'Golden Compass' incenses both Christians and atheists*

THE BOOK VS. THE MOVIE

The Golden Compass movie differs from religion-basher Philip Pullman's
books on some key points:

•In the movie, a daemon is "the soul of each individual human being
embodied in an animal companion," says New Line Cinema's website,
goldencompassmovie.com. Publisher Random House's website for the book
(hisdarkmaterials.com) says a daemon is each child's "soul-like
companion" that by adulthood "best reflects the inner nature of its human."

•On the movie site, Dust is "mystical particles," while the publisher's
teachers' guide says these "reveal, or perhaps contain, the thing that
makes human beings unique. … The Church, along with many powerful
individuals and political groups, believes mastery over Dust would be a
source of great power."

•The movie's website does not mention "Experimental Theology," which the
book's site says is the study of Dust.

•The movie's site defines "The Magisterium" as an ominous, controlling
governmental authority seeking to "eliminate free will." What the movie
calls the Magisterium is in the books called the Church -- no euphemism
here. The book's website presents it as "the major religious power. …"

By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY

Rarely can one movie annoy stalwart defenders of Christianity and
atheists alike.

Now, The Golden Compass, based on the first book of British author
Philip Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials, has done it.

The movie is sure to be as anti-Christianity as the fantasy novels, says
William Donohue, head of the Catholic League, which fights anti-Catholic
bias. He wants parents to avoid the PG-13-rated film.

Evangelical clergy and scholars also are concerned that Pullman's
fiction is dangerous to faith, says Baptist Press news service.

But Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists, worries over rumors
that the film has been "watered down" and is not anti-God, anti-Church
enough.

Neither has yet seen the film, which opens Dec. 7.

Among the points of contention:

The movie refers to the ominous "Magisterium." But is this simply a
totalitarian "authority," as the filmmakers say, or does it refer to the
Roman Catholic Magisterium — meaning the pope in communion with the bishops?

Are mystical particles called "Dust" a euphemism for sin?

That's the implication in Random House's teacher's guide, which suggests
students "use the Bible, a storybook, or an encyclopedia to read about
the Garden of Eden and the fall of Adam and Eve."

In the publisher's interview with Pullman, he says his books depict "the
Temptation and Fall not as the source of all woe and misery, as in
traditional Christian teaching, but as the beginning of true human
freedom, something to be celebrated, not lamented."

A spokeswoman for New Line Cinema did not return requests for comment.
On the studio's website, however, director Chris Weitz extols Compass as
a story of "things that matter, like the human spirit, loyalty, kindness
and free will."

The Catholic League will have none of that. "We're just taking Pullman
at his word," says Donohue. The League produced a pamphlet, The Golden
Compass: Agenda Unmasked, debunking Pullman on 95 different points;
copies have been distributed to every Catholic bishop in the USA.

"The movie is just bait for the books, which are worse," and the chance
to make more movies, Donohue says. "We don't want unsuspecting Christian
parents to … take the kids to the film, buy the trilogy, and unknowingly
introduce their children to the wonders of atheism and the damnation of
Catholicism."

Johnson calls it "a sad state of affairs when the Catholic Church has to
go after a kids' movie. Remember when (the late Rev. Jerry) Falwell went
after (Teletubby) Tinky Winky," claiming he was gay? "If clergy really
were powerful, they wouldn't have to go after movies."

She frets that New Line has edited out or blurred the most atheistic
parts of the books, potentially depriving young people of inspiring
humanist role models.

Young people can readily find challenges to religious teachings, she
says: "Everything undermines theology. Atheism is reality. It's positive
action over prayer. It's evidence over faith, reason over dogma."

Debbie Elliott Frieden, co-founder of TeachWithMovies.org, has read the
trilogy and eagerly awaits the movie. She says families have nothing to
fear.

"There are so many characters and worlds they visit and life-and-death
struggles to grip kids' attention that few will be diverted to
questioning their religion or atheism," says Frieden, who produces
learning guides for parents and teachers about cultural issues in films.

"You can have faith and ask questions."