The True Compass

by Peter F. Whyte, 9 Dec 2007, updated 14 Jan 2008

The Golden Compass (New Line Media, 2007), based on Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, has been provoking quite a controversy among Christians. Is the film worth seeing? Is it a dangerous film to be avoided at all costs? What about reading the books? Opinions vary, but hopefully this page will provide some resources to help you make up your own mind.

Albert Mohler does an excellent job (as ever) of exposing the underlying premises of the author in his article ‘The Golden Compass -- A Briefing for Concerned Christians’ (Dr. Mohler's Blog [website], 4 Dec 2007). “This movie does represent a great challenge,” he concludes, “but a challenge that Christians should always be ready to meet.” His article gives parents, grandparents, and those who work with children a succinct summary of the issues posed by the film and the books. Rather than boycott the film he encourages us to “take the responsibility to use interest in this film to teach our own children to think biblically and to be discerning in their engagement with the media in all forms. We should arm our children to be able to talk about this project with their classmates without fear or rancor.”

Mohler has devoted two of his radio programmes to The Golden Compass: 3 Dec and 4 Dec 2007. The programmes include comments from parents on how they have dealt with the issues with their children.

In his article, Mohler mentions Hanna Rosin's article ‘How Hollywood Saved God’ (Atlantic Monthly, December 2007). This lengthy article, not from a Christian perspective, is highly enlightening about Pullman's worldview. His vision of the Republic of Heaven, which Lyra (the principal character of the trilogy) understands “to be a paradise on Earth where she can learn to be ‘kind and curious and patient,’ and where she can rely on her own knowledge and wisdom, not the mandates of God or the Magisterium,” is nothing different from the lie that Satan sold Eve in the Garden in the first place. It is the diabolical disutopia that deceived our first parents.

Rosin concludes in “Compass Without Direction” (Atlantic Monthly, Dispatch, 5 Dec 2007) that the film “creates a luminous fantasy world, but loses the book's magnetic force of meaning”. Mohler would agree that it is an excellent film production. There is no doubt the film has somewhat toned down the anti-theistic tenor of the books, but it sounds like there are still plenty of anti-Christian ideas in it. They may not be overt, but, as director Chris Weitz says, “The movie's first job is to beguile the audience for a couple of hours.” That's much more disturbing that outright opposition. It's the same subtlety that deceived Eve in the Garden (2 Cor. 11:2-3).

In ‘Who's Afraid of The Golden Compass?’ (Crosswalk [website], undated 2007), Paul Edwards (a pastor, columnist and broadcaster on The Paul Edwards Program, WLQV Detroit) points out that Pullman's portrayal of the Magisterium does depict a reality. Not the reality of a true church, but of a false one.

“The books,” he says, “are a prime example of what Isaiah warned against when he said, ‘Woe to them who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness’ (Isaiah 5:20). And so the best Christian response to the film and books must be to stand for the truth. There is little to be achieved in boycotting the film or books, he points out. And, like Mohler, he urges Christian parents to use the opportunity to engage with their children in discussion of the difficult issues they raise, but guided by the True Compass, the Word of God. He concludes, “Why not counter Pullman by being a living demonstration of the Church he fails to portray in his trilogy rather than validating him by being exactly what he says we are?”

Pullman has denied he is promoting atheism in the film or the books. The film may to some extent support that viewpoint, but the books can hardly be viewed in that way. Nonetheless, in ‘Pullman not promoting atheism in ‘Golden Compass’’ (MSNBC, Today, Al's Book Club for kids, 2 Nov 2007), he talks to TODAY's Al Roker about comments that his book is anti-Catholic, and answers questions from students (at least that's that the Web site said, but I didn't really find him answering anything!).

Mark Earley (Prison Fellowship's Prisoner and Family Ministry President) encourages parents to “keep questioning the culture's authority” in his commentary ‘The Golden Compass’ (Prison Fellowship, BreakPoint Commentaries [website], Arts & Media, 6 Dec 2007). He's not convinced about the absence of antitheistic sentiments in the film, though he does admit the film is toned down from the books.

