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Even if THE GOLDEN COMPASS is taking a whack at the
structure of formalized religion, Catholic or other, what I wish the fusspots would get over is the idea that to attack the church is to attack God.
I have seen the movie, and recommend seeing it before judging it one way or another. This story supports the idea that spirit exists (The Dust) apart from the authority of the religious structure which has usurped the place of God (represented by the Dust).
posted by
Ciel
on January 2, 2008 at 10:55 AM
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Organized Religion is taking it personally again!
I'm all for Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists etc. Organized religion plays a major part in society, offering its followers support, faith, love, and generally promoting people to live good lives.
But it seems like every time a fictional movie or book comes out, some church starts freaking out, taking it personal, screaming for the film or book to be banned. Just look at all the kerfuffle over the Harry Potter series. Or all the flack they gave poor 'ol Dan Brown.
And yet, they seem to be amazingly selective about when they take offense. I don't hear them complaining about the thousands of romance novels, most of which involve pre-marital sex, sordid affairs, women using birth control, and a whole host of other sins. And what about C.S. Lewis. His Narnia series has some serious religious undertones. What about movies like Stigmata, or Constentine, or even Practical Magic. All of these have elements of religion and witchcraft. But the church lets them go. So why did they single out the Golden Compass as being an evil film? Because it shared a view of the Catholic church that they didn't agree with.
It's a world that doesn't exist. Just because the author is expressing their views of the Catholic church doesn't mean that everyone who watches it is automatically going to become an atheist and go running about committing sins left, right and center. I've read the entire Harry Potter series several times over, and I have yet to be seduced by the "dark arts".
I've read Dan Brown, and seen the Da Vinci Code. But I didn't stop believing in God, or think that he is any less of a divine being. Because I understand that what I've seen is nothing more than the figment of someone's imagination. Well researched, and very realistic. But still fiction.
And I highly doubt that watching the Golden Compass will have any lasting effects on the way I view God or the church (I still haven't seen it, but I fully intend to rent it as soon as it's available, no matter how evil it is!).
98% of people who read books and go to the movies are clever enough to understand the fact that they are entering a world of make believe. I don't think it would hurt the church to stop taking themselves so seriously. Who knows - maybe if they stopped looking for insults, they'd actually be able to enjoy some highly entertaining works of fiction...
posted by
Sira890
on January 2, 2008 at 10:32 AM
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Re: Yes, I agree with this sermon too, my God is definitely a god of love.
hi Kabu! ain't it the truth! Amen to that one...
posted by
FineYoungSinger
on January 2, 2008 at 8:34 AM
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Re: Re: Re: FineYoungSinger
hey babs....Because I haven't read the books or seen the movie, I can't really say what they were trying to say.
My point of view is that the author of the books wrote the series based upon his understanding of faith, religion, the Catholic Church and Christianity in general, and his opinions in response to his understanding. Is he correct in his information? Well, that's a whole different story.
Fulton Sheen was once quoted as saying that thousands hate what they think the Catholic Church is.
posted by
FineYoungSinger
on January 2, 2008 at 8:34 AM
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Re: Re: FineYoungSinger
So you mean to tell me they based the movie on the real Catholic Church system? Why? What are they trying to say?
posted by
b2008
on January 1, 2008 at 9:09 PM
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Yes, I agree with this sermon too, my God is definitely a god of love.
I believe that if I have love within me then that is where God dwells.
posted by
Kabu
on December 30, 2007 at 4:47 AM
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Re: FineYoungSinger
thanks richinstore
posted by
FineYoungSinger
on December 29, 2007 at 10:38 AM
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FineYoungSinger
MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008 to you.
posted by
richinstore
on December 28, 2007 at 10:04 PM
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Re: I see.
Wha-KAY!!! How you be, my dear friend? HI BO!!!
posted by
FineYoungSinger
on December 28, 2007 at 10:22 AM
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Re: FineYoungSinger
Hi TAPS.! Yeah, I thought so too. I'm still writing, just not on Blogit that often. Sometimes you have to prioritize, ya know?
posted by
FineYoungSinger
on December 28, 2007 at 10:22 AM
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Re: FineYoungSinger
Magisterium is the word for the official hierarchy of the Catholic Church throughout history. It contains the office of the Papacy, the College of Cardinals and the Synod of Bishops. The Magisterium is the structure, not necessarily the people holding the offices.
In other words, just because a person holds an office does not by default make them a good, upstanding example of what an every-day Catholic is or should be. History proves this within the office of the papacy alone: The office has seen in history sixty-two instances of usurpers (those that took the position without being the elected person for the position), and a plethora of less-than-saintly popes throughout the history of the Church. I think less than 70 of the 265 that "officially" held the chair (that took office after a proper vote) have been declaired saints.
posted by
FineYoungSinger
on December 28, 2007 at 10:19 AM
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I see.
Two roses
From me and
two more from Bo ^..^ the wonder dog!
posted by
Whacky
on December 27, 2007 at 6:03 PM
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FineYoungSinger
That's quite a sermon. Good to see you writing now and then.
posted by
TAPS.
on December 27, 2007 at 11:54 AM
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FineYoungSinger
By the way, I was reading on Catholicism last week because I'm trying to know a little about the religion we practice here in the states. I think I remember seeing that word magisterium in my readings. Is that a Catholic connotation for something?
posted by
b2008
on December 27, 2007 at 11:49 AM
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FineYoungSinger
Thank you so much. It really did help. But, I only believe in one God right now:) and I don't think I'm interested in the magisterium at all.
posted by
b2008
on December 27, 2007 at 11:45 AM
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babs: The gods to which Father was referring are Idols...
from the obvious idols that we are fairly adept in seeing to the more insidious idols--our impressions of God, our assumptions of who God really is and the rationalizations to which we wrongly cling regarding what we believe and how we believe it.
My priest believes that all art has value, and if you look at art from the right perspective, it will reflect truth back.
The Golden Compass is a film based on a series of books. The books describe a world where a magisterium inflicts upon the world restrictive rules based on their beliefs in a mean, frightening god of vengence (at least this is what I've learned through my research for this article).
Hope this helps.
posted by
FineYoungSinger
on December 27, 2007 at 10:58 AM
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Or, were you referring ...
...to the movie The Golden Compass of which I don't know anything about? I'm confused.
posted by
b2008
on December 27, 2007 at 10:48 AM
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I don't understand...
...are you saying that we should
not believe in satan? I just didn't understand what Gods you were talking about:)
posted by
b2008
on December 27, 2007 at 10:44 AM
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