This Is Important! “The Golden Compass”

There are many reasons I have been studying and writing about principalities and the occult (red text=new windows)… here’s one, right in our faces before Christmas! Another e-mail alert, but this one is much more serious in regard to attacking our children. As if Harry Potter wasn’t enough… but there will be more to come…

See here: Last Trumpet Ministries  Thanks to Brothers in Christ, Daniel and Timbob, (in the blogroll) for the lead to that link… an article that will curl your toes and make you think seriously on Godly matters.

If you are not sure where you stand regarding your soul or would like to learn more: In Plain Site has been around a while and has a fine collection of information well-worth perusing.

Thanks to my Mom for e-mailing this with a note of love and concern for my siblings, me, and you.

Thanks, Mom!! I Love You Bunches!! xoxox

Additional Sources-

 World Net Daily 

 Mission America 

The first sentence from Wikipedia’s description should cause concern:
“The story begins when Lyra Belacqua—an orphaned, eleven-year-old girl residing at Jordan College—secretly enters the Retiring Room, despite resistance from her dæmon, Pantalaimon; an animal-formed, shape-shifting manifestation of her soul. Inside the room, they see the Master of Jordan College attempt to poison Lord Asriel, Lyra’s uncle. Lord Asriel shows the resident scholars a picture of mysterious elementary particles called Dust. Shortly afterwards Lord Asriel goes north, and Lyra continues with her normal life…
… Lyra joins the expedition to the north, and on the journey discovers that the children kidnapped by “the Gobblers” are having their dæmons cut away from them, by way of experiment. …”

dae•mon 1. Classical Mythology. A god. A subordinate deity, as the genius of a place or a person’s attendant spirit. 2. A demon.
American Heritage Dictionary ~Chiefly British ~Variant of demon.

Also: Christian Answers (Harry Potter/Occult)

******************************************************************

Straight from Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

The Golden Compass

Claim: The 2007 film The Golden Compass is based on a series of books with anti-religious themes.

Status:True

Examples:

[Collected via e-mail, October 2007]

There will be a new Children’s movie out in December called THE GOLDEN COMPASS. It is written by Phillip Pullman, a proud athiest who belongs to secular humanist societies. He hates C. S. Lewis’s Chronical’s of Narnia and has written a trilogy to show the other side. The movie has been dumbed down to fool kids and their parents in the hope that they will buy his trilogy where in the end the children kill God and everyone can do as they please. Nicole Kidman stars in the movie so it will probably be advertised a lot. This is just a friendly warning that you sure won’t hear on the regular TV.

---

[Collected via e-mail, October 2007]

I don’t just generally dismiss a movie or book just because someone ‘says’ it’s meant to be something else…but this is worth knowing if you plan to see it (or plan to take your kids).”Hi! I just wanted to inform you what I just learned about a movie that is coming out December 7, during the Christmas season, which is entitled THE GOLDEN COMPASS. It stars Nicole Kidman and it is directed toward children. What is disturbing to me is that this movie is based on the first of a trilogy of books for children called HIS DARK MATERIALS written by Philip Pullman of England.He’s an atheist and his objective is to bash Christianity and promote atheism. I heard that he has made remarks that he wants to kill God in the minds of children, and that’s what his books are all about. He despises C.S. Lewis and Narnia, etc. An article written about him said “this is the most dangerous author in Britain” and that Pullman would be the writer “the atheists would be praying for, if atheists prayed.” Pullman said he doesn’t think it is possible that there is a God and he has great difficulty understanding the words “spiritual” and “spirituality.” What I thought was important to communicate is what part of the agenda is for making this picture. This movie is a watered down version of the first book, which is the least offensive of the three books. The second book of the trilogy is THE SUBTLE KNIFE and the third book is THE AMBER SPYGLASS. Each book gets worse and worse regarding Pullman’s hatred of God. In the trilogy, a young girl becomes enmeshed in an epic struggle against a nefarious Church known as the Magisterium. Another character, an ex-nun, describes Christianity as “a very powerful and convincing mistake.” As I understand it, in the last book, a boy and girl are depicted representing Adam and Eve and they kill God, who at times is called YAHWEH (which is definitely not Allah). Since the movie would seem mild if you viewed it, that’s been done on purpose.They are hoping that unsuspecting parents will take their children to See the movie, that they will enjoy the movie and then the children will want the books for Christmas. That’s the hook. Pullman says he wants the children to read the books and decide against God and the kingdom of heaven.

