The Golden Compass and its critics

You may have heard about a recent movie called The Golden Compass, which tells the story of a young girl’s adventure in a fantasy world filled with talking animals. The movie has been in the news because of the criticism coming from some religious quarters. The problem, say the critics, is that this movie and the novel by Phillip Pullman on which it is based (the first of a trilogy), are anti-religion and anti-God. I disagree. I thought the books were wonderful and the movie is a pretty good adaptation, and I think that these criticisms are misguided. Now, stay with me for a bit, even if you’re not interested in the movie, because there is a larger point to be made.
While it is true that Pullman is an atheist, let me tell you about how God and the church are portrayed in his fantasy world. The church is rigidly controlling, manipulative, and even violent in its pursuit of power. The church is against the free pursuit of knowledge and independent thought for fear that their claim to truth will be threatened. Pullman’s God is ineffectual, distant, and uncaring. It turns out that Pullman and I are in perfect agreement: that kind of church should be resisted and discarded. And I don’t believe in that kind of God either.

Pullman isn’t the only bestselling author recently to critique religion. The past years have seen a spate of new books with reasoned arguments that religion is unnecessary, destructive, and untrue. But we don’t have to be defensive. The existence of a loving and gracious God will not depend on the skill or volume of my defense.

Instead of being defensive, here’s what we should try: we can thank our critics for engaging important points and then we can continue the conversation. First, we need to recognize the truth from our critics. The Christian church has often acted very un-Christian. Being honest about it will build our credibility, and guard against it happening again. Second, we need to tell our good news. Religion also has a rich history of standing up for the poor, giving generously, and being the driving force behind social change that grants freedom and dignity to all people. Finally, we need to keep showing a different kind of God by our actions. We need to build relationships with people who disagree. I don’t think that any argument or any book will ever convince anyone of the reality of God’s love if they have never experienced it in the flesh.