Christianity is often promoted, so why can't atheism be promoted? Children need to know they have to right to think freely and choose for themselve what they believe, free from the persistent ignorance of socially backwards behaviour such as that which is presented in this petition.
Hey, I gots a question. Whats the bottom pledge for? It unfairly doesn't say what it is for, and I don't want to assume its the opposite of the first, as I might be wrong.
Oh another thing, should I boycott The Passion of the Christ? I mean I am an Athiest and all... And don't forget Chronicles of Narnia. Maybe I should add that to list of things to boycott... What do you all think? I mean I do have the right an all. But how would you faith and God believers feel about that? Maybe you should take a moment to reflect before post. Or even openint your mouth. This just goes to show how open minded and understanding you really are. If they don't believe what you believe you want nothing to do with them. Or even it for that matter. Let this be and educational experience for you all.
Hi, I'm new to this site. And the only reason why I am new to this site is only because of this Boycotting pledge. I've read all the comments and decided to join.
The comments here have brought real light to what I believed. Few people are open minded will the majority are not. While some people just need to rethink this whole freedom of rights.
First of all this is a movie plain and simple. If you think someone has a hidden agenda because they talk about Athiests in this movie. Then find out, do a little homework before you make an opinion or belief.
Not to state something simple here... See I am an Athiest. Not a lot of moives more so then then ones even containing the word Athiest are out there for everyone to see. Now being an Athiest I don't spilt and argue or even pledge and cry because they are talking about God. I watch the movie. So what they said God. Let me cry to mommy. Movies are there to entertain. And thats what all movies containing religion, faith, and talk about God in it does for me.
A little story about me I became an Athiest when I was 11 years old. Right in the middle of church! Did some stupid movie make me an Athiest NO. I didn't even know the word Athiest back then. I didn't even know of the word till I was about 16. How is that for some light on some of your beliefs about movies and tv.
Movies and tv has been great education for me as a matter of fact. But I choose to watch the right thinks. And I've opened my mind of to the whole world. Not just a few minor things everyone else thinks is right.
I choose for myself what to be and what to do. I learned right from wrong by making mistakes. And believe it or not. Your children will do the same thing. One day they will. And one day they will ask you questions about things you don't want them to know about. But sadly thats how the world works. They will most likely learn these things from school and from their peers.
Why don't you talk to the parents of your childrens friends or maybe some teachers. See if their kids have seen the movie and see if they still believe in God or asked questions about what an Athiest is and touch on a few other subjects why don't you.
Its called being a parent!! Before some movie, school, or kid gets to your own child. Why not teach them and open them to a new world instead of sheltering them from information. Let them learn. Let them understand and know they do have a choice. Educate them! If you can't do that, then whats the point of YOU even being a parent.
Its not your choice if they believe in a God or not. Cause one day they will make the choice for themselves. Children have rights too.
They are kids. If they want to see the movie then let them. Deal with the issues as they come if your to lazy to educate your OWN children just because of some belief you while against others. Isn't that what be call prejudice. Here I'll say it again... PREJUDICE!!
Or should I rephrase that for you? Making a judgement about someone or something before knowing all the facts.
Personally, I am a Christian, and I think that if you teach your children to believe in God then this movie is just a fantasy movie. If watching a movie, such as this one, can change your childs mind about their belief in God, then maybe their belief was really weak to begin with.
As a Christian I have faith that God is real. As a wide reader, and with no disrespect to anyone, I can see by historical records that there have been many attempts to deny God and his reality. They have all been left in the dust of historys pages. The current attempts to deny God or say that God is something else will also ultimately fail. The Golden Compass may very well be an entertaining movie that has been made by talented people from all areas of the film industry, but I will not watch it, not because of any story plot denying God, but because of the cynical exercise of generating controversy that publicists indulge in so as to make more profit. They invite opposition so as to put more profits in to their pockets. I am so tired of my fellow religious adherents falling for this scam. Stop wasting your time, effort and money on this and start devoting your effort to fulfilling the great commission! You forget who God is. He does not require protection as no one can beat him. God does not require our approval as he is the source of all authority and goodness. If I ever see The Golden Compass it will be because I haven't paid for it and no one else has paid for me. If I do I expect I will see an entertaining movie that will be well acted and technically excellent. But I am not going to be anyones fool except God's fool.