If you decide that you do not want to support something like this, I suggest that you boycott the movie and the books. I googled a synopsis of THE GOLDEN COMPASS. As I skimmed it, I couldn’t believe that in a children’s book part of the story is about castration and female circumcision.

*******************************************************************

Origins:   The Golden Compass, a fantasy film starring Nicole Kidman that is scheduled to be released into theaters on 7 December 2007, has been drawing fire from concerned Christians. The film is based on Northern Lights (released in the U.S. as The Golden Compass), the first offering in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy of children’s books, a series that follows the adventures of a streetwise girl who travels through multiple worlds populated by witches, armor-plated bears, and sinister ecclesiastical assassins to defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God.

Books of the trilogy have sold more than 15 million copies around the world, with Northern Lights winning the Carnegie Medal for Children’s Literature in 1995 and in 2007 being awarded the ‘Carnegie of Carnegies’ for the best children’s book of the past 70 years. The Amber Spyglass, the final book of the series, won The Whitbread Prize in 2001, making it the first children’s book to do so.

The series’ author, Philip Pullman, is an avowed atheist who has averred that “I don’t profess any religion; I don’t think it’s possible that there is a God; I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words ‘spiritual’ or ‘spirituality.'” Critics of Pullman’s books point to the strong anti-religion and anti-God themes they incorporate, and although literary works are subject to a variety of interpretations, Pullman left little doubt about his intentions when he said in a 2003 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald that “My books are about killing God.” (Conservative British columnist Peter Hitchens labeled Pullman “The Most Dangerous Author in Britain” and described him as the writer “the atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed.”)

Bill Donohue, president of The Catholic League, has condemned The Golden Compass as a “pernicious” effort to indoctrinate children into anti-Christian beliefs and has produced a 23-page pamphlet titled The Golden Compass: Unmasked in which he maintains that Pullman “sells atheism for kids.” Donohoe told interviewer John Gibson on 9 October 2007 why he believes Christians should stay away from the film:

Look, the movie is based on the least offensive of the three books. And they have dumbed down the worst elements in the movie because they don’t want to make Christians angry and they want to make money. Our concern is this, unsuspecting Christian parents may want to take their kid to the movie, it opens up December 7th and say, this wasn’t troubling, then we’ll buy the books. So the movie is the bait for the books which are profoundly anti-Catholic and at the same time selling atheism.

Other reviewers, however, have described Pullman’s works as being more generally anti-religion rather than specifically anti-Christian or anti-Catholic:

In “His Dark Materials,” Pullman’s criticisms of organized religion come across as anti-authoritarian and anti-ascetic rather than anti-doctrinal. (Jesus isn’t mentioned in any of the books, although Pullman has hinted that He might figure in a forthcoming sequel, “The Book of Dust.”) His fundamental objection is to ideological tyranny and the rejection of this world in favor of an idealized afterlife, regardless of creed. As one of the novel’s pagan characters puts it, “Every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling.”

Last updated:   23 October 2007

The URL for this page is http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

Urban Legends Reference Pages © 1995-2007
by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson

Sources:

    Gibson, John.   “The Big Story with John Gibson.”

    Fox News Network.   9 October 2007.

    Hoyle, Ben.   “Pullman Writes a Book That Will Shed Light on Darkness of His Beliefs.”

    The [London] Times.   1 August 2007   (p. 9).

    Meacham, Steve.   “The Shed Where God Died.”

    The Sydney Morning Herald.   13 December 2003.

    Miller, Laura.   “Far from Narnia.”

    The New Yorker.   26 December 2005.

    Pauli, Michelle.   “Pullman Wins ‘Carnegie of Carnegies.'”

    The Guardian.   21 June 2007.

    Sunday Mirror.   “Kidman Movie Is ‘Atheist.'”

