I am a baptised Christian, 7 years in September, and I am astounded at the arrogance of one person telling another not to watch a movie.
Each and every one of us has free will, this encompasses not only the big questions, whether to believe in God, but also the petty things, like deciding which cereal to have for breakfast. It is that choice which makes us different from animals. We must respect God even more for giving us the free will to follow him or not. Blind obedience without reason leads only to extremism. In dictating to a child what they can experience we are stunting their development and their ability to question.
My father was raised RC and my mother is an atheist, so when they had children they decided not to put us in religious schools or to encourage us to go to church. My brother and I both went to Scout and Guide groups, attended church parade once a month and collected various badges that haven't really helped us in our adult lives, but since when did calligraphy save anyone's life? - I decided to investigate Christianity (I am a scientist at heart, I like to know the facts) and through that investigation I decided to take my knowledge and turn it into faith. With full freedom and time and the ability to choose my brother and I have both made our choices, and we are content with our positions in life.
I am also an avid reader. His Dark Materials came into my library, as it did with many others, and I read each book in turn. I enjoyed them, they told a good story, but I did not see the issues that various priests and such were ranting about. Later I used the books in my Dissertation, and still saw no problems. Perhaps it is my scientific mind that means I can read a book or watch a movie without reading more into it than it needs. It is still only a story
I do not understand the fuss about censoring movies. Sure, you need to think about the level of intelligence your child has, whether they will understand the plot or if the jokes will go over their heads, but if you've raised your child with any sense at all they will know the difference between fact and fiction. When they watch something and have questions, what is wrong with questions? Do parents censor movies and such because they fear they cannot answer those questions? If a film has excessive swearing or violence, by all means stick to the BBFC Certification, but otherwise there is no reason unless you fear to answer those difficult questions.
Do people not talk to their children any more?
Do people not watch movies or read books to enjoy the escapism?
As for Stustie, the death of the Authority in the Amber Spyglass is an act of mercy. Lyra and John feel pity for the old creature before them and seek to free Him from the crystal coffin the Regent, Metatron, has contained Him in. Metatron is the embodiment of extremism, patron of the inquisition, and in order to further his goals he has hidden away the precious truth in that crystal box so that He cannot be affected by the evils he does in His name. Once freed the essence of the truth, particles of the Authority if you will, are allowed to permeate the worlds like the spirits Lyra frees from the Land of the Dead. If you look a little closer you'll see the transition is a renewal of the faith, to be able to Make Heaven where we are,' freed of all the rules and regulations of the Tabernacle. Old Testament to New.
As He said in Mathew 23:36-40 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Christ came to get rid of all the conflicting policies of the OT, and replace them with just two, simplicity.
To love God completely you must have no doubts, but if you have no questions, if you make no choices for yourself then you are no better than a shop window dummy. Put in position by someone else, dressed by someone else, looking at whatever someone else wants you to look at, you cannot even turn your eyes to see the landscape, neither can you look back on what has been and learn from your mistakes. Hindsight is one of the blessings of free will.