The Golden Compass, Atheism and Where You Put Your Money
December 4, 2007 by Miranda Marquit
Filed under Finance
One of the more interesting emails I have been getting (the count is up to three) is an exhortation not to go see the Golden Compass, based on the first book in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, which opens this Friday. I have been told that by doing so, I will be undermining my faith in God and “supporting” atheism.
This email has me thinking. Not just about whether or not seeing the Golden Compass amounts to a tacit “approval” of atheism (I plan to see it and fully expect to be a devout Christian still when it’s over), but the increasing trend in “voting with our wallets.”
Christian investing is becoming big, and other forms of ethical investing, such as environmentally friendly investing, are getting more attention. Why? Because people are more interested in whether or not what they support with their investments — heck, what they support with everyday purchase decisions — is supporting something they agree with.
So, whether it’s choosing not to see a movie you think will attack your faith, or whether it’s taking a look at whether palm oil from plantations in Indonesia is used in your household products, you are increasingly powerful.
Money talks. And by what you invest in, and how you spend it, you can say a lot. And on Friday, my money is going to say “I want to see a good movie. Who cares about the beliefs of the guy who wrote the book!”
Conversely, we can also assume that for some people, money is more important than their politics. :)
Indeed.
News Corp. (Fox) is a prime example. As a conservative, Rupert Murdoch rationalizes all of the smut, etc. by saying it’s “business.” He supports a conservative agenda, but would be sad indeed if it suddenly cut into his earnings…And he doesn’t care that what he peddles is at odds with his politics.
Good post, Miranda.
I have worked extensively with Christian companies, and was in upper management of one for many years. I live in an area (Eastern PA) where many companies are very open about their faith, and where it’s not uncommon to see bible verses on jam or salad dressing labels or on restaurant placemats. I enjoy helping companies effectively weave their beliefs into their brand communications when appropriate, and the motives of those I work with are very sincere.
However, we deal with a lot of new ventures and entrepreneurial opportunities, so my anti-scam radar is always on. I am always on guard (and teach my employees to be as well) when someone identifies themselves or their company as “Christian” within the first five minutes of meeting them. One of the worst scammers I ever met arrived early for our meeting so everyone would walk past his car and see him reading his morning scripture. Four months later, he disappeared with his young secretary and his elderly clients’ retirement funds. The Bible is the favorite tool of scoundrels, and always has been.
I’m sure he plans to repent 30 seconds before the buzzer sounds. Hopefully he’ll go in his sleep(!)
Ah, the same is true here in Utah. The number of people who play the “good Mormon” card for gain, and even for scams is just as high here as in Eastern PA, I think.
Sadly, where there are people willing to look only at labels, rather than beyond, there will always be scamming.
Thanks for the post, Miranda. There is an interesting article in The Atlantic about this movie this month, titled “How Hollywood Saved God.” It’s about how the movie was watered down considerably to avoid the controversy, turning the anti-Christian material into something more palatable for Christians. Christian movies llike “The Passion of the Christ” have been successful at the box office. We’ll have to see if this movie is good enough to override its press. (Or if the press is to get people to go see the movie.)
Jean
It will be interesting to see how far conservative Christians go as group. They couldn’t stop Harry Potter, but they may be able to stop The Golden Compass. We shall see.
Interestingly, I find the extreme graphic violence in Passion of the Christ much more offensive than messages of killing a tyrannical god. I’ve read the entire trilogy, and if God was really like the god that dies in the book, I’d want him dead, too. But he’s not. I didn’t even recognize the god Pullman describes as my God, so I can’t wait til my son is old enough to read the books and we can discuss them.
And the movie looks AWESOME from a fantasy standpoint. It looks great: good v. evil, parallel worlds, prophecies and metalsmith bears. I’m excited to see it.
There was a lot of ruckus about The DaVinci Code. I went to see it, out of curiosity. I thought it was an exciting thriller movie, but my life and beliefs weren’t changed by it. I also didn’t find the graphic violence in The Passion of the Christ to be offensive. It was truly what I had pictured Jesus going through. I still haven’t seen Harry Potter. I honestly don’t think I could make myself sit through it. Doesn’t interest me at all.
I like the Da Vinci Code okay. The book was a nice “TV for my brain” type read. Whether or not it’s what I picture Jesus going through, I don’t know that it needs to be portrayed so graphically. One gets the idea. But that’s another post (on another channel) altogether. But you found it a moving experience, and that’s great! I’d never tell you not to see it, though, or try to get it banned.
I don’t like the Harry Potter movies nearly as well as the books. I wouldn’t watch the first or second movies again…But that’s what voting with my wallet is all about.
The “fundies” will rattle and clank their
religious armor for a while because of the movie. They’ll get another chance when the 2nd of the 3rd movies come out and so and so on……
They will find that continuous indoctrination will renew “the truth” for them and they will be able to continue to
believe in their ghosts and goblins that the bible sells. Benny Hinn and Peter Popoff will still make huge sums of money from the deluded believers of the christian faith. Life will be as it has always been.
The silliness of all this? The very issues that Pullman has with organized religion (totalitarianism, intolerance, professions of following a loving God while not being loving, etc.) are the very things many of his critics display.
Indeed, a self-perpetuating cycle.
Philip Pulman is such a waste of talent. His bigoted hatred of Christianity really poisons his books despite his considerable talent. When I read the series some years back I mistook them for fantasy novels but by the end of the series it was all ideology. The last book echoed so hollow because he was more focused on trashing Christians than finishing the story. He sacrificed the quality of his writing to his hatred of Christians.
I really enjoyed both the Harry Potter books and movies there was nothing wrong with them. However, Mr Pulman is something else. I have no desire to put money in the pocket of someone who says that the purpose of his books are to undermine Christianity. Well he can do that without my funding.
I was rather disappointed with the books as they progressed as well. And the ending of the final book, the Amber Spyglass, totally petered out. But I still really enjoy The Golden Compass (in book form). It’s message was more about the dangers of totalitarianism religion than anything else.
Viva Harry Potter!
I’d be interested in other fantasy books you enjoy, poetsong.