Recently there has been much furor in email land amongst evangelical and even Catholic Christians over the latest kid's movie fraught with 'heresy' -- Golden Compass. From the 'Dark Materials' trilogy the Golden Compass books have been cast out of schools and have pitted 'religious' folks against 'open-minded' secular folks. I thought I'd actually read the books--which I have--and can now give a simple and honest opinion.
Popularity: 21%
Every year someone gets really really rich off the back of bashing Christians. For the record, Christians bring it on themselves. This year, a new movie about some old books is causing a fevered pitch of 'down with Hollywood' chants from unbashful hate-filled Christians. Mind you, there is a shred of validity with their claims.
Seems as though the books promote atheism--to the MAX! This ain't your regular atheism, but the belittlement of people who have faith and the notion of a 'higher being'. Here are some coherent thoughts on the book from this article:
Contrary to mass emails, Jesus is mentioned in the books, and the girl and the boy at the center of the story do not kill God, though they are present when a being calling himself God is killed. God is actually presented as completely unreal in The Golden Compass; there are only angelic beings who try to set themselves up as God and are defeated.
Popularity: 21%
In a move that shocks nobody the Anglican church in Jamaica have inserted Reggae songs into their hymnal to be more contextual to their audience. On one hand I'm all for the move of taking popular cultural songs and making them worship songs, assuming it can be done. The words of a song make it 'Christian' not what some right-wing evangelical fundamentalist says. However, if all you can remember about Marley are the times you were high and his contempt for the church then maybe the church should have reconsidered.
Popularity: 49%
Popular Christian rock band (Christian band by name not by sound) Switchfoot has parted ways with their record label Columbia following the release of their fourth album. No word on how the 'new freedom' will impact their 'music'.
Popularity: 25%
Since when does the Church of the Universe get to ordain Reverends? Haha, ah well, it appears their sacrament of smoking marijuana is too much for the government. Sick of being shut down the 'church' is launching a class action lawsuit against the state.
Key church beliefs:
Church members are required to use marijuana, which they call God's Tree of Life, as a sacrament in their lives and worship.
Looks like dbiddy finally has a home.
Popularity: 25%
