The Golden Compass

I just started, and am now nearly finished, with The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. It is the first in a trilogy called, His Dark Materials. So far, I have loved it. It is a very intriguing story set in a world that has similarities to ours, but is so utterly different. What I love most about it is the fact that it is just fun and well written.

Recently, with the release of this book in movie form, there has been a lot of bru-ha-ha in the Evangelical Christian world about it (Harry Potter anyone?). I've read some of the articles and stuff about why we should let our kids and ourselves read it, as well as some of the stuff of why we shouldn't worry. Quite frankly, it makes me laugh. And then cry. I didn't realize that following Jesus and trying to line my life up with the story of God was about not reading certain novels. I didn't realize it was about not thinking (Mark Noll just threw up in his grave).

First of all, Philip Pullman isn't out to turn the children of the world into atheists that try to kill Christians. Second, if he was, I still don't see why that would mean that we can't and shouldn't read his book. Does it make sense to anyone else that reading something that is so popular and being able to interact with it would be something we ought to do instead of ought not do? Beyond that, if reading a fictional novel causes me to completely change my faith and turn on God, did I really have that strong of a belief and relationship with him in the first place?

Let it be known, I have read all the Harry Potter books and I am still a Christian. I plan on reading the whole trilogy of His Dark Materials, and I will still be a lover of Jesus. Plus, with the thinking that the book will cause me to do, I'm sure my faith will be, if anything, enhanced.

Peace out, y'all.