Mark December 12th, 2007

Really good stuff here. Overstreet's insight on this movie is both informative and refreshing.

greg from canada December 12th, 2007

Indeed. A very good interview. His views are very well thought out and interesting.

Charles December 12th, 2007

I haven't had a chance to listen yet, but bottom line me…

Is God still safe from the bad guys?

Frank December 14th, 2007

I saw "The Golden Compass" and on one issue I would have to disagree with Jeffrey Overstreet…the movie is stunning and one of the best movies I've ever seen. I'm quite a movie buff and it is not a bad movie by any means. Half way through the movie I leaned over to my wife and told her that that this is one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. New Line Cinema makes stunning movies. On everything else I agree with Jeffrey.

William Vawter December 14th, 2007

Bottom line. How can Pullman be classified an athiest? He does not fit the definition in my copy of Webster's. The story and movie support the fact that there is a God. Other wise, there would be no story, or movie.

W. M. Vawter

susan December 14th, 2007

I think we should not judge or we will be judged. I for one like to see movies and decide for myself if it is anti religious versus anti G*D. I think all movies have an element of truth running thru them and if balanced right, good and evil will be seen. I think G*D can even use a bad movie to impress on a soul what is right versus what is wrong. Even Harry Potter had some good things written in it that makes kids think in those term, they are always rooting for the Good, like harry Potter was really a good witch. And kids know its just a book. a story, not real life. For if a kid tried to do what Harry did they would know you cant make such things happen! Its how kids learn by reading. WE cant tell kids not to read and we can not always make choices for them. They have to learn the hard way just like you and me to be able to discern right from wrong, and reading about such things does not make a kid or adult evil. But it may contribute to ti. But G*D is the real teacher and most kids aren't evil to begin with, their hearts are like empty blackboards and what we do to impress them is the key. Not a book. Even though it may stir up some curiosity, it wont lead them to be bad or good. Its that the parent has to instill in their hearts FIRST the word of G*D so they wont want to part, for the Bible says' Train up a child in the way eh will go and he wont depart". And it what all parents should strive for, to prepare the heart to reject such evil to begin with and a book or movie wont change it!! Whether it is the Golden Compass or the harry Potter series, they cant change a heart that is already set in his image!!

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Steve Brown Etc. » Blog Archive » The Golden Compass Etc. December 14th, 2007

[...] if you do like what you hear, click here to get the entire Overstreet interview, here for the whole discussion with Rick McKinley, and here [...]

M.A. December 17th, 2007

Great interview and points made about the movied.
Just had to comment on the comment about not judging… I am always interested in understanding the difference between "JUDGING" and "discerning"… the Bible is replete with encouragements to gain wisdom and discernment…but a lot of people call discernment "judging"… But these words of Jesus in Matthew 7:15 – 20 seem to tell me that discernment is a powerful tool that shouldn't be confused with passing an uneducated judgement: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "

Darlin December 23rd, 2007

I haven't seen the movie and I was set against it but after reading some of these comments I may go see it. At this time I would not want my little grandkids to see it. Sounds more like it comes against some churches…just like the Passion of Christ made the so called religious leader want Jesus dead. You who are Christ followers know what I mean. There are some religious groups that have a lot of blood on their hands and they have always wanted the True Church dead!!! And these groups do it in the name of their god. There are many so called gods out there that are dead because they were never alive. So it is with these anti-Christian groups, movies, books, and churches. The Bride of Christ is alive and well. No one can change that but we must lead our children in the way of the Lord. And yes, by their fruits we will know who are the Born Again Believers. Fantasy is Fantasy and Truth is Truth……and when one know the Truth they are set Free. Yes, we should pray for this writer and the producers of the Golden Compass. God changed C.S. Lewis's heart and He can still change hearts today.

Obed April 30th, 2008

Y'know… Steve should put his allegedly crappy novel's manuscript on the KLF or SBE site for download!

nettemag September 9th, 2008

I watched The Golden Compass with my 17-year-old daughter, and we were both shocked to see a movie designed for children but with atheistic, adult content. It was clearly anti-Catholicism, calling the main antagonist as "The Magisterium," (clearly referring to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and none other). The movie taught that children are born with "pet", which were supernatural creatures that took the form of animals who are their constant friends, guardians and helpers, loved and cared for them. These "pets" are supposedly within the children and inseparable from them. We observed that they more likely took the place of the good guys – guardian angels (unbelievably!).Guess what these pets are called: "Demons." More than three times, we heard the lines said, "Your demon is your soul;" "never let your demon be separated from you."

Nicole Kidman played the role of a woman who secretly worked for the evil authority called The Magisterium (which we know refers to the Catholic Magisterium), and she's in charge of seducing children to evenually put them into a machine which separates the demon from the child, forever. When this happens, the child loses his mind, unable to speak, think, do things for himself. In the movie, the battle between good and evil is dramatized in the Magisterium (the evil) versus the children with their pet demons (the good).

To call black white, or good bad, or demons to be personified as intelligent,compassionate pets – isn't this perversion of what is true? To say that "the demon is your soul" – isn't this to say that "your soul is possessed by the demon"? The devil will not come in its truly ugly and hideous form, for no one, especially children, will fall in love with him and want to keep him in his soul. But a nice, kind, compassionate pet – that's how the demon is packaged in The Golden Compass – pervertedly, wick!edly, obnoxiously, stinkingly coming out of the bowels of hell! Nowhere was the word "angel" or "angel guardian" ever mentioned. Only demons, and demons all the way…….

As a Catholic and as a mother I am warning parents to practice PG – parental guidance – to the fullest. You can watch the movie with your child only if you know how to point out the deceptions and lies that have been woven into it by its Invisible Master.