Parents Want Anti-God Book Pulled from school Library

[Ceres]

From: http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=bb09ddce-76bf-4f41-aa22-d89e48307bcf&k=89576&p=1

Some groups want the book, The Golden Compass, by Bill Pullman, pulled from the school library shelves because the story is anit-god, anti-chruch and anti-religion. The author maintains that he is atheist:

Mr. Pullman has long courted controversy. "I don't know whether there's a God or not," he says online. "Nobody does, no matter what they say. I think it's perfectly possible to explain how the universe came about without bringing God into it, but I don't know everything, and there may well be a God somewhere, hiding away.

"Actually, if he is keeping out of sight, it's because he's ashamed of his followers and all the cruelty and ignorance they're responsible for promoting in his name," Mr. Pullman goes on. "If I were him, I'd want nothing to do with him."

The groups trying to get the books banned sound paranoid:

Elementary school principals in the Halton Catholic District School Board recently received a memo advising them of parents' concerns that the book, first published in 1995, is "apparently written by an atheist where the characters and text are anti-God, anti-Catholic and anti-religion." I should mention that here in Canada, Catholic schools are publically funded equally with public schools. Its a French Canadian Culture loophole.

Those trying to prevent the ban are a little more level-headed:

The trilogy has found some unlikely allies -- among them the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 2004, Dr. Rowan Williams suggested the trilogy should be included in schools' religious education, because teaching about religion should also include teaching about its critics. University professors who have studied and taught the books say they are suitable for older elementary school students.

The story will prompt children to think "about what's important about being human and if there is a God, what God is like, and what the role of adults as teachers about that is," said Prof. Baker, from the University of Toronto. "I think the thing that's really terrific about these books, and that anybody that is a right-thinking spiritual person would think of, is that they raise lots of questions, and that that's a really good and healthy thing, no matter what your theological beliefs are."

All in all, these books will definitely be our next read aloud as a family series. There is nothing like being banned to recommend a book to my kids :lol: In fact, we often use banned books lists as recommended reading lists :lol:

[L_Moonshade]

How sad that people can't let others make up their own minds! I've just started reading The Golden Compass after the series was recommended by my daughter, and I'm really enjoying it. Why can't these groups use the books as a springboard for discussion, rather than trying to get the book banned?

Oh, well. Small minds, I guess.

[TheWomanMonster]

I want to read that book.

Seriously, even if the book (and movie) does have 'anti-catholic' messages in it, what proof is there that it will cause good catholic school kids to suddenly doubt what they were raised in?

*sigh*

well... book bannings beat book burnings, I suppose.
I'll still be buying a copy of the series.

[Autumn-Forest]

I don't understand.

I was just talking about the movie they are making based on these books to some Christian friends and they sounded upset. Like "Why would they purposefully make a movie about tearing down the religion in children?". Umm...I don't think thats the goal of the Golden Compass, at all. I think its because he is an athiest or has differnet beliefs on God and he openly talks about them that people think his books/movie are going to be anti-christ and teach your children that God is bad. But I highly doubt thats the case...not even a little bit. I'll have to read the books for myself and watch the movie, but I think its just another movie. People did that about Harry Potter, atleast in my school they did. Parents were pissed and told the school they didn't want their children reading witchcraft.

Um... Harry Potter is fiction and fantasy...I'm sure that the Golden Compass doesn't subliminal say burn bibles and hate God.

Its just stupid and ignorant.

Theres my two cents. :)

be well,
Autumn

[David19]

I don't understand.

I was just talking about the movie they are making based on these books to some Christian friends and they sounded upset. Like "Why would they purposefully make a movie about tearing down the religion in children?". Umm...I don't think thats the goal of the Golden Compass, at all. I think its because he is an athiest or has differnet beliefs on God and he openly talks about them that people think his books/movie are going to be anti-christ and teach your children that God is bad. But I highly doubt thats the case...not even a little bit. I'll have to read the books for myself and watch the movie, but I think its just another movie. People did that about Harry Potter, atleast in my school they did. Parents were pissed and told the school they didn't want their children reading witchcraft.

