What foolishness.

This is NOT the way to teach tolerance and acceptance of our differences. It only keeps discrimination alive and growing unto the next generation. It makes me very sad that people in a position to make a difference in our world choose to act so foolishly. Pulled because he’s an atheist? His beliefs should make NO difference! Too bad so many are still so blind. I really don’t think Jesus or God would approve of such intolerance. I don’t remember reading THAT in the Bible!

Uh, if anyone would like to ban my novel, I heartily encourage you to do so. I could use the sales.

The news on this has been extreme and sensationalized. Halton Catholic board has a policy on complaints. They remove the book from the shelves and keep it behind the desk. If you ask for it you can still get it. They then review with a panel of parents and teachers. The book is then removed or returned.

The book was not moved because he is an atheist it was moved because there was a complaint. All complaints are treated the same.

No one has banned the book. It has been moved from one section to another.

You would think from reading the news and the comments that they had burned the books and were all ignorant cave dwellers from the middle ages.

No, they have policy. They are following policy. The book is still available if you ask.

and the foolishness… that resides with the people who write the stories and comments without actually understanding the situation.

And for those who will say I am on the board, or something, I am not. I am simply a parent of a child in the Halton Catholic system who can read policy and understands why they have policy.

This just in… Halton public schools have pulled the anti-atheist “Narnia” trilogy from their library after parents complained about them. The series’ author, C.S. Lewis, was a self-admitted Christian who wrote the books to indoctrinate children with his religious values and admitted to “openly undermining atheistic belief.”

While the book series has been around for many years, this controversy has erupted only in light of a series of major motion pictures, demonstrating that people interested in banning books don’t actually take the time to read them.

Thanks to Carolyne for the clarification re. the school board’s process responding to complaints. I am one of the foolish
people she criticizes for commenting on the issue- in the Star’s Speak Out column. But my comment was that the Catholic
board call pull from their shelves whatever they choose to pull, but we the public ought not be funding religious institutions
that are intolerant of divergent beliefs. I expect that the Catholic parents and Catholic teachers who make up the panel will
not ban the book. They are thinking people just like the rest of us.

Has anyone who is wishing to ban the books actually READ them?
Or is your only defense that Pullman is an Atheist?
Because one people learn that he is an Atheist, they sort of look for reasons to ban the books.
Come on people, would you want your children to grow up intolerant? I’ll be you children didn’t even dream that the
books were in any way “bad” before someone bashed Pullman over the head.

If you don’t bring these things up, nothing happens.
Plus, there’s nothing to bring up. These books are innocent and great, and I enjoyed them fully.

As Carolyne explained, the book was not ‘banned’ but put under review because of a parents complaint; just standard operating procedure.

Even if it fails the review it will not be burned in the courtyard, a formal pronouncement of a death sentence will not be made against the author, angry torch wielding mobs will not storm the local Chapters demanding the books be removed from the shelves; no it will simply not be restocked into the fiction section of the school library.

And the fact the author is an atheist is only an issue in that that fact, by his own admissions, is the driving force behind his writing. He himself describes his book as “My books are about killing God” which is exactly what happens in this series.

I’m not saying that the books are bad, or not worth reading, but it is quite understandable that it may not belong in a religious school systems library.

The list of reasons not to take any promulgations from a Catholic board (or church) continues to increase. I’d suggest that as payback, secular school boards refuse to carry the new CD of Pope John Paul II’s greatest hits which have recently been set to music (I wish I were kidding).

“I�m not saying that the books are bad, or not worth reading, but it is quite understandable that it may not belong in a religious school systems library.”

I suppose that depends on whether a religious school has the goal of teaching its religion as part of a broader liberal education, or of indoctrinating students in one rigid dogma and censoring any dissenting views.

It’s a religious school system, of course one of their primary goals is to present their beliefs to their students. Why do you think they created a religious based school system in the first place?

Since when has it been required for any organization to promote views which run contrary to their own. They have made no move to prevent any child from accessing this book through any of the myriad of sources outside of their library and even inside all they’ve done is make it so you have to ask the librarian for a copy.

This whole debate is akin to accusing the Jewish school system of being bigoted for choosing not to stock David Duke’s collected works.

Pullman is a talented author but by his own accounts one of the primary motivations to his writing is to push his atheist ideology. Why should it be the responsibility of the Catholic school board to make sure their students have access to his novels.

I haven’t read the whole trilogy, just the first book, and I don’t know much about Pullman’s personal beliefs or agenda, but I have to say, when I read the book, it NEVER occurred to me that it was in any way anti-religious. To me it just seemed an interesting children’s fantasy story. Has anyone gone to Pullman’s website? Right there he answers a question about whether he believes in God and says NOTHING about “killing God”. Where did that quote come from? If he did say it, I suspect it was simply to create controversy and get people talking and noticing his writing. He freely admits his primary motivation for writing is to make money. Any kind of banning usually increases sales of someone�s book or music or movie. Duh!

“Pullman is a talented author but by his own accounts one of the primary motivations to his writing is to push his atheist ideology. Why should it be the responsibility of the Catholic school board to make sure their students have access to his novels?”

The duty of a school is to educate, not indoctrinate. The duty of a library is to provide access to multiple points of view. Why should a Catholic school have to teach science, math, or social studies, rather than just limiting the children to learning about Catholic doctrines? If they want to be licensed to teach, let alone receive public funding, they have a duty to uphold a minimal standard of intellectual freedom.

Atheists are not comparable to racists, and criticism of organized religion is not comparable to racism.

First I would like to add… I have not read “The Golden Compass” and can only go off what I have read about and heard about the book. I will probably see the movie to form my own opinion.

If it in fact is “Anti-Christian” and “Atheistic”, why would we subject our kids to that? It is up to adults and religious figures to teach their beliefs and protect our youth. I agree 100% that a person has the right to choose and that God gave us Free Will. However, if we leave it up to our children to make such harsh choices without any input from adults, we are setting up their future and our future for disaster.

I mean… would you go out and let your children read a book about… “How to be a serial rapist?” or “How to rob a Convient Store?” No. If you don’t believe in something why would you second-guess your belief’s by promoting something you don’t believe in? Our society is becoming too “Politically Correct.” God created everything in this universe. Why should I or the Church promote teachings that go against this?

Great job for taking this book out of our young children’s hands. They are mature enough to make real, thought out opinions on this matter. In the end, only God’s Judgment matters.

Censorship? Are they serious?

Banning books based on an author’s belief. Does that mean that the Halton Catholic School board
is going to investigate every author before allowing their books to be shelved?

It’s our fault this happens. School Trustees are voted in, involvement in this board is up to us. We do have a say
in how these policies are written. Why is this policy in place? Who voted these dinosaurs into our
school system to make these archaic decisions?

Next election, don’t worry, the question I ask to get my vote is ” Do you believe in banning books?”

To those of you who are stating the series does not “kill God” they really need to actually read the ENTIRE series. The tone and content of the first book, The Golden Compass, though obviously atheist, is not in any way a problem in my mind. On the other hand the second, and most definitely the third book, not only say that God dies, the God portrayed is old, stupid, and basically evil with the “good” angels being those following the angel who has fallen from heaven (the devil). As well, Pullman makes clear which God he is demeaning as he quotes the Bible as well as stating a long list of Christian names for God when he describes him. Though I do not condone banning of books, the issue isn’t because of the author’s beliefs but his content. I have read and enjoyed a wide variety of fantasy novels, the majority of which, if they portray a God, portray multiple non-Christian gods. It just seems a let down after the excellent first book (the Golden Compass) to conclude the trilogy with a large amount of theology and somewhat inappropriate in the way he did it. I had no problem with the negative portrayal of the Church and religion in the first book. Even Narnia was at least somewhat more subtle with their references to God and the agenda to educate children about religion.

While I do not agree with banning the book I think letting parents understand what occurs in the second and third books may allow parents to discuss these books with their children and critically analyze them, as I hope they were aware of with Narnia. And yes I have read all of the “His Dark Materials Book”, all of the “Narnia” series, and all of “Harry Potter”.

Perhaps the issue should be put into perspective. If a school board chooses to
ban a book its their perrogative to do so. Students who are interested in reading
the offending literature are free to do so at their library or book store. Would critics who
questioned the board’s decison be as concerned if books or “offending literature”
such as Mein Kampf, The Satanic Verses and Zhuan Falun were pulled from the shelves?

People will believe what they want to believe.

Pulling the book, but still letting it be available probably did more to make kids WANT to read it. It seems to me the goal of pulling the book was to make a point, but not take any flak for it. I’ve never credited the catholic system with a bunch of brains, and this just proves that what they aimed to do and what actually happened were exact opposites.

The indoctrination of children with catholicism, or any religion is wrong. They should be brought up with morality AND religion, and at a certain age, probably 18, be given the choice. Then they won’t be mentally crushed by cognitive dissonance when they masturbate for the first time and it’s completely incredible. In poverty religion can empower you, but in the soccer mom world, it has no place.

I ABSOLUTELY agree with Doug. By pulling this book from the shelves has only encouraged the reading of it (and has also contributed to making it a movie). The Board made a huge mistake by banning “The Golden Compass” and the rest of Pullman’s books.

And as for people comparing these books to “Mein Kampf”, which was written by Adolf Hitler, Is absolutely ridiculous. Judging by the fact that the guy is trying to make a living by selling fantasy novels and being compared to a man that organized the Holocaust is absolute ignorance.

Kristina

“Kristina Says:

November 28th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
“[...]Right there he answers a question about whether he believes in God and says NOTHING about �killing God�. Where did that quote come from? [...]”

Perhaps you should read The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass before making the assumption that the quote was pulled out of thin air. I wasn’t. It first appears in the final pages of The Subtle Knife. Moot point, though. What we really should be discussing is why higher authorities must censor certain… things. You know what I’m sayin’.

A person of real faith would never object to having their beliefs challenged. That’s like somebody claiming they are physically strong, and never doing any vigorous exercise.

What a bunch of Christian Facists.

Are they also going to BAN the philosophy books by Nietzsche, in which God is also dead?

These folks are an absolute disgrace, and they show that religious people can be very dangerous due to their
ignorance and arrogance.

by the way, who cares if the book “kills God”? What is wrong with these people, its a book! Its a story.

or are you afraid that the Bible is also “just a book”?

you know that is your real fear, that kids will think…”hmmm, maybe the bible is just a book written by people”.

last point…
the bible is full of genocide, rape, murder, racism, lies, falsehoods, fabrications, insanity, with some folk wisdom
thrown in at times.
God tells people to stone homosexuals to death, and kill women who cheat on their husbands.

The so-called bible, is one of the heinous and vicious books ever written by man.
If any books should be banned, it would be the bible.

These morons are “educators”? Maybe they would have been happier working for Stalin, instead.

ok, last last point on this.

Its clear the “religious” folks are afraid.

they are afraid that a professional and skilled writer displays the fiction that is the bible.
He shows that the bible is just bad mythological literature, slapped together by primitive people.
He shows that the concepts of “God” are utterly perverse. They should be killed.

and he is able to construct a BETTER fictional Cosmos, that the bad fiction of the bible.
and he starts right with the imaginal fictional perversity of Adam and Eve and original sin.
So those higher up in the Church see their fictional reality crumbling, and so they send out orders…
CLOSE THINE EYES TO KNOWLEDGE.
BAN THE BOOKS.
STOP CHILDREN FROM THINKING FOR THEMSELVES.

They are terrified that everything they believe in is just bad fiction written by primitive humans.
They fear good fiction, written by professionals like Philip Pullman.
They glimpse that maybe their entire Theology is simply imaginal fiction, and they can’t bear that thought.
BAN IT.

I happened to read some information about this tonight, as well as reading some more info about
Roman Catholic pedophile priests, and the organized cover-ups which lead to the sexual abuse of hundreds
and thousands of children at the hands of the Catholic Church.

If anything should be banned, it should be the Catholic Church. It should be shut down for crimes against
our society. It has amounted to nothing more that a pedophile ring.

These hypocrites are screaming about a story book, yet they allow children to be raped by priests,
and have this covered up by the highest church authorities.
Ban the Catholic Church, the haven for pedophile priests and deviants.

Dagnabbit, why won’t they ban one of MY books? :) You can’t buy publicity like this.

(Hey, the best thing they could do would be to ban the Bible — that would get everyone wanting to read it!) ;)

What hypocrisy and gall by the catholic church to scream foul about a writting
of fiction then trying to use a individuals religious views to smear and vilify
the writer.The Catholic church loves to blindly ignore what sexual ofences
that their priests have committed against uncounted children for years .
Let not forget it was a Catholic pope who did nothing to save of assist jews
during the second world war.
And that the current pope was once a member of the Hitler youth
A real shinning example of moral values that begs the question is it ok to be the spokes persons for a religion that has been responsible for some of the
worst acts of depravity and sexual misconduct ever recoded.
I’s simple don’t crap where you sleep

I’m truly astounded by people’s attack on the Catholic church in this thread.

1) Not offering a book in a library is by no means the same as banning it.

2) Like it or not, an organization set up around a fundamental belief system has no obligation to expose their children to opposing viewpoints hidden in children’s stories. The comparison to math/science teaching is simply ridiculous on it’s face unless you also want to make the case that religion should be taught in public schools. One set of subjects are related to basic education while the other is optional theology.

3) The continuing comparison to the the decision to not stock a book and child sexual assaults is even more outrageous. The actions of a few corrupt priests has nothing to do with this. Oddly enough though there was an article not to long ago pointing out that all cases of Catholic sexual assault across North America over the past decade (may have been longer) were actually less than in one city’s school district. For 1 year.

4) The Hitler youth thing is simply another uninformed attack on Catholicism. Either that or a dishonest attack as the author left out the fact membership was mandatory for all youth.

Either way the fact remains, a religious school board choose to review their policy about stocking a anti-religious book (by the authors own admission) disguised as a children’s story. Hardly a shocking turn of events.

Do people calling for the tearing down of the Catholic school system also condemn atheists for not giving their children bibles or making them attend church?

Basically the state mandates certain rules for the teaching of reading, writing and arithmetic, but almost all else is up to the individual school boards; end of story.

I just find this whole debate kind of funny because on almost any other topic I’d have a hard time defending the catholic church being that I disagree with the vast majority of their uniquely Catholic teachings, but on this it’s not a matter of religion but of choice and whether they are Catholic, Muslim, Atheist, Jewish or Native American, people have a right to pass their beliefs along to their children, just as the child has the right to accept or reject them. Neither right is being infringed upon by not stocking this particulars authors books in 1 school library.

Hello!!
I have to say that all this is nonsense. I have a masters in Religious Studies one thing I found with Christianity is all its flaws. I am afraid that the Catholic school board as well as the church, would like to keep the young ingnorant of anything that might promp them to ask questions. This whole ban and complaint that has been made through the Catholic school board, just shows that this religion is getting weaker by the minute. Statistics have shown that there is a significant drop in the amount of new Christians coming in to the religion. Through my year of studies and travels I have found that Christianity has turned from faith to blind fear and control. If you read up on the history of this religion, it has claimed more lives than all of the plaques. It is merely a way of controlling mass population by instilling the fear of “God” into its followers.The Catholic Church houses billions upon billions of dollars. So tell me this…..what religion should require the wealth and greed that Christianity has obtained?

How is you?

Okay…draft a horrible policy and horribly apply it…. and take the Atheist’s book off the Shelf…and pat yourself on the back for your “pure minds”.

Please immediately replace it …with the Book of Job…the original version…not the revised version (where God suddenly and munificently restores Job to his state of health –prior to God’s sadistic episodes to simply square a bet with the Devil )

Let ‘em read that !

Then, tell me what is / was your original objection to the Book in question.

God is not a nice guy…I’m sure he is not afraid of a puny Mortal Atheist, nor the mortal readers of this book . Why is Ratzinger so afraid ?? Doesn’t he remember the Nazi’s ?? (Chrystalnacht ?)

I still feel empathy for Job–what did that poor slob do…. to deserve such wrath ??

Glad my kids no longer attend “magical thinking” Catholic Schools !

Dub

You people are so stupid you should let your cildren explore these books. They’re fun to read and can enspire you child. Although because you have token that away your child can not explore and have fun with these books. Like I said you people are dunb and mean to not let your child read this book. Knowing how this book is so fun to read it should be child crulty to not let your child read this book.

i agree with Leah Goply. u peeps totally need to chill out. i mean u guys are 2 uptight. u need 2 let ur kidz read magical books. it’s only books its not like their going 2 turn into hitler cuz they read harry potter or something magical and witchy.

Alright, iv’e read most of this feedback and I totally agree whith the mojority opinion that this book should not have been banned and that this christian school is: illiterate, stupid, biased, jumping to conclusions and pretty much acting like a dictator. If they truly believe in God than why are they going against him. God created all men so they could be free and make their own decisions as to if they would follow him or go their own way.

P.s. Ginger Ale Rock ON

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Увлекательно. Хотелось бы еще почитать чего-нибудь на ту же тему.

Забавная идея. Интересно сколько времени на это потрачено? :)