In a further article ‘Should Parents be Concerned About The Golden Compass?’ (Crosswalk [website], undated 2007), he points out that some of the comments about the film and the books emerging from Christian sources are inaccurate. He urges parents and educators to discuss the worldview of the books with children openly and honestly. “When the movie comes out,” he says, “and their friends head off to the theater with no clue about what kind of indoctrination they are going to undergo, kids who have discussed Pullman's worldview with Christian parents and educators will know what's going on. Then they can choose the good and reject the bad.”

Although Shedding Light on His Dark Materials by Kurt Bruner & Jim Ware (published by Tyndale House) may be a difficult read in places, according to Annabelle Robertson (Crosswalk.com Entertainment Critic) “it is extremely comprehensive. Bruner and Ware cover a tremendous amount of ground, and they do so with thoughtful analysis which highlights parallels to the Christian faith whenever possible.” (‘Authors Debunk Mystery of His Dark Materials Series’, Crosswalk [website], undated 2007). This looks like a good resource to get to grips with what Pullman is at in his books.

Tom Gilson (a Campus Crusade for Christ worker) reports on the provision of educational material to accompany the films that has been produced in the USA. His article ‘An Emboldened 'Compass': Anti-God, Anti-Church at School’ (Prison Fellowship, Breakpoint [website], Religion & Society, 16 Nov 2007; also permanently available in a PDF version for download) also contains links to a site which produces plot summaries of the entire trilogy which will be of help for those who do not have the time to read the books in detail. His own blog, Thinking Christian has a short article and page of resources, including an audio clip of a radio interview he gave on 3 December with PraiseFM of Minnesota.

The ‘Round-Table Discussion with Crosswalk Editors on The Golden Compass’ (Crosswalk [website], undated 2007) is between three participants who have all read the book and seen a preview of the film, and so are well-informed. The discussion deals with what surprises them, what a Christian response ought to be, and quite a lot more besides. There is also a list of follow-up material, much of which is included in this article.

Another audio resource is The Kindlings podcast (7 Dec 2007) on the movie.

Jeffrey Overstreet (Christianity Today Movies critic) has written about the books and the movie. Christianity Today published an abridged version of his article as ‘Fear Not the Compass’. The full article can be read at his own blog, under the title of ‘"The Golden Compass" - Questions I've been asked, answers I've given’, originally posted on 20 November, but updated on 21 November after he had seen the movie.

As promised he has written a review of the film. He first published a short review, followed by a full one. Peter T. Chattaway has also published a review in Christianity Today (6 Dec 2007).

Finally, in the UK, Tony Watkins has written extensively on Pullman and his trilogy. His two most recent articles are a good introduction to the film and the agenda behind it and the books: ‘Agenda Squabble’ (30 Nov 2007) ‘Heading in the Wrong Direction’ (6 Dec 2007).

Watkins interviewed Pullman at length in 2004, and a transcript is available to read online (part 1 and part 2). However, it is lengthy, and I have to agree with Jeff Fuller (in a comment he made to Justin Taylor's original posting ‘Dark Matter’, Between Two Worlds [website], 5 Dec 2007) that he rather sells the Christian faith short. (Jeff has some positive suggestions for treating the movie as a Witnessing Opportunity.) Watkins is also the author of Dark Matter: a thinking fan's guide to Philip Pullman. You can read a sample chapter online. This is much better than the interview, judging by the sample chapter. There are also online study guides on the books by Watkins and Steve Tilley.

No doubt the controversy over the film and the books will run for some time. I hope that this article will provide you with plenty of material to get to grips with that they are about. But, above all, when we come to make up our minds about the content of the film and the books, we need to take our lead from The True Compass, the living and abiding Word of God. As we respond to others who are enthusiastic about the film and the books, may we be well-prepared, but trusting in God to work in their lives and hearts through his Holy Spirit.