Um... Harry Potter is fiction and fantasy...I'm sure that the Golden Compass doesn't subliminal say burn bibles and hate God.

Its just stupid and ignorant.

Theres my two cents. :)

be well,
Autumn

I agree with you, it's just a book, whatever the beliefs of the author are, don't matter, it's fiction/fantasy.

But, I don't think the author is going to complain, because it's taboo, a lot more people will probably want to read it.

Personally, I've heard a lot of people like the series, but I flicked through on his books in a shop, and read the back, and it honestly didn't sound that good, maybe it's just me, but I don't get what the fuss is about.

[LostSheep]

God once again sighs wearily at the people who claim to be his followers and goes off to play golf.

[Lunacie]

Oh noes! Teaching children to think for themselves and to think outside the box of mainstream religion... horrors! The books must be burned. The film must be banned. Quickly now, before our children become more than mindless automatons.

</sarcasm>

[banondraig]

Oh noes! Teaching children to think for themselves and to think outside the box of mainstream religion... horrors! The books must be burned. The film must be banned. Quickly now, before our children become more than mindless automatons.

</sarcasm>

This sort of thinking reminds me of those kids who have to live in bubbles because their immune systems don't function. If your faith is that fragile, should you really be calling it faith?

[Ceres]

This sort of thinking reminds me of those kids who have to live in bubbles because their immune systems don't function. If your faith is that fragile, should you really be calling it faith?

Thats exactly it! If your own faith is that fragile, you wouldnt keep it. Its when you are trying to control someone else's faith that measures like this are neccessary.

[Athena-Nadine]

I haven't read them in a few years, but if I remember right this doesn't come up until the second and third books. They take place in a parallel world and the angels and the god in the story are the antagonists.

It's fiction! People really need to stop being so paranoid. Honestly, I think it's nothing but laziness in these people. That and a fear of looking at their own beliefs too closely. They don't want to have to answer the "hard" questions.

[Ariste]

I'm going to demand they remove the Chronicles of Narnia from my daughters school library because of it's obviously Christian themes. Seriously though, 2 of my favorite series I found in the school library. Both by David Eddings and they kill God. (well A god atleast, both series have pantheons) In Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series they kick him out of "office" for not doing his job. Golden Compass is nothing new or shocking, it's just gotten more press.

[Brónach Druid]

It is very sad and stupid, but I can't say that I am surprised. When I was in a student at a catholic elementary school many eons ago, they banned the book "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret" because Margaret was questioning God. :geez:
Lucky for me, my parents did not believe in book banning and always encouraged me to read whatever I wanted. I came across a list of banned books awhile ago and was shocked to see so many great works on the list. Some of them favorites of mine and books I had insisted my kids read. It is amazing what people will ban and the reasons behind it.

[Lunacie]

I haven't read them in a few years, but if I remember right this doesn't come up until the second and third books. They take place in a parallel world and the angels and the god in the story are the antagonists.

It's fiction! People really need to stop being so paranoid. Honestly, I think it's nothing but laziness in these people. That and a fear of looking at their own beliefs too closely. They don't want to have to answer the "hard" questions.

What is it called when fiction (or a song) is poking fun at someone who takes themselves too seriously? A parody? Or maybe satire.

Kinda like the book "The Princess Bride" ridiculing the excesses of European royalty. But it's fiction, eh...

[banondraig]

Thats exactly it! If your own faith is that fragile, you wouldnt keep it. Its when you are trying to control someone else's faith that measures like this are neccessary.

In other words, ideally never.

I haven't read them in a few years, but if I remember right this doesn't come up until the second and third books. They take place in a parallel world and the angels and the god in the story are the antagonists.

