Advertisement

HJWeasley, I completely agree. While I’m not going to discuss my deep personal feelings about His Dark Materials, I won’t read it in it’s entirety. I’ve skimmed through the book and read parts. I know what it’s about but what puts me off was the whole “kill God” part. And there was definitely much darker stuff than Harry Potter It’s just good to be cautious sometimes. Especially those with beliefs like mine… and also as humans, we all have our limits on what offends us the most. (At least what I believe).

Anyways, Evanna looks so cute and happy! Katie looks quite lovely.

You go, Layla finger snap Yeah, I definitely support your point of view.

I think it’s good to be exposed to new things, different things. People must learn that these are just books and it is possible (if you have different beliefs) to detach yourself but still enjoy a good story. You don’t have to believe everything you read. I think as long as children know that then they’re good, but I don’t like censorship because what it breeds; it just makes you even more curious. That curiosity might actually make you sneak around your parents and disobey their wishes instead of having an open relationship. But then again, I’m not gonna go to your house and say you must let your child read this book. If you find it that offensive then don’t mess with it. Heck, some people won’t read Huck Finn just because of a word. If they got past that word they’d see the story for what it really was; it’s like how some people can’t get past the witchcraft in Harry Potter so they miss out on this AMAZING story. :)

Anyway, I still think everyone should really give it a try.

See, when I used to wear clothes like Evanna’s, people tried to make fun…but noooow it’s cool to be original and distinguish oneself from all the trend copycats, haha. Better late justice than never ;) I am really digging those silver sequin Converse shoes! I love Katie’s bag as well. They both look so fashionable, yet so comfortably dressed!

No matter what a person believes they can still write a good book. Notice I say ‘a’ good book because The Golden Compass/Northern Lights is the only good one! People only like The Amber Spyglass because of the ending that made them cry. Well, it might have made me cry if I’d actually cared about what just happened in the last 400 pages or so! OK OK so maybe it DID make me cry a little, just a little bit…, but only because Lyra and Will are good characters. Regardless of the last two books, The Golden Compass is an out-and-out CLASSIC.

For anyone interested, Pullman (amidst much babbling) kind of promotes that worshipping one God is a bad idea that only leads to fear and conflict between people with different beliefs. In the books Lord Asriel (played by Daniel Craig in The Golden Compass) sort of sets out to show that Dust, which is like the Force midichlorians in Star Wars, is the source of all creation and life. Orgainized religion are the bad guys, which is the main reason the Church would have issues with the books.

Performingmonkey, you weren’t interested in Dr. Malone’s story? I thought the descriptions of the mulefa and their world were the best part of The Amber Spyglass; the fact that the ending was obviously supposed to make the reader sob merely annoyed me.

May I also add that to be perfectly honest, HP is the only fantasy book I will ever really read and enjoy so far. I mean, I’ve tried to read other books, but they never sparked my interest.

I LOVED that they were there. I mean as much as I don’t like Katie, I did love that she was there with Evanna. :D

Dakota Blue looked the best, so cute, and Eva Green looked amazing. I CAN’T wait to see the movie! :D

I haven’t finished the series, I have about 40 pages left in the Golden Compass, I can see why the Catholic Church might have a problem with the books, but it is set in a different world, because it is obviously fantasy it doesn’t go by the same rules. I agree that it is against organised religion. But you also get out of any book a lot of what you bring to it. It is a good idea for parents to know what their kids are reading, but what the author says outside of the books doesn’t have to affect how you read them, again…I still don’t see Dumbledore as gay…I just don’t see it…back to “His Dark Materials”....It is more difficult read and a lot more emotional and graphic, you have to know your child to know what age your child could handle the read. Maybe I enjoy it because I love science, its an entertaining read and after the first few pages you have curiosity and emotions invested in your main character, I would say it gives me WEF (weird emotional feelings). I don’t think reading this book or going to see the movie is going to make me or anyone else less of a Christian. As far as your children go, just be prepared to answer any questions they have (hopefully if you are letting them read the series they have a firm grasp of what is reality and what is make believe) and be ready with a hug and box of tissues. I hope I made sense.

by different world I mean I know its earth, but its more a parrell universe, and not any we live in because of obvious sci-fi/fantasy elements

HJWeasley: An atheist parent might as easily make the same comments against the Chronicles of Narnia, which is every bit as anti-atheism as His Dark Materials is anti-religion.