Your point about being "left in the dust of history's pages" seems to have come true. When I went to the giant AMC Megaplex last evening to see a movie, The Golden Compass wasn't listed on the board. So I asked at the box office and the person there said it was removed last week and had a run of only two weeks. Your point that God can protect Himself seems to be correct. God bless you and your family in 2008 and thanks for the best post on this board about this topic.
Wow a typo. With k and l so far from each other on the keyboard it amazing how I could ever make that mistake. If you think I'm mean, read other post hun.
I am new to this site, so pardon my ignorance if I am indeed intruding on your opinion. You have taken the stance that you refuse to pay for the viewing of this movie, correct? While that is valiant and noble, I must say I find your naive view on 'stances' amusing. You refuse to watch a movie, because it puts money into the pocket of someone undermining your beliefs? The multicultural, wide-spread belief system in which we live today means it would be foolish to boycott anything that puts money into the pockets of those undermining your religion, you would also be living a very lonely and unfulfilling life. Have you ever watched the television show 'The Simpsons' or maybe 'Futurama'? Both made by Matt Groening, they attack Catholicism and many other faiths on a regular basis. Have you bought groceries at a local shopping mart, or maybe bought clothes from a particular overseas brand? All these acts would be putting money into the pockets of an atheist or someone undermining your belief. The economy of the world makes it possible for someone in America to fund the criminal acts of someone in England. The butterfly effect takes place and someone will benefit from your simple purchase of a toothbrush. Extreme I know, but completely feasible. I myself am an atheist and while I do not take quite the 'heroic' stances that you seem to be making, I do believe in my cause. You stated in a comment towards someone else in this forum that we should not consider the heinous acts committed in the name of God as his fault, instead that the blame should fall with the men committing them. I assume you have read the bible, yes? I have. I went to a Catholic public school in my youth and was the highest religion student in my class. While I am now an atheist, I did study the bible in great lengths. There are several passages in the bible that condone the killing of thousands of men, women and children. God tells the men of Isreal to take a town as bounty, take the women as your own, banish the children and slaughter the men as they have wronged you and your family by worshipping another. Innocent people being slaughtered for, surprise, surprise, not having the same faith. Two of the most famous stories of the bible, Noah and the Ark, Moses and The Red Sea. In Noah's tale, thousands upon thousands are killed to 'start anew'. Killed for being 'bad' or 'evil'. Did God not say he would forgive those who ask for it? Did he not say to 'love thy neighbours as he loves you'? And of course, Moses and the parting of the Red Sea. I am not completely unresonable, I can recognise that those men were forcing the Isrealites to a life of slavery, and that Moses freed them of that enslavement. But to kill the Romans to achieve that? That's not particularly educational for children. 'This movie is promoting atheism to children.' Not believing in a God and living your life comfortably opposed to condoning violence as a solution to a problem. Not a choice that needs much considering. Lastly I have a pet peeve of people adding insult to injury by saying 'God bless you' to atheists. God bless you is a response to someone sneezing. God bless you is a thanks for a favour. God bless you is not a parting phrase. So if I were to follow your example and part on words that completely disregard your faith and beliefs as you did to Nevin M. Go to Hell.
It's a good point that believers should pay more attention to the great commission. Still there was a need to bring this movie to the attention of believers and I think that's all the petitioner's wished to do -- the movie would cause children to want to read the books and as Christian parents they should look at these books. But that is where this debate should begin and end -- within the Christian communinty. Most people would agree that has been accomplished.
Whether God exists or not was never the precise point, perhaps it has become a tangent on this Board and off topic.
Another issue raised was do Christian parents do have the right to know what the books they buy their children contain? Somehow the issue of the right to know has become intertwined with "boycott."
