Comments on: American Humanist Association Encourages You To See The Golden Compass

By: Friendly Atheist » The Golden Compass is a Box-Office Disappointment

Friendly Atheist » The Golden Compass is a Box-Office Disappointment — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:05:09 +0000

[...] not that the Catholic League’s boycott or the various Facebook protest groups [...]

By: Lilith Jones

Lilith Jones — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 15:34:26 +0000

Can someone tell the haters that this site is called the FRIENDLY atheist? How are we going to convince everyone that atheists are friendly if you can’t help using insulting language for those less enlightened? If we are calling them “christards” and telling them to go “pick their noses” we are showing the same level of immaturity as those who would get upset over a friendly little atheist children’s movie and call out the troops for a boycott. Also, we should teach ourselves the meaning of the word “censorship”. We are constantly getting our knickers in a twist over supposed “censorship” when there is actually no official government banning on the horizon whatever. Just because those less enlightened want to pass the word to each other not to see a movie doesn’t meant that the government is trying to shut down the movie. There are countries in the world in which this really happens (some of them officially atheist, they need our help learning to be friendly) and when we go screaming “censorship” every time those less enlightened choose to have one of their silly boycotts we cheapen the suffering of those living under true censorship.

By: Don Pope

Don Pope — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:36:20 +0000

I’ll be watching the movie with my kids because it looks really cool.
As much as I like sticking it to the christards, I’m not paying 30 bucks + snacks just for that.

By: Milena

Milena — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:46:53 +0000

2) an evil blonde woman who works for the Church named Coulter = an excellent opportunity to teach kids about evil blonde women named Coulter

Are you serious? That’s amazing! I love that!

By: Milena

Milena — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:41:33 +0000

I’ll definitely be seeing the movie and reading the books. What really bothers me is how far the religious right has reached to denounce the books, usually on claims that are untrue. For example, I was recently reading an article about the Golden Compass in a respectable (Canadian) political journal, where the journalist repeatedly made comments about the killing of god in the book. However, not once was it mentioned that the god killed in the book is an impostor and not a real god. Fundamentalists, on the other hand, have seized this idea of a god-killing children’s book in order to smear and censor it. What the books do advance is the idea that a fall from grace, such as that of Eve, representing the gaining of knowledge and the cessation of belief in a deity, are necessairy steps to humanity’s advancement.

Also, I see nothing wrong with introducing atheism to children. Let them make their own informed religious decisions. Secularism and atheism simply aren’t present enough in children’s literature, and when a book does present them as ideas, fundamentalists jump to censor and stifle it.

By: Claire

Claire — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:12:05 +0000

Did you never use your imagination?

While I have no problem with realistic talking animals (I loved “Babe”), not everyone has the same tolerance for special effects. It’s not about imagination; when it comes to enjoying movies, it’s about the willing suspension of disbelief. Not everyone can manage that. I find it harder all the time as I get older, but I will not let go if it.

That willing suspension of disbelief has a down side though – take it too far and you end up with religion (eww). It’s best kept under control.

By: stogoe

stogoe — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:32:45 +0000

realistic talking animals are pretty much a no go for me

I pity you. Really and truly, I pity you. Did you never read fantasy as a kid? Did you never use your imagination? Man, I can’t even fathom what it would be like to be you. Just, wow. That’s so sad.

Anyways, I’m trying to get my friends to go see it this weekend. Should be fun.

By: C. L. Hanson

C. L. Hanson — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 09:18:31 +0000

Sometimes I wonder if the filmmakers weren’t hoping for the free publicity of a big Christian boycott…

I don’t care, though, because while the culture warriors are distracted by the Christian vs. atheist aspect, a little bit of feminism is sneaking in the back door. I hope this turns out to be a great film!!!

By: Michele

Michele — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 03:04:26 +0000

Um…the boycott is for Christians, not atheists. Sort of would be a wasted effort there wouldn’t it?

By: Mriana

Mriana — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 02:12:00 +0000

Now I just have to convince someone else to go see what is escentually being marketed towards the younger crowd.

Well, when and IF it comes here, my 18 y.o. son and I plan on making it a mother and son night out. We’re excited because we’ve not done anything together for a while and well… If there are Christians picking, they can just go pick their noses, because we’re going in to get popcorn, a soda, and to watch it.