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The author of a popular children's trilogy, including The Golden Compass, which is due out as a movie in December of 2007, says his books are about "killing God".

According to an articles at snopes.com, Phillip Pullman, the author of the *His Dark Materials* Trilogy, is an Atheist bent on converting all children into religion-hating God blasphemers. In the article, Pullman pretty much admits just that.

It also goes on to say that since the ever-popular Nicole Kidman is in the movie, it will get plenty of attention from the general movie-going masses. And, because it is a watered down version of the book, most Christian parents will not pick up on the story's anti-God message and will be tricked into buying the trilogy for their children without first reading it themselves. In turn, God will die in the minds of these children as Pullman's message will overpower their upbringing, prior knowledge and faith-base with his *fantasy* story.

I am a Christian, so my daughters are being raised in a Christian church. However, in addition to providing a spiritual foundation for them, I am also raising them to be thinkers. This may some day mean they question their Christian faith. I still, to this day, question my own faith, but I think that's a normal part of being a Christian.

Before my children go to see a movie, they read the book and so do I. That is a given in our household. So those tricky Atheism-spreading movie makers and authors won't ever slip a watered down movie version of a *INSERT BAAAAAD MESSAGE ADJECTIVE HERE* book on me or my babies! I know there are plenty of apathetic parents out there, who don't read what their kids read or watch what their kids watch, or assume, if it's animated, it's for kids. However, I think most parents are interested in what their children consume through the media - most of the parents that I know anyway.

I think that if a parent teaches her children about God and teach her children about FICTION and FANTASY, that those children will be strong enough to decide for themselves if there is or isn't a God - no matter what books they read.

Just because someone reads a story with racist themes, does not mean he or she will become a racist. Just because someone reads something endorsing murder, does not mean she will become a murderer. Just because someone reads the Koran, does not mean she will convert to Islam. Just because someone reads The Bible does not mean they will become a Christian. If a child is raised with morals and a mind of her own, she will be able to process that information without adopting it as her own thoughts. It is ridiculous to believe that reading *The Golden Compass* and the other books in the trilogy will immediately convert a child's entire belief system, particularly if they have parents with whom they can have a dialog. Conversely, if a child is instantly transformed by Pullman's story, the murderer's story or the racist's story, there was probably a problem before the reading ever took place.

I will admit that I do have an issue with an author who wants to kill God in the minds of children. I don't know why anyone would want to take someone's faith away on purpose, but sadly, there are people like that EVERYWHERE, which is why parents must be active in their children's lives. I do, however, believe that Pullman and anyone else with an agenda has the right to speak their minds, even if I don't agree with their thoughts. The Lord knows I have my own agenda too.

In my humble opinion, parents must arm their children with a foundation in faith and their own brains. Without that, evil will eventually overcome good.

Learn more about this author, Jay Morgetron.
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