The Golden Compass is the first film to be made from Philip Pulman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. Due out next week, it is prompting calls for boycotts and bannings.
The set of books are controversial in religious circles because of their atheist leanings. So now the first film is coming out, the religious zealots are trying to force their will on others and stop it getting shown.
The thing is, since when is Atheism evil? It’s nothing more than a belief system that some people consider true. In that way, it’s no different than Christianity or Islam.
There are some anti religious elements to the plot, but it’s more against religions becoming politicised and trying to enforce their will, than a broad “we hate religion” vibe.
The fact that religious groups are reacting in this way to what is just a piece of entertainment, really just proves Pullman’s thoughts on the subject. Ironic?
