Then I finally read the emails and reviews that have been passed around. (I didn’t want to read them before the book because I just wanted to read the book and not be looking for something in particular.)

Apparently the first book is supposed to be the most toned down in terms of tearing down Christianity but the things it was supposed to tear down I found to be weak attempts. And from what I can tell from the trailers the movie is not even more toned down like the emails and such have said, they out and out say “this world is dominated by the Magisterium who seeks to control all humanity.” The Magisterium is the Church in the book and people will identify the Church with Christianity.

Furthermore, I don’t understand Philip Pullman’s quote of “I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words ‘spiritual’ and ‘spirituality'” (Snopes) as he wrote a story in which he’s given each human an “animal spirit” (trailer). And he based the trilogy on his hatred of Christianity and the Narnia books (Snopes) which I find to be a rather losery reason to write books. Write books because you have a good story to tell.

Also, he misses the point in tearing down “Christianity” because so far in the book he keeps referring to “the Church” which is a different idea entirely. Perhaps he’ll change his terms as the books progress.

All this to say, I found the whole thing–Christians getting uppity, atheists getting uppity, the book, the changes I can tell they’ve made to the movie–boring and am no longer that interested in seeing the movie. Or finishing the books for that matter.

I’ve read a little more than 100 pages in the book so far and am not yet offended and I don’t think I will.

So far, I’m offended and I’m tired of the “Christian” idea that we Christians should all boycott it. It gives us a bad name, a name that I try hard to keep sacred. It’s only making more people want to read the books and see the movie and that only puts more money into the author’s pockets so any rallying was not well thought-out. Furthermore, if we’re not supposed to read or watch it I’d hazard a guess that most people rallying against it haven’t seen it or watched it so what would they know about it? Just doing what someone told us again are we?, ahh, yes, I thought so.

I don’t condone atheism as it makes me sad because of what I hold dear and where I know I’m going and thus want for other people. But likewise if I were to write books I’m sure my Christian values and faith would influence my writing so I can certainly see that an atheist’s would too.

Anyway, the judgmental attitude is only serving to make people hate Christians (who by now are all seen as judgmental because of this sort of thing) more than they already do. No one wants to be judged and judging people isn’t adding sheep to the flock. Shut. Up.