    21 October 2007   (p. 24).

Regarding the Occult…

Listing the very practices we are warned against is an effort to bring awareness that certain things which have become standard, are persuasively dangerous. Who wouldn’t like to know if a brother or parent, etc., are happy on “the other side”? Which of us wouldn’t like to know what will show up in having our charts read? Faith is a key component in walking with Jesus! Humans have a soul satan incessantly seeks for perpetuity and entering his realm is saving him effort.  (Bold Red text=new window)

It cannot be stressed strongly enough that what we are dealing with and what we are condoning with our silence are destructive to our very being. I look at children (including my family), innocently being taught acceptance of others to the degree of uncertainty about right and wrong. I read an article in which American children are inadvertently hearing a message of hate for the USA at home, school, and elsewhere, therefore, they are confused about how to feel… the messages against Christianity are just as pervasive and the foundations are shaky. “”come out from among them, and be ye separate…”

2Corinthians 6:17 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Although we have to pray and study for answers regarding all issues, instruction is explicit in Deuteronomy 18:9-14 about avoiding practices of the occult:

Warning against Heathen Practices: 9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.”

And Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.“

Some may not understand why God is so emphatic in His warnings against playing around with activities which seem harmless in fictionalized book versions, but satan is there, waiting to give you false power and knowledge, except that his is limited, so how much can he share of “not much”? He is, however, smarter than the average bear. The demons have been roaming for centuries, they know human nature and how to convince us that we are something we aren’t, whether it’s an inflated or deflated image. Frankly, I think the pride in not wanting to be made a fool of by unclean spirits is an acceptable type of pride! More importantly, though, is the aversion to allowing Jesus to be made into a joke!

Simply put, satan has already betrayed Almighty God, therefore, we are not to dabble in the realms of darkness, inviting and encouraging demonic motion. They know exactly what they’re doing!

Other verses I find relevant are Mark 1:24-26, indicating demons know Jesus,  the plan of salvation in James 2: 19, and Matthew 8:28-29 which tells that they know they’re doomed. Demons also have a well-developed system of doctrine 1Timothy 4:1-3.

Mark 1:24-26  Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Hold thy peace, and come out of him“. 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

The Gergesene Demoniacs: Matthew8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? (Note: “before the time?” Literally, before their time is up!)

Prediction of Apostasy: 1Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

God offers All, satan will deceive and make unfulfilled promises. In the end, satan will gladly take any of us to hell with him and these (below) are avenues for opening the door to his entire host. Jesus has defeated death and satan, all we have to do is BELIEVE IN JESUS AS THE SON OF GOD, THE SAVIOR. FREE invitation to heaven!!

Please, learn to recognize these and when something sounds remotely unbiblical.

Pray for wisdom.

1. Fortune-telling – of any kind such as palm reading, crystal ball gazing, numerology, or seeing psychics.
2. Tarot Cards
3. Ouija Boards
4. Seances and any involvement with mediums or spiritists.
5. Astrology and any form of horoscopes.
6. I Ching -hexagrams
7. Hypnotism
8. Transcendental Meditation or any type of Far Eastern Meditation.
9. Crystals
10. Witchcraft
11. Satanism
12. Voodoo -Vodun
13. Channeling – dead spirits;contacting “higher self “
14. Reincarnation
15. Astral projection -out-of-body experiences
16. ESP  – extra-sensory perception
17. Dungeons and Dragons – role-playing games. (Articles)
18. New Age Movement techniques and activities.
19. Necromancy -communicating w/ the dead, e.g. Sylvia Brown, John Edward (McGee)

God Bless and Keep You Always, In All Ways.  Amen.

Inviting Trouble

In writing the previous post regarding Halloween and trick or treating, I was thinking more along the lines of Christians NOT living in fear than the actual holiday. The holiday and celebrations cannot affect us negatively if we are girded with the Spirit of God, standing strong against evil.

Word For It: Gird: to prepare (oneself) for action; to provide, equip, or invest, as with power or strength.

(Links throughout open in new windows. They are pertinent and informative!)

If we, however, seek powers in things of darkness, demons are given an invitation to enter, whether without or within, our being. “Global Culture” has become so saturated with “tolerance” that satanic worship is barely discernible by either side of the light/ darkness. When we awaken, when we lie down to sleep, and all times between should be spent in prayer. It does not need to be structured, just an awareness of His presence and our need for Him.