Evanna and Katie look so cute! I wish Emma had been there though. I think I read somewhere that she liked the books. And in response to what someone mentioned earlier…Phillip Pullman has never, ever criticized JK Rowling. He actually said he’s read one of the books and found it well-written and funny. He and JKR have mutual respect and admiration for each other; I’ve read this in a couple of interviews. And some of you criticizing Pullman need to READ the books. Simply “skimming” them is not enough to arrive at a conclusion. You need to discover the themes in a broader context. If you still have complaints after reading, then criticize them as much as you want. It’s like people assuming Harry Potter promotes the occult without reading the books and realizing that they’re about friendship and love and self-discovery. Pullman’s books are essentially about the same themes…as well as the struggle to live a decent life on here on Earth rather than using organized religion as an excuse for your actions.

I need to re-post farseer0514’s comment, ‘cause it’s the only one that fully addressed the misconceptions in HJ Weasley’s assumptions.

“HJ Weasley- I respect your opinion…but I definitely think you took Phillip Pullman’s quote out of context. I believe he was referring to killing God sarcastically after religious fundamentalists claimed that’s what he set out to do. If you’ve read the books, you’ll realize they’re actually kind of spiritual, and their only complaint is with ORGANIZED religion. Pullman himself says he’s more agnostic than anything. I’m a firm believer in God, and I still think His Dark Materials is the most beautifully written, human fantasy I’ve ever read (in addition to HP of course). However, I do agree that the second two books are for a more adult audience – but that doesn’t mean children can’t read them. I think they’re actually quite enlightening.”

I love the HDM trilogy, I DON’T CARE that it’s seen as anti-religion or atheist. Authors should be entitled to write from whatever religious or non-religious perspective they want – it’s called living in a FREE SOCIETY.

The opinions of those who haven’t even read these books in their entirety do not hold sway with me anyway. But I don’t like suggestions that if something gives a different opinion from the ‘Christian norm’ then it should be warned against. In case people hadn’t noticed, not everyone is Christian, and not everyone is religious.

Katie and Evanna look lovely and I hope they enjoyed themselves. Can’t wait to see this film next week.

HDM, has some pretty intriguing points of view and its puts into contrast the bold reality that a lot of the Christian beliefs right now has veered off from the core concepts. Heck I’m a devout catholic and some of the “teachings” of catholics and christians in general are pretty annoying if not disgusting (like their treatment of homosexuality as some sort of sickness or sin). I blame it on the fact that priests and those in the church hierarchy are human and not infalliable like some weird catholics believe and I leave it to my gut feeling and my life experiences to accept which teachings I will follow. I believe God is in my heart and my heart will not lead me astray. I’d rather follow my heart than some priest or bishop who has his own agenda.

Of course HDM is heavily anti-Christian (although the film makers said they’re diluting that and making it more general rather than specifically targeting Christians) and any parent who wants their kids to read it should guide them through it.

Aw, it’s so cute how Katie’s always hanging out with the female cast members – she seems a real girl’s girl. One of the reasons why she’s my favourite Potter actress.

Hi everybody, I was looking at this comments page to enjoy a bit of gossip and what do I find? A discussion about Christianity…God and anti-religion…. ok we got to STOP this, this is just getting more and more ridiculous. I’m 24, italian and I come from Rome (and that’s where the POPE leaves) and I have been growing up believing that every Sunday I had to go to Church and that I had to thank God before every meal. Now, I don’t believe in God anymore… at least not in that God I grew up with, or Mary or the milions of Saints the Church canonizes every year. But I believe that there are so many people of all different cultures and religions who never complain because of the “anti-religiosity” of a book. Every time we read (or watch) something, we have to open this big discussion about “do you think it means that he wants to kill God?” or “someone can’t die and relive because only God or Jesus can do that?”. Let’s just enjoy what these amazing writers share with us without complaining everytime!!! Christians or not!!!

And one more thing, Do you parents think that after watching thins movie kids will organize some kind of mission to go and kill God????? Let them live and make their own choices…

It’s a shame Bonnie couldn’t attend the premiere =( She’s a great fan of Nicole Kidman!! She would have loved it!!

hmmmmm….... I don’t ever 1 saying the golden compass is against christian religion or something…I have not read the books but i will watch the movie! I was wondering is it against islam too! Coz i am muslim….and we believe in god ofcouse! Islam and christians are not very different if u ask me…apart from a few things that we think differntly!!! I love my religion and am sincere in it!! Anyway, this is off the topic….i wish emma attended the premiere but shes busy with school….and evanna looks cool!

I loved the books, I hope the films live up to them. the clips I have seen so far looks brilliant. His Dark materials are fantasy and total escapism, great books.