Action Alert from the American Humanist Association

This was forwarded from Dave and I thought it should be posted on our site.
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Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:39 PM
Subject: AHA Local Action Alert: The Golden Compass

Dear Local Chapter Leaders and Celebrants,

The Golden Compass, a new blockbuster Humanist movie, will hit theaters December 7, but not without its share of controversy. Be on the alert for local protests from critics who are unfairly portraying the film as a “stealth campaign” by its “deceitful” producers and author Philip Pullman to “promote atheism and denigrate Christianity.” And be ready to launch counter protests if you are so moved.

Pullman, who works with the British Humanist Association and will receive the 2008 International Humanist Award at the World Humanist Congress this June in Washington DC (Learn more about and register for the conference here: http://www.americanhumanist.org/conference/index.php), counters that his story from which the film is adapted champions values such as kindness, love, courage, courtesy, intellectual curiosity and opposition to tyranny. And he trusts his readers to see this in all the books in the His Dark Materials trilogy. (Watch the interview here: http://www.youtube.com/user/ErikinSF.) Unfortunately, Pullman’s critics don’t have the same faith in people to make their own decisions.

The Catholic League launched a campaign against the film leading up to its premiere, complete with an “educational booklet” entitled, The Golden Compass: Agenda Unmasked, described as “all the ammo [Christians] need to convince friends and family members that there is nothing innocent about Pullman’s agenda.” (Read how the Catholic League is marketing the booklet here.) While critics acknowledge that the book’s themes critical of religion are being toned down in the film, they accuse Pullman of encouraging parents to buy their children the trilogy of books which they call “overt in its hatred of Christianity”. For Pullman, however, they are a positive Humanist response to the C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia.

But for the Catholic League and other opponents of the film, being critical of religion or being atheist is analogous to being immoral. We know that that just isn’t true. It’s important to be on the lookout for these kinds of campaigns and protests in your community. Be ready to show support for Pullman and his Humanist work. And be sure to see the movie and read the books to decide for yourself. (You can see the trailer here: http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/.)

Kind regards,

Anna Melichar
Field Coordinator

American Humanist Association
1777 T Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
202.238.9088 x 114 | 800.837.3792 x 114
www.americanhumanist.org