I couldn’t do it.
I don’t mind someone writing a letter-to-the-editor that I disagree with if that letter is well-researched and well-written.
But this one is just funny.
The headline: “[Writer] Believes new movie has atheist beliefs.”
The writer (Pastor Dale Johnson of Raiford Road Church) acts as if he’s the first person to recognize that The Golden Compass and other books in Philip Pullman‘s His Dark Materials trilogy have a message that supports non-religion and he has to warn you about this.
He also wants to let you know that Richard Dawkins is (*gasp*) trying to advocate atheism.
The spelling is atrocious. I’m not sure if it’s his fault or not but the word “and” is spelled wrong. Repeatedly.
He thinks Dawkins and “his colleagues” are responsible for the Blasphemy Challenge. That’s just plain inaccurate. (The Blasphemy Challenge was conducted by the Rational Response Squad, which has no connection to Dawkins. Since the Challenge, however, they’ve interviewed him on their radio show.)
The Catholic League is cited as a source of information. That should discredit the letter altogether.
He claims that Pullman is attacking the minds of children (but C.S. Lewis is not):
The [Golden Compass] film, which emerged from the books, will appeal to children much like Narnia from C.S. Lewis, but do not be deceived. Narnia is pro-Christian emphasizing the imagery of the atoning death of Christ. Yet, this film, and the trilogy this film promotes is pro-atheistic and desires to pervade the minds of children with their concepts.
There is an upside, though.
The last paragraph provides some unintentional humor:
As parents and grandparents we have been given the great task of guarding our children against the teachings of the world and to promote the teachings of God.
Because children must be protected from worldly “knowledge.” Instead, they should learn about God…
This is what happens when all your information about the movie comes from the mouth of guys like William Donohue.
[tags]atheist, atheism[/tags]