This weekend, a new movie will premiere in theaters all over our nation.  It is entitled, “The Golden Compass.”  If you like allegorical fantasy, you probably have been intrigued by the previews to this movie if you have seen them.  However, before you see this movie, there are a few things you should know.

This movie is based upon a trilogy of books written by Philip Pullman, entitled, “His Dark Materials.”  This series of books and now a movie is, in my estimation, yet another attempt at trying to undermine Christianity, or at the least, to create doubts in the minds of impressionable young people.  You see, Philip Pullman is an avowed atheist.  In fact, Pullman said he wrote this trilogy because of C.S. Lewis’ “Christian evangelism” presented in the “Chronicles of Narnia.”  Pullman said, he wanted to “expose the ‘lie’ of the Christian church and assert his truth of an atheist vision of reality.” 

The “Golden Compass” is the first book in Pullman’s three part series which ultimately ends with the main characters killing God.  Each book grows increasingly more and more anti-Christian, so one can be caught up in the adventure before he realizes the nature of the allegory and the direction the books/movies take.

Sandra Miesel, who co-authored a book entitled, “The Pied Piper of Atheism: Philip Pullman and Children’s Fantasy Literature” said, “Pullman is brilliant at hiding what he is really saying.”  In a 2001 interview, Pullman said, “I’m trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.”  Two years later, in another interview, he said, “My books are about killing God.”

 In Pullman’s second book, entitled, “The Subtle Knife,” one of the main characters is told that he possesses the weapon that can kill the “tyrant.”  This “tyrant” is God.  In Pullman’s third book, entitled, “The Amber Spyglass,” this “tyrant” is called “God,” “the Creator,” “the Lord,” “Yahweh,” “El,” “Adonai,” “the King,” “the Father,” and “the Almighty."

 The Golden Compass may not have any “obvious” or “overt” anti-Christian statements that your children pick up on.  That’s the intent of this first movie.  It’s subtle.  It’s designed to pull you in, get following; get you interested, and then purchase the books, which contain the overt message that God needs to be killed. This trilogy is an assault against the God of Heaven, our Savior.  Shall we join those who hold our God in such contempt by supporting this movie with our presence and financial support?  To ask the question is to answer it.