Word For It: Discernible: perceptible by the senses or intellect; “things happen in the earth and sky with no discernible cause”; “the newspaper reports no discernible progress in the negotiations”; “the skyline is easily discernible even at a distance of several miles” 

For clarity, I constantly reach for my Ryrie Study Bible, KJV: “Demon possession means a demon residing in a person, exerting direct control and influence over that person, with certain derangement of mind and/or body. Demon possession is to be distinguished from demon influence or demon activity in relation to a person. The work of the demon in the latter [activity] is from the outside; in demon possession [influence] it is from within. By this definition a Christian cannot be possessed by a demon since he is already indwelt by the Holy Spirit. However, a believer can be the target of demonic activity to such an extent that he may give the appearance of demon possession.” p. 1838

Speaking personally, even though I am a child of God with the Holy Spirit indwelling, I expend enough effort staying out of trouble without playing around where we have clearly been instructed to avoid.

Deuteronomy 18: 9-14:  Warning against Heathen Practices

“9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.”

One does not need to be standing in front of an altar, chanting, to worship; worship is priorities. Does God have a voice in decisions of common issues? He should be the ultimate consultant we seek in matters of how, when and where we spend time; He wants us to smile and enjoy life but it seems society (i.e., Hollywood, media outlets, merchandisers) thinks that’s not possible without depravity. Are we supporting the hosts of Satan without even noticing?

The only reason I think a Christian would be reading Harry Potter books is to educate oneself in responding to all the hoopla. Personally, I do not support JK Rowling or the “art of wizardry”. I recall the first book being required reading by one of the local sixth grade teachers and the first book was informative enough to know the context well enough to deduce the detriment to souls. I read an article recently in which Rowling sarcastically stated that she is sure religious people would be outraged all over again after she “outed” a gay character.

According to sources, JK “Rowling is a graduate of Exeter University in England, and is very familiar with occultic practices, using elements and philosophies behind “pagan religions, Celtic religions, the religions of the druids, witchcraft, [and] satanism“. Caryl Matrisciana in Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged © 2001, Jeremiah Films.

“…I’ve been researching world religions for 25 years, but young children who are only 7, 8, 9, or 10 years old, computer friendly, going into the internet, going into Wiccan sites, and being taught about Harry Potter or the view on witchcraft through their world view, through their sympathetic world view, it’s very dangerous for our children. They are getting confused, and one can see that in the letters that you read out earlier, that they don’t know what is good or bad or right or wrong, and the power that millions of witches across the world have…”  Caryl Matrisciana

“Potter” is a Pagan witch, “the female goddess of Babylonwho is considered the potter who created the human being from clay. God, unable to give birth, is essentially believed to have tried to mimick the Potter. The feminine oriented cult of witchcraft sees the woman and her process of birth as fundamental in the new life, the transformation, the alchemy, the changing of the inner man to higher consciousness, which is what Harry Potter is all about… This is an upside down reversal of what a Christian believes. When they come into a personal relationship with Christ they are transformed and take on the mind of Christ.” Caryl Matrisciana in Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged © 2001, Jeremiah Films.  Christian Answers

Connie Neal: “What’s a Christian to do with Harry Potter?”

It’s the “greatest evangelistic opportunity the church ever missed,” Neal said. Associated Baptist Press

What does it mean to be “girded in the spirit”? It is putting on the armor of light, the armor of God, and believing that He is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent.

*Omniscient: Having total knowledge; knowing everything: an omniscient deity; the omniscient narrator.

*Omnipresent: Present everywhere at the same time: the omnipresent God.

*Omnipotent: Having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force; all-powerful

If we truly believe God in all matters, it is a contradiction to fear that which He has already overcome. We are told in God’s Holy Scripture that satan and his cohorts are only allowed a limited time with limited power.

Satan is not omni-anything! He’s a deceiver who does not want to be miserable alone! Why would anyone deliberately join the losing team? Because books and information such as Harry Potter make it seem innocent and harmless to learn and enact “white magic”.

God’s love, God’s power, and God’s wrath against all that is evil should be on every Christians’ mind and coming from their mouth! We cannot be ignorant or fearful, even though we are living in enemy territory until Jesus returns. Until then, He will watch over us if we are watchful and fervently pray.

Without acceptance of His promises, He will not interfere or impose on the free will He allows. It is up to each individual to study and know His offer of salvation.

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

“There is one body and one Spirit … one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25)

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

“… whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:15-16)

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)

Thanks to: http://www.bible-knowledge.com

May God Bless and Keep You Always, In All Ways.

Amen.