Would the non believers on this Board agree that Christians should spend more time pursuing the great commission? Many posts seem to indicate that the great commission is pushing the Christian religion down peoples' throats.
How should Christians go about carrying out the Great Commission in this day and age is a good question. But people on this board would probably object if that issue was examined here at this board. Would Christians wish to discuss the great commission with other Christians on another Board? It's an interesting topic
By the way, why does your "God" have to have you fight his battles for him Trudy S.? Why cant this "God" fight his own battles? Why cant any of the "Gods" do their own dirty work? What are these "Gods" afraid of ?Sounds pretty cowardly to me.
Whats wrong with atheists anyway ? I guess just disagreeing with the religious nuts is whats wrong. The religious nuts have killed more people and done more harm (and still are) to the human race than anyone else. Where are these "Gods" that have always demanded such a high price in suffering from us humans? What have they given us but a bunch of fanciful stories ? Why are YOUR "Gods" so cowardly, they have to hide themselves from us mere mortals??
If it wasn't for the atheists, you would not be living in the rational, enlightened country (more or less) you live in today. When the religious people ran everything it was called the Dark Ages. The enlightened, rational people of the world need to stand up to this kind of religious extremism and ignorance before they plunge us into another Dark Age.
Excuse me Nevin M. Your comments are understandable but woefully simplistic and inaccurate. Go back into history and really read it. The beginnings of scientific knowledge came from the knowledge of God, because people believed that the world was the result of rational creation following principles set in place by God, and that it could be understood and investigated. Occams razor - to paraphrase - the simplest answer covering the known facts is usually the best one, was arrived at by a religious monk, William of Occam. The Greeks never developed an advanced scientific civilisation even though they worked out a lot of the modern mechanisms to the model stage - Hero's steam engine for example - because they believed in an underlying chaos and a Pantheon of Gods they created to explain a lot of observed phenomenom. They never bothered to really study the world based on a coherent created whole because they thought it sprang from disorganised chaos and could not be explained. People with a faith in a personal, creator God had the adventure of their lives in discovering Gods' mind through the real world. I know that a lot of evil has been done in Gods' name. But it was done by people, not God. You are right to be disgusted at some of the things that have been done, but it is precisely the fact that those things harmed peoples lives that they made it into the history books. People who spend their time living simply and helping people don't make it into the history books because their affects are felt at the personal level and are not newsworthy. Destructive acts distort history and are very noticeable. Faithful devotion to duty and service to others, which is an ideal in the true religious life, is also practiced now, and throughout history. Think on it. God Bless you.
Sadly, another example of people protesting something they know nothing about. The book is not anti-religion per say, but anti-organized-religion-as-a-form-of-control. I (and other christians) have found this series to be very faith affirming. It's sad to ses the judjments being made in ignorance.
I never take my children to movies that I have not cleared. When there is a movie that promotes atheism, I do not let them go and see it. I try to take them to God and Faith affirming films, there is nothing wrong with that. There are several movies this Christmas that have been put on the "good influence" list, so there are choickes out there.
I have noticed everytime a movie gets a bad review on Yahoo they take the Movie Blog off line - I am certainly glad for this website - I am going to send the link to everyone - hopefully yahoo will get the message if they restrict people's opinions we will go elsewhere!
Hey, I gots a question. Whats the bottom pledge for? It unfairly doesn't say what it is for, and I don't want to assume its the opposite of the first, as I might be wrong.
Read this http://jamonation.com/nod e/753
and read this
http://www.thestar.com/Sp eakout/Voices/a...
before making a real judgement... Some good opinions in the comments.
Oh another thing, should I boycott The Passion of the Christ? I mean I am an Athiest and all... And don't forget Chronicles of Narnia. Maybe I should add that to list of things to boycott... What do you all think? I mean I do have the right an all. But how would you faith and God believers feel about that? Maybe you should take a moment to reflect before post. Or even openint your mouth. This just goes to show how open minded and understanding you really are. If they don't believe what you believe you want nothing to do with them. Or even it for that matter. Let this be and educational experience for you all.
