value that religion has in this world comes from the fact that science is saving the day in spite of the religious foolishness that insists on calling scientific things by philosophical/spiritual names.

Like I said, its dangerous for pagan children to read because the cynicism and venom of an adult are being poured into the minds of children, but I do not consider it at all dangerous for Christian children with a scrap of discernment... at least book 1. On a counter-note, I have read somewhere, BUT HAVE NOT YET PERSONALLY SEEN that present in books 2 and/or 3 are the subjects of male castration and female circumcision.  I myself have only read book 1 so I can neither confirm or deny this. I'm trying to get my hands on books 2 and 3 ASAP so as to make an informed opinion and share it with those whom it might help.

Well, there you go.  In case any of you had heard about Disney's vast conspiracy to undermine the church, that's my two cents on the matter.  I have heard people accuse Disney of dumming down the story so that unsuspecting parents will let their children read the books and thereby spread pro-Atheist materials like the plague through our homes, but I think that may be a bit extremist.  My suspicion is that Disney has learned their lesson: Christians boycott things that are highly offensive.  They are trying to make the story more universally palatable because their bottom line is sales, not proselytizing.  I'm sure the author would be pleased if the aforementioned scenario did occur, but its easily avoidable.  Parents who know about this should read the book with their children and talk to them about the ways in which the characters benefit from the virtues they do posses and the grace that they are missing out on my not loving and having faith in God.  Seems pretty simple to me.  Anti-venom is the easiest thing in the world to make, and it protects them from future venoms of a similar ilk.

Skepsou!  That's what Big John's plaque says.  I keep it on my wall.. even here in Japan.  It means something to the effect of: Be skeptical, question everything, use a critical mind.

May the God of all peace guard your hearts and your minds in Christ,
Joshua