It's fiction! People really need to stop being so paranoid. Honestly, I think it's nothing but laziness in these people. That and a fear of looking at their own beliefs too closely. They don't want to have to answer the "hard" questions.

But, but, all the answers are in their book . . . . aren't they?

I think a lot of these sorts of furores are caused by fundamentalists fearing that one of these books they don't like will somehow supplant the Bible. I'm really curious as to how how or why a work of fiction intended for children would do that.

What is it called when fiction (or a song) is poking fun at someone who takes themselves too seriously? A parody? Or maybe satire.

Kinda like the book "The Princess Bride" ridiculing the excesses of European royalty. But it's fiction, eh...

Is that what the book is about? I've only seen the movie.

[Lyrien]

From:


All in all, these books will definitely be our next read aloud as a family series. There is nothing like being banned to recommend a book to my kids :lol: In fact, we often use banned books lists as recommended reading lists :lol:


That's so funny. I think it's human nature to do exactly what you are forbidden to do. Apple anyone?

I've received the emails, I've seen online discussion on my homeschool msg boards. Most of the Christian people I've spoken with have plans to see the movie and are tired of the alarmists freaking out over every little thing. Pretty soon no one will listen. Hey look, WOLF!

Belle

[Ceres]

That's so funny. I think it's human nature to do exactly what you are forbidden to do. Apple anyone?

Belle

Part of it is the forbidden, but moreso its that if the books are banned, it means there is a controversy around them and its simply more interesting to read a book about which you can discuss the controversy as well as the story.

Of course the more realistic the controversy, the more interesting. The controversy around the Harry Potter books, for example, is just silly and not even worth discussing, though we are enjoying the series all on its own. I am hoping the Golden Compass offers better opportunities for discussions about religion.

[Myzterio]

Yeah, so I haven't yet read the second and third books, but I've recently finished the first... There's no God-bashing there, at least, and this is the book we're talking about here!
If the second and third book are different, which, apparently they are, that's something else altogether.

The book does however, bash on the Catholic Church, as it supports a main antagonist.

Either way, I'm against banning books altogether. And if any books should be banned, the first books that should be banned - on grounds of violence and the like, combined with their influence on people - are the Thora, Bible and Quran. I mean... Old Testament!!
Still, I'm against banning any books, because I believe that liberty is one of the most fundamental human rights (technically, 'benevolent liberty' is the most fundamental human right, if you ask me!), and any country or group that prevents liberty in any way that does not directly negate harm (i.e. I'm barring murder, theft, etc.) goes against that right. They have the right to express their opinion about the matter as well as the right to ignore it themselves, but they do not have the right to withhold others their freedom.

[banondraig]

That's so funny. I think it's human nature to do exactly what you are forbidden to do. Apple anyone?

I've received the emails, I've seen online discussion on my homeschool msg boards. Most of the Christian people I've spoken with have plans to see the movie and are tired of the alarmists freaking out over every little thing. Pretty soon no one will listen. Hey look, WOLF!

Belle

:lol:

i like wolves. here, puppy. here, puppy, puppy.

[WytherWyskers]

I love the His Dark Materials trilogy! One of my favorites! I hope the movie is decent.

[Ceres]

We just finished the series and all I can say is WOW. Pullman is a genius. I read them aloud to a 7 yr old, 11 yr old and 14 yr old and they all loved it. I loved it. It had something for everyone- action, adventure, character study, romance, fantasy, mystery and it definitely brought up great topics for discussion. We are still discussing them a week later.

I see why the church was opposed to the series because the book does address a lot of the questions that do cause people to question their faith, but of course I dont support not questioning your faith; in fact I think we have a responsibility to qurestion our faith. Its interesting this thread mentioned temptation in the form of the apple because that was a huge theme addressed in the book: the true nature of the temptation of Adam and Eve in the bible. That it was about blind obedience versus free will. The nature of humans as thinking rational beings. The responsibility of being Aware.

:thumbsup: