A letter to The Times echoing what innumerable e-mails mostly from the US were saying last week provoked a completely opposed view on The Times’ blog spaces last week.

Margaret Parnis England from Kappara wrote on Thursday:

“My books are about killing God”. These words uttered by Philip Pullman, who has described himself as both agnostic and atheist, are surely enough to warn parents off the film The Golden Compass that is being premiered worldwide on 7 December and will be shown in Malta too.

Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, two crowd pullers, are the main stars of this film.

Daniel Craig, in an interview on Sky News the other morning, also declared his total disbelief in God. Philip Pullman has written a trilogy of children’s books culminating in children killing God. This one – Golden Compass – is the least offensive.

The only aim of the film is to hoodwink unsuspecting parents to take their children to watch the film, and then buy the books. The film version has been watered down not to be too offensive to Christians so that they will buy the books. These books are profoundly anti-Catholic and sell atheism to our kids.

To quote the Washington Post, “Philip Pullman’s trilogy for young adults ends with God’s death, and remarkably few critics.”

But this was not the way most of those who read The Times and wrote on the blog felt.

Ray Vassallo wrote:

Perusing Ms Parnis England’s letter warning parents about the danger of their children becoming atheists after reading Philip Pulman’s Golden Compass, and watching Paul Vincenti’s sanctimonious antics I wonder what’s next. I think it is now time that Maltese citizens stand up to such overbearing, pompous fundamentalism.

Ian Briffa added:

When is Malta going to grow up and accept that not everybody is Catholic. Let people read what they want and watch whatever films they want. Then let them make up their own mind on what they want to believe. This Christian brainwashing from such a young age has to stop.

But Gerry Cowie disagreed:

I admire Mrs Parnis England’s letter. I feel Mr Vassallo’s comment is way over the top here! He has managed to blow right out of proportion what your correspondent has said.

Mrs Parnis England seems to be pointing towards simply warning god-fearing Christians to look out for yet another attempt to undermine decent Christian values, values which rely fundamentally on belief in God. Indeed most of our laws are based on Christian principles.

It is a sign of the times that there are plenty of people who wish to subtly remove any sign of religion from the world, happy to undermine the very foundations of society. While the devil has his disciples, so indeed does God! Thank God!

Jean Azzopardi said:

While Philip Pullman is an atheist, the books do not challenge Christianity. Instead, they challenge the dogmatism of the Catholic Church, and the use of religion to oppress, such as the castration of choirboys and witch hunts for instance.

My mother is a strict god-fearing Catholic, and she’s enjoying the book, too.

Also, and this is a big spoiler, in the book, the two protagonists do not kill God, they kill an angel masquerading as God, which is something quite different.

I quote from Wikipedia: “Pullman has, however, found support from other Christians, most notably Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who argues that Pullman’s attacks are focused on the constraints and dangers of dogmatism and the use of religion to oppress, not on Christianity itself. Pullman himself has said in interviews and appearances that his argument can be extended to all religions. The trilogy shows the downfall of the Kingdom of Heaven, a hierarchy under the control of the Authority and his regent. In its place is the task to build the Republic of Heaven.

The values of Love, Friendship, Justice, and Hope are also central themes in the book.

So please, let’s not show the world what a fundamentalist nation we are. Either Freedom of Expression is allowed, or it is not. Personally, I like the books, as I like Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and C.S. Lewis’ Narnia.

Reuben Ellul and Chris Vidal wrote:

Unfortunately, it is the same old story in this country... that everyone thinks that Maltese are all Christians. I do not think that by reading a book or watching a film someone who really believes is going to lose his/her faith. Also, it does not mean that someone who is not Christian does not believe in God. And after all this is something personal and no one has the right to dictate what to do.

And John Agius wrote:

What’s wrong with not being a believer? There are a lot of atheists, agnostics in Malta especially among the educated and the young. Furthermore we are not all dead against women’s choice and divorce.