Hi, I'm new to this site. And the only reason why I am new to this site is only because of this Boycotting pledge. I've read all the comments and decided to join.
The comments here have brought real light to what I believed. Few people are open minded will the majority are not. While some people just need to rethink this whole freedom of rights.
First of all this is a movie plain and simple. If you think someone has a hidden agenda because they talk about Athiests in this movie. Then find out, do a little homework before you make an opinion or belief.
Not to state something simple here... See I am an Athiest. Not a lot of moives more so then then ones even containing the word Athiest are out there for everyone to see. Now being an Athiest I don't spilt and argue or even pledge and cry because they are talking about God. I watch the movie. So what they said God. Let me cry to mommy. Movies are there to entertain. And thats what all movies containing religion, faith, and talk about God in it does for me.
A little story about me I became an Athiest when I was 11 years old. Right in the middle of church! Did some stupid movie make me an Athiest NO. I didn't even know the word Athiest back then. I didn't even know of the word till I was about 16. How is that for some light on some of your beliefs about movies and tv.
Movies and tv has been great education for me as a matter of fact. But I choose to watch the right thinks. And I've opened my mind of to the whole world. Not just a few minor things everyone else thinks is right.
I choose for myself what to be and what to do. I learned right from wrong by making mistakes. And believe it or not. Your children will do the same thing. One day they will. And one day they will ask you questions about things you don't want them to know about. But sadly thats how the world works. They will most likely learn these things from school and from their peers.
Why don't you talk to the parents of your childrens friends or maybe some teachers. See if their kids have seen the movie and see if they still believe in God or asked questions about what an Athiest is and touch on a few other subjects why don't you.
Its called being a parent!! Before some movie, school, or kid gets to your own child. Why not teach them and open them to a new world instead of sheltering them from information. Let them learn. Let them understand and know they do have a choice. Educate them! If you can't do that, then whats the point of YOU even being a parent.
Its not your choice if they believe in a God or not. Cause one day they will make the choice for themselves. Children have rights too.
They are kids. If they want to see the movie then let them. Deal with the issues as they come if your to lazy to educate your OWN children just because of some belief you while against others. Isn't that what be call prejudice. Here I'll say it again... PREJUDICE!!
Or should I rephrase that for you? Making a judgement about someone or something before knowing all the facts.
Aren't You the same guy who posted the two on the top. Maybe you should rethink a few things before you judge a Christians Judgement.
Personally, I am a Christian, and I think that if you teach your children to believe in God then this movie is just a fantasy movie. If watching a movie, such as this one, can change your childs mind about their belief in God, then maybe their belief was really weak to begin with.
And in a case like this, they should not be allowed to watch Alice in Wonderland. They may try wild mushrooms to see if the grow or shrink.
As a Christian I have faith that God is real. As a wide reader, and with no disrespect to anyone, I can see by historical records that there have been many attempts to deny God and his reality. They have all been left in the dust of historys pages. The current attempts to deny God or say that God is something else will also ultimately fail. The Golden Compass may very well be an entertaining movie that has been made by talented people from all areas of the film industry, but I will not watch it, not because of any story plot denying God, but because of the cynical exercise of generating controversy that publicists indulge in so as to make more profit. They invite opposition so as to put more profits in to their pockets. I am so tired of my fellow religious adherents falling for this scam. Stop wasting your time, effort and money on this and start devoting your effort to fulfilling the great commission! You forget who God is. He does not require protection as no one can beat him. God does not require our approval as he is the source of all authority and goodness. If I ever see The Golden Compass it will be because I haven't paid for it and no one else has paid for me. If I do I expect I will see an entertaining movie that will be well acted and technically excellent. But I am not going to be anyones fool except God's fool.
Your point about being "left in the dust of history's pages" seems to have come true. When I went to the giant AMC Megaplex last evening to see a movie, The Golden Compass wasn't listed on the board. So I asked at the box office and the person there said it was removed last week and had a run of only two weeks. Your point that God can protect Himself seems to be correct. God bless you and your family in 2008 and thanks for the best post on this board about this topic.
