Anybody read/reading The Golden Compass?

Mushroom Queen · **Posted:** November 28th, 2007, 8:17 pm

Some of you might know that the film is coming out soon (if it's not already out where you are), and I was wondering if anyone had read it. I've read it, and I'm halfway through the last book in the trilogy.

What did you think of the book? Do you think it'll be a good film? Most importantly, do you think that the series is "anti-God"?

You can see the trailer here.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/newline/thegoldencompass/

Adbot · **Posted:** November 28th, 2007, 8:17 pm

Kronic · **Posted:** November 28th, 2007, 9:09 pm

I read the trilogy for the Golden Compass a few years ago and it's a really interesting story and I'll most likely re-read it before I see the movie, which from the trailers looks to be very well-made.

As for the whole religious arguments against it, I believe it is a bit on the anti-Christian side, however, for those, like with the release of the Da Vinci Code, need to realize what it is: a work of fiction. In my opinion, although Phillip Pullman said outright that he wrote it to be anti-Christian, it wasn't extremely evident when reading it. He did represent the Church as the antagonist, but then again the Church hasn't exactly been angelic throughout history. I believe in God, and to be honest the story didn't offend me that much at all.

Chief Snake · **Posted:** November 28th, 2007, 11:33 pm

I read the trilogy a long time ago (way back when we lived in our old house :shock:

), so I am sort of looking forward to the film, though I remember very little from the books so I'm not so enthusiastic. I know I loved them though.

As for being "anti-God", I wouldn't have a clue. I was far too young to be thinking about religion and I know I never thought about it for a second while reading the books. XD

Zachy · **Posted:** November 29th, 2007, 5:33 am

I read all three books a year or two without quite understanding the ending.
I only understood by reading about all the movie hype.

To me it seemed kind of stupid because it wasn't professedly anti-God, but then I read some quotes directly from the author in which he basically said "I wrote this series purposefully as Anti-God." He also deliberately portrayed the church as evil and wicked in the books, and those who fought it and God as the righteous ones.

So meh. I'm one less person going to see that movie.

matthewda93 · **Posted:** November 29th, 2007, 2:11 pm

I've read them many times and it's a great series. I can't wait for the movie to come out. And by the way Kronic, its Pullman not Pulmer =P

Hairy Munky · **Posted:** November 29th, 2007, 3:02 pm

I've read it twice, never noticed anything anti-God, although I'm not the type of person who picks up on those things :/.
Can't wait for the film, I hope they don't **** it up like with Harry Potter...

Adbot · **Posted:** November 29th, 2007, 3:02 pm

Mushroom Queen · **Posted:** November 29th, 2007, 10:50 pm

Yeah, I don't think it's anti-God either. Zachy, I think the quote you're talking about is where Pullman says that the book is about "killing God". But, in the stories God has a fictionalised origin where he was the first angel to exist and he convinced other angels that he made them. In the stories, God and the Authority are corrupt institutions that seek to essentially enslave a population of people by removing their souls in order to make them docile.

If anything, the book is anti-authoritarian, not anti-God. Although Pullman is an Atheist, he says something that I found to be wise:

Quote:

The religious impulse – which includes the sense of awe and mystery we feel when we look at the universe, the urge to find a meaning and a purpose in our lives, our sense of moral kinship with other human beings – is part of being human, and I value it. I'd be a **** fool not to.

He does accept that religion isn't just a destructive force that is vile in every way. He's against the history of violence that has been done in the name of religion (though I argue that power and property were the real reasons for these actions).

The books are great and if you're firm in what you believe, it shouldn't bother you in the slightest to read a book that suggests a different view.

Zachy · **Posted:** November 30th, 2007, 5:44 am

I agree for the most part.

According to several interviews, Pullman said (answering the question of "Is His Dark Materials anti-religious?"):[/quote]

Quote:

Religion is something that human beings do, and the story is on the side of humanity. The feelings of wonder and joy and awe that human beings have always felt in the face of nature and the mystery of our lives have sometimes taken religious expression, and sometimes poetic; and sometimes they've been expressed in writing about science. I think I tried to give those feelings expression in the form of a story. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. That's what the story is for.
As for what it's against - the story is against those who pervert and misuse religion, or any other kind of doctrine with a holy book and a priesthood and an apparatus of power that wields unchallengeable authority, in order to dominate and suppress human freedoms. In Lyra's world, that power is wielded by a mighty and corrupt church, which differs in some ways from the church in our world just as the everyday lives of the characters do. In our own world, that sort of power has been wielded at various times in the name of religion as well as in the name of 'scientific' atheism. It's wielded politically, and it's wielded culturally; sometimes it`s a religious police force that beats women who aren't wearing the correct dress, and sometimes it's a cowardly press, cringing in front of corporate power, that cackles and jeers whenever it sees something it thinks it's safe to criticise.

From this quote it seems to me like he isn't so much against religion but those who abuse its power to take advantage of others. Then again, when asked to comment on Christianity, he said:

Quote:

I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief. Mr. Lewis would think I was doing the Devil's work.

It's difficult to understand just what he's trying to convey here; whether it be that he is completely opposed to Christianity or that he is merely against those who misuse it.

http://www.margheim.net/Christian/TheGoldenCompass.htm

That website is a very good source for other quotes from Pullman.

Jamie · **Posted:** November 30th, 2007, 1:47 pm

I read the trilogy awhile back so I don't remember it too clearly. However, I am definitely going to see the movie. It is a little anti-God, however the main thing that people need to realize is that it's FICTION, and if Pullman has his own opinions about religion then that's his own opinion and what he thinks.

Ren · **Posted:** December 3rd, 2007, 1:42 pm

I read the trilogy when I was a kid. While somewhat anti-God, it is more "anti-powerful establishment which abuse their power and the trust placed in them". 'Twas a good series.

Mushroom Queen · **Posted:** December 3rd, 2007, 6:16 pm

Ren wrote:

I read the trilogy when I was a kid. While somewhat anti-God, it is more "anti-powerful establishment which abuse their power and the trust placed in them". 'Twas a good series.

Glad to see you joined!

I think Pullman meant to put more emphasis on the church being a corrupt organisation rather than a spiritually-misguided one that believed, in what he sees as, an invisible force called God. I think that because he chooses to refer to the church simply as the Authority, not the Church, to imply that it's become more of a force of terror than of spirituality and devotion to God.

Hairy Munky · **Posted:** December 8th, 2007, 2:33 am

I saw the film Thursday, and I'm glad to say it was better than I thought it'd be. It's a bit short and a couple of things don't follow the book, but I guess it had to be done to compress it.

All in all a good film. The witches don't fly on brooms though

.

Sidespin · **Posted:** December 8th, 2007, 6:13 pm

Those books look good i really want to read them and then see the movie

Mushroom Queen · **Posted:** December 8th, 2007, 6:23 pm

Sidespin wrote:

Those books look good i really want to read them and then see the movie

Good. Always read the books before seeing the movie.

And Munky, didn't the witches fly on cloud-pine in the book?

Jamie · **Posted:** December 8th, 2007, 6:58 pm

They cut out the last three chapters from the book ...Grr I hope they make a second movie.