How do I talk to my kids about all this?

Regardless of how the films plays out, the fact remains that many young people — including some Catholics — will read the books, if they haven’t already. How can parents deal with this in a way that can strengthen rather than weaken our faith?

• Before watching or reading, do some homework. The best way to respond to any questions your child may raise is to read the books as well. To learn more about a positive interpretation of the books, you may wish to read Killing the Imposter God: Philip Pullman’s Spiritual Imagination in His Dark Materials, mentioned above, which explores the spirituality of the trilogy from a variety of perspectives. (Readers should be aware, however, that some of these perspectives fall outside official Church teaching. Catholic parents can use these moments to alert children how, and why, this is the case.)
• Listen, and ask good questions. Encourage your children to reflect about the issues the book raises in a thoughtful and intelligent manner. Instead of first telling them what you think of the books, or refuting them point by point, ask them for their point of view, including specific questions like, “What did you think about this part?” or “What did you think when so-and-so did that?” “What do you think about what so-and-so says here?” This can help pave the way for a thoughtful discussion.
• Look for the reasons behind the reading. If your child responds fervently in favor of the anti-authoritarian, anti-Christian message that may be gleaned from the books, gently try to understand why he or she feels that way. Maybe he or she is upset with the Church. Why? This is an opportunity to open a much-needed discussion about our Catholic faith and our children’s relationship with that faith.
• Acknowledge the positive. Pullman’s novels display an unfortunate distaste for religion, but there is a good deal of virtue portrayed in them, in the form of love, compassion, honesty, bravery, self-sacrifice for the good of others, and the Christian notion that the kingdom of heaven (in the series, The Republic of Heaven) is built, day by day, by choosing good, by living a life of helping others. Children may become hurt, defensive, or angry if the books are dismissed part and parcel as “trash” or “sacrilege,” without an acknowledgement of their positive — and, in some cases, Christian — elements. It is these elements, along with the good writing, smartly drawn characters, and imaginative story, that attract young readers to this complex and controversial trilogy.

Conclusion

Taken at face value, there are positive elements but also anti-Catholic and anti-Christian elements in Philip Pullman’s trilogy. In exploring what Catholics on both sides of the debate about the books are saying, Catholic Digest is not offering an endorsement of The Golden Compass or the film. It is our hope that families will make a prayerful, informed decision whether or not to see the movie or read the books, and that, if they choose to do so, they will engage in serious discussion from a Catholic viewpoint. Such a discussion can be an important opportunity to engage children in a better understanding of why we as Catholics believe what we believe. The suggestions we offer for such a discussion are given with the goal of helping families and their children respond to what they may encounter in the larger culture in an intelligent manner: to discuss, ask questions, and respond with faith and conviction. CD

Julie Rattey is managing editor of Catholic Digest. This article © 2007 Catholic Digest. To subscribe, visit catholicdigest.com.

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