Pklease shut up, you seem like a idiot who didn want to see barney
Stop being so mean. You sound like an idiot who couldn't even spell the PLEASE. So YOU SHUT UP.
Wow a typo. With k and l so far from each other on the keyboard it amazing how I could ever make that mistake. If you think I'm mean, read other post hun.
konton=fun
I am new to this site, so pardon my ignorance if I am indeed intruding on your opinion.
You have taken the stance that you refuse to pay for the viewing of this movie, correct? While that is valiant and noble, I must say I find your naive view on 'stances' amusing. You refuse to watch a movie, because it puts money into the pocket of someone undermining your beliefs?
The multicultural, wide-spread belief system in which we live today means it would be foolish to boycott anything that puts money into the pockets of those undermining your religion, you would also be living a very lonely and unfulfilling life.
Have you ever watched the television show 'The Simpsons' or maybe 'Futurama'? Both made by Matt Groening, they attack Catholicism and many other faiths on a regular basis. Have you bought groceries at a local shopping mart, or maybe bought clothes from a particular overseas brand? All these acts would be putting money into the pockets of an atheist or someone undermining your belief.
The economy of the world makes it possible for someone in America to fund the criminal acts of someone in England. The butterfly effect takes place and someone will benefit from your simple purchase of a toothbrush. Extreme I know, but completely feasible.
I myself am an atheist and while I do not take quite the 'heroic' stances that you seem to be making, I do believe in my cause. You stated in a comment towards someone else in this forum that we should not consider the heinous acts committed in the name of God as his fault, instead that the blame should fall with the men committing them.
I assume you have read the bible, yes? I have. I went to a Catholic public school in my youth and was the highest religion student in my class. While I am now an atheist, I did study the bible in great lengths.
There are several passages in the bible that condone the killing of thousands of men, women and children. God tells the men of Isreal to take a town as bounty, take the women as your own, banish the children and slaughter the men as they have wronged you and your family by worshipping another. Innocent people being slaughtered for, surprise, surprise, not having the same faith.
Two of the most famous stories of the bible, Noah and the Ark, Moses and The Red Sea.
In Noah's tale, thousands upon thousands are killed to 'start anew'. Killed for being 'bad' or 'evil'. Did God not say he would forgive those who ask for it? Did he not say to 'love thy neighbours as he loves you'?
And of course, Moses and the parting of the Red Sea. I am not completely unresonable, I can recognise that those men were forcing the Isrealites to a life of slavery, and that Moses freed them of that enslavement. But to kill the Romans to achieve that? That's not particularly educational for children.
'This movie is promoting atheism to children.'
Not believing in a God and living your life comfortably opposed to condoning violence as a solution to a problem. Not a choice that needs much considering.
Lastly I have a pet peeve of people adding insult to injury by saying 'God bless you' to atheists. God bless you is a response to someone sneezing. God bless you is a thanks for a favour. God bless you is not a parting phrase.
So if I were to follow your example and part on words that completely disregard your faith and beliefs as you did to Nevin M.
Go to Hell.
Nice
Very well-stated. Thank you for respectfully and positively representing seculars on this site.
It's a good point that believers should pay more attention to the great commission. Still there was a need to bring this movie to the attention of believers and I think that's all the petitioner's wished to do -- the movie would cause children to want to read the books and as Christian parents they should look at these books. But that is where this debate should begin and end -- within the Christian communinty. Most people would agree that has been accomplished.
Whether God exists or not was never the precise point, perhaps it has become a tangent on this Board and off topic.
Another issue raised was do Christian parents do have the right to know what the books they buy their children contain? Somehow the issue of the right to know has become intertwined with "boycott."
Would the non believers on this Board agree that Christians should spend more time pursuing the great commission? Many posts seem to indicate that the great commission is pushing the Christian religion down peoples' throats.
