What we are for?
or
What we are against?
The latest series to fall victim to the "Christian Boycott Bandwagon" (they needed something to fill the void left by the completion of the Harry Potter series!!) is Philip Pullman's trilogy of books "His Dark Materials" ("The Golden Compass", "The Subtle Knife", and "The Amber Spyglass").
The reason some people are getting all riled up about these books is because, by Pullman's own admission, he wrote them as a rebuttal to CS Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia" which he views as 'Christian propaganda'.
Maybe he just said that to tick off a whole bunch of Christians, get lots of publicity, and sell lots of books. I don't know if that's why he did it, but if it is it's working.
Now, the reason that this is all coming to light now, (after all, the first book was published back in 1995) is that these books are finally hitting the silver screen. So, (beware the sarcasm) make sure none of you or your kids read the books or see the movie: they are likely to go straight to hell!
I suppose it needs to be said that I have not read these books (but the movie trailer looked pretty cool) so if you have please share your opinion. If there's really stuff in here that is totally harmful or heretical then set me straight.
It just ticks me off when Christians spend all of their time and energy condemning this, that, and the other thing but NEVER DO ANYTHING POSITIVE! It's no wonder people sometimes think of Christians as hate-mongers if all they see of us is endless condemnation.
After all, even if these books are evil, you don't overcome evil by abstinence. Abstinence is neutral. Instead we should, "...overcome evil with good" Romans 12:21 (ESV).
The funny thing is that people are condemning Pullman because he is an atheist. When was the last time an atheist was won back to Christ because he was boycotted and condemned by Christians? Last time I heard that wasn't one of the more effective methods. You may want to check out CS Lewis' own story for a more positive idea for converting atheists.
Anyway, Pullman's stories are full of spiritual themes and symbols. It's true (from what I've read), he doesn't view the church very positively, nor his 'god' representatives. But that shouldn't be a surprise should it?
A quick browse of wikipedia shows that Pullman grew up with a religious background. His grandfather was clergy. One of his biggest literary influences, and where he got the title for his trilogy, is John Milton's Paradise Lost, one of the greatest Christian classics. Another huge influence was William Blake, another amazing Christian artist and poet.
So, when you start reading articles and getting emails about how Philip Pullman is the devil incarnate, remember that these things are rarely black and white. For example, some Christian schools are suggesting that these books become compulsory reading to help students understand some of the secular world's justified critiques of the church. After all, Pullman clearly has some unresolved issues with Christianity in his past.
The main thing to keep in mind is that anyone reading these needs to read them carefully and cautiously. If kids are reading them, the parents need to be reading it with them and engaging them in discussion (or if the kids are too young then parents act accordingly... but that goes for "Christian" literature as well).
It just frustrates me when Christians go around boycotting everything. They boycotted Disney for years... and then Disney distributed the "Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" movie so they had to lift their ban.
What happens if Pullman is eventually reconciled to Christ. Will the boycott on his pre-conversion books continue? Or will they become classics in their own right?
So,
Have any of you read these books? What are they really like?
Are these books really that bad... ie, "worse" than Harry Potter or Disney?
Why drives some of us to ban and boycott?
Are Christians known more for what we are against than for what we are for?
8 comments:
Hah, I can't believe I forgot to mention "The DaVinci Code".
Remember that book? One theologian called it 'the biggest attack on the church in more than a century'.
Uh, huh. Good thing we all boycotted it.
Oops. I read it. I guess I didn't get the memo.
I have definetly been getting some emails regarding this movie and its books... apparently there is something in the books about children killing God?! Whoah! I agree though that we get all hyped about these things and send emails to all our christian friends to not see the movie and say all these horrible things but you're right... thats not helping at all. In fact when I got the email I wanted to go watch it and I haven't even heard of it yet! Also, in working with kids it seems the more you say its bad, you shouldn't do it - they do - and well so do I! For example Harry Potter - I had to see what all the fuss was about! Wow.. I never comment this much on your blog! :)cheers
oh and I want to borrow that reveal book when you're done.. i heard it was good!
