Letter to The Catholic League (re. The Golden Compass)

I'm not religious, which is hardly a revelation (sorry) to those that know me and should be of no consequence to others.
Yet the highest compliment I ever received was from a very good friend of mine who is, and who felt that I was "more Christian" in my outlook and behaviour than many he knew claiming to practice Christianity.
However, I do have a confession to make (sorry again) - if I ever had the power I would ban all organised Religion and promote Faith, as there is a world of difference in my book.
And talking of books (and their interpretations)...

'The Golden Compass', the 2007 fantasy movie based on 'Northern Lights' (the first book of 'His Dark Materials' trilogy by Phillip Pullman) was, in my opinion, not just an excellent adaptation but a very good movie - and great family entertainment.
Unfortunately the Box Office returns were disappointing, which were attributal to mediocre reviews and - far more significantly - the efforts of the Catholic League, who campaigned for moviegoers to boycott the film on the grounds that the movie might encourage children to read the books which the League claims promotes atheism.
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights (to give them their full name) has its headquarters in New York and although the League is not an official agency of The Catholic Church, the power wielded by such bodies and the authority they seem to carry is, for me, everything that is wrong with organised Religion.
How anyone of sound mind and judgement can have their own personal Faith or belief swayed by a fictional movie or by the words and works of such organisations is beyond me.
I wrote to the Catholic League in 2008 regarding their successful campaign to have the film company and producers back down from considering any further sequels.
I have yet to receive a reply, but then it must be very time consuming gathering together and burning the collected works of Phillip Pullman.



To Whom It May Concern (God, presumably)...

Recently read with interest and a not a little sadness your (now successful) campaign against The Golden Compass movie/ His Dark Materials novels, and although coming late to the table (room for a thirteenth?) with the damage already done, I feel the following should be addressed:

"...Philip Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials, would make a great Christmas gift. Not if we can help it!"

Really.
On whose authority do you have the power, position, moral high ground and right to decide such issues and create such campaigns?
God's? I doubt it. Can't see your one dimensional opinionated diatribes being worthy of any omnipotent beings time.

And if the aim of the Catholic League is to stop children reading these books, then why fight so hard to get the second and third films cancelled?
Most people who have seen and enjoyed The Golden Compass will now probably want to read the books whereas, if all three films were made, less people would read the books (human nature of the current younger generations - if they can see the movie, they won't read the equivalent...unless they can't see the movie).

The furore caused will probably increase the sale of the books (again, human nature - curiosity). I happened to be in a book shop just last weekend and one girl was asking if they had the books as she had seen the first movie and knowing there would be no sequels wanted to pick up all three books.

Is it just me or does this all seem like insanity?

Those with Faith or individual belief will not have their Faith or belief swayed by anything, and certainly not from books or movies which are clearly within the category of 'fantasy fiction.' And of course, the Pullman 'world' is another world in another dimension... feel so threatened as to have to banish all 'heresy' in all worlds? You don't believe in that otherworldly nonsense, surely?

On the other side of the coin, many will see Christian beliefs as far fetched as talking polar bears, witches, and magic compasses... but that's just a fact of atheistic life.
Try accepting it, even if you don't agree with it. Each to their own.
Turn the other cheek (isn't that the Christian thing to do?)

Everyone has the right to believe what they want. Mr Pullman's books are no more suggestive than the Bible, and he certainly does not make as much money or mentally influence as many children as the Church does.
I was going to add "and physically damage" before "as many children" to the above but that would be unfair. Or would it?

Bottom line? Get your own House of God in order before throwing your weight around at others... those without Sin cast the first spell... sorry, stone.
People in Glass Houses shouldn't interfere with...
You know what? People in Glass Houses just shouldn't interfere with anything or anybody - and my mother agrees with me.
That doesn't happen often, so I must be saying something right.
And my mother is a good Catholic girl (emphasis on good, if not girl).

"Each book becomes progressively more aggressive in its denigration of Christianity and promotion of atheism"

Could you point me to the specific passages please?

"Atheism for kids. That is what Philip Pullman sells"

Again, if you could show me the parts where he advocates this, or has been quoted as such, ta.

"...if unsuspecting Christian parents take their children to see the movie, they may very well find it engaging and then buy Pullman's books for Christmas. That's the problem"

That's the problem because...? Sorry, you've lost me. And "unsuspecting" Christian parents? Surely they will, like you, immediately see the sin, heresy and horrors of this evil incarnate? Either that or there is no sin, heresy or horror to begin with("nothing to see here, please move along..."). Or are you saying Christians are so gullible that they will listen to, or believe, anything?

"We are fighting a deceitful stealth campaign on the part of the film's producers...Our goal is to educate Christians..."

No, you are just fighting a deceitful stealth campaign, full stop. It worked though, so kudos to you and the ridiculous amount of power you seem to wield in the Land of the Free (ahem). And first time I've seen 'goal' spelt a, g, e, n, d, a.

At the end of the day, it’s a work of fiction... God knows you must have read at least one in your lifetime.
Here endeth the Lesson.

Ross Muir,
happily writing from the land of the talking Polar Bears.

p.s. - how did Harry Potter slip the net then? Hogwarts School curriculum acceptable, is it?