How should Christians go about carrying out the Great Commission in this day and age is a good question. But people on this board would probably object if that issue was examined here at this board. Would Christians wish to discuss the great commission with other Christians on another Board? It's an interesting topic
Reason, observation, and experience; the holy trinity of science.--Robert Green Ingersoll
True. He also was a man of faith. Just not in God.
What the heck is a non-atheist film anyway?
By the way, why does your "God" have to have you fight his battles for him Trudy S.? Why cant this "God" fight his own battles? Why cant any of the "Gods" do their own dirty work? What are these "Gods" afraid of ?Sounds pretty cowardly to me.
Whats wrong with atheists anyway ? I guess just disagreeing with the religious nuts is whats wrong. The religious nuts have killed more people and done more harm (and still are) to the human race than anyone else. Where are these "Gods" that have always demanded such a high price in suffering from us humans? What have they given us but a bunch of fanciful stories ? Why are YOUR "Gods" so cowardly, they have to hide themselves from us mere mortals??
If it wasn't for the atheists, you would not be living in the rational, enlightened country (more or less) you live in today. When the religious people ran everything it was called the Dark Ages. The enlightened, rational people of the world need to stand up to this kind of religious extremism and ignorance before they plunge us into another Dark Age.
Excuse me Nevin M. Your comments are understandable but woefully simplistic and inaccurate. Go back into history and really read it. The beginnings of scientific knowledge came from the knowledge of God, because people believed that the world was the result of rational creation following principles set in place by God, and that it could be understood and investigated. Occams razor - to paraphrase - the simplest answer covering the known facts is usually the best one, was arrived at by a religious monk, William of Occam. The Greeks never developed an advanced scientific civilisation even though they worked out a lot of the modern mechanisms to the model stage - Hero's steam engine for example - because they believed in an underlying chaos and a Pantheon of Gods they created to explain a lot of observed phenomenom. They never bothered to really study the world based on a coherent created whole because they thought it sprang from disorganised chaos and could not be explained. People with a faith in a personal, creator God had the adventure of their lives in discovering Gods' mind through the real world. I know that a lot of evil has been done in Gods' name. But it was done by people, not God. You are right to be disgusted at some of the things that have been done, but it is precisely the fact that those things harmed peoples lives that they made it into the history books. People who spend their time living simply and helping people don't make it into the history books because their affects are felt at the personal level and are not newsworthy. Destructive acts distort history and are very noticeable. Faithful devotion to duty and service to others, which is an ideal in the true religious life, is also practiced now, and throughout history. Think on it. God Bless you.
Sadly, another example of people protesting something they know nothing about. The book is not anti-religion per say, but anti-organized-religion-as-a-form-of-control. I (and other christians) have found this series to be very faith affirming. It's sad to ses the judjments being made in ignorance.
I never take my children to movies that I have not cleared. When there is a movie that promotes atheism, I do not let them go and see it. I try to take them to God and Faith affirming films, there is nothing wrong with that. There are several movies this Christmas that have been put on the "good influence" list, so there are choickes out there.
I have noticed everytime a movie gets a bad review on Yahoo they take the Movie Blog off line - I am certainly glad for this website - I am going to send the link to everyone - hopefully yahoo will get the message if they restrict people's opinions we will go elsewhere!
http://www.youchoose. net/campaign/boycott_the_boycott_of_the_ golden_compass
Isn't the issue brought up about priests abusing children making the point here
that, as far as children go, should they be the target of a concerted effort to
espouse a dis-belief in the existence of God? I mean, pedophiles don't target
adults--they go after innocent kids. The author of the Golden Compass' target is
kids, and he admits this. If I am a Catholic, I don't want my kids' decision to choose
what they will and won't believe to be influenced by an atheist with a hidden agenda, who
is attacking my faith. I would be stupid to pay for a movie that funds someone who
takes an opposite view of my cherished beliefs. I mean, how many Republicans and
conservatives went to see Farenheit 911? I don't agree with Michael Moore--why
am I going to put money in his pocket? Christians have every right to boycott.