I think if Christians just hide from anything that seems remotely threatening to them, they're just setting themselves up for a bigger fall.
I've known lots of people who just turn their face away anytime something threatens their theology, philosophy, or 'worldview'.
Why not explore different ideas with discernment? Why not be aware of how others view the world so you can be a better critical thinker?
I agree with you, I don't think that kids or people who are wishy-washy in their thinking should just read every new philosophy that comes about, that could be dangerous. But, I think there's great merit in understanding why people think differently than you.
I'm reading Nietzche's 'Beyond Good and Evil' right now. I definitely don't agree with the conclusions he reaches, but at least I know why I don't agree. And at least I can understand and realize why he thought the way he did.
Ok, yah I agree that Christendom tends to be against things instead of for things. And I guess it is good to understand other peoples world views. I have not read these books (nor Harry Potter or the Da Vinci code) but I wonder where the balance is from what Scripture tells us in Hebrews 12:2, to fix our eyes on Jesus, and in Philippians 4:8 to dwell on the true and noble. The problem that I see with these movies is that the majority of people get sucked in to the drama and forget that this is a wrong worldview. Take Harry Potter for example. I have not seen the movies or read the books but I have seen the effects that it has had on our children. Even in no-wheres ville Saskatchewan witchcraft, wicca and the occult is incredibly prevalent in elementary school. The very scary stories that I have heard from events in the classroom of grade four students is horrifying. I believe that we often underestimate the longterm effects that these "innocent" books and movies have on our society. And so I see the point of these boycotts. I don't think they really help or are the best thing to do, or that they will save any of the authors. But until I got an E-mail about The Golden Compass I would have seen the trailer and perhaps wanted to watch the movie not knowing that it has an anti-God theme. I guess what I'm saying is don't be so hard on the protesters. Perhaps they see the damage that these things are doing and just don't know any other way to express their fear. I know I don't want my children watching these kinds of things until they are old enough to really understand what a worldview is. (Some adults don't even know what a worldview is)I'm not sure people are condemning Pullman because he is an atheist but because of the message it sends to our young that, if children can kill God, then we are greater than God and don't need Him. Young minds have a difficult time distinguishing from reality and fiction in movies and so it creates confusion instead of solidifying truth in their minds. Yes, a boycott may not be the answer, but I agree that these types of things have such a great impact on our culture that we cannot just let them slide. What is the answer then? I don't know. Maybe we should go to the movie and just shut our eyes in protest.
Tim S.
I have not read the books or seen the movie. I was just wondering how or why Pullman would "kill" God in his books if he is an atheist. Remember, atheist means that a person does not believe that God exists. Why would he bother if he does not believe God exists. I am just wondering if the people boycotting this are projecting their own views on the books and not letting them speak for themselves.
And I just have to say...the DaVinci what?
I would really like to be known for what I believe and not what I don't believe.
Good topic Tim,
We've been talking about stuff like this at our church lately too. I've sinced sat and pondered a couple situations. What if Christians went into bars and talked to the other patrons. I'm not talking about trying to convert them, or make sure they know you are a christian, but just honest conversation. It is going to eventually come up and when it does, that person will be in a much more effective position. I do realize that you'll have to make decisions about social drinking, and that is a slippery slope at best. But why do we boycott these places and pray that they burn down. Let's get out there and stop judging. I'm sick of "christians" doing stuff in God's name that I'm pretty sure he has commanded us not to do.
I have not read these books either, but I believe there is a positive side to these books (Potter, DiVinci, etc). 20 years ago there was little to no interest in the spiritual. The Atheist world view is based on the fact that the spiritual does not exist; everything that exists can be measured and explained by science. Now we are seeing a dramatic shift in society back to the realization that there is more "stuff" then science can explain. Here we have an Atheist of all people writing a book including a number of "spiritual" topics that science would say don't exist....Granted these "views" of spirituality are very wrong and many times very dangerous; however, it is an opportunity for Christians to share the biblical view of spirituality. People are open, these books show that much. We need to share this view...now is the time.
P.S. I think boycotts are mostly done with good motives but ineffective and not biblical.
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