Is The Golden Compass Anti-Christian?

In the past month, two friends have directly asked me about this topic and a third has discussed it in passing with me. I read the Golden Compass in High School years ago, and I am very excited about the new movie. Of course, I suppose I should have expected these questions and comments, since the news channels keep running idiotic stories about it. So, here is my answer to the question, "Is The Golden Compass anti-Christian?"

First, let me summarize the book. A young girl, Lyra Belaqua, lives in a world in which a religious organization, the Magesterium, concocts secret plots for power, in more ways than one. Their Oblation Board, overseen by Lyra's own mother, seeks out children they consider of low worth to abduct and conduct medical experiments on, experiments that ultimately lead to the childrens' deaths. When a friend of Lyra's is taken by the Oblation Board, she turns her back on the prospects of riches and power her parents could gain her to set out into the dangerous frozen north to rescue her friend. Along the way, she uncovers a plot by the Magesterium to gain control of the warrior nation of snow bears by holding the promise of "baptism" over the head of the leader, if he can prove that he is equal to the Human race (and does what the Magesterium wishes).

I suppose one's answer to the question at hand depends entirely on how you personally define Christianity. If you believe that Christianity is best exemplified by the actions of the Magesterium in this book, by deception, murder, kidnapping, and an insatiable lust for power and money, then you would be correct in saying that this film speaks out against such things. If you believe that Christianity is best defined by the courage to turn your back on money and power for a friend in need, by honesty, loyalty, courage, and kindness, then this movie honors Christianity.

Perhaps most ironic of all, is that those who stand on their soapboxes screaming about how this movie dishonors their religion are themselves saying that they belong to a religion that practices dishonesty, murder, and secret combinations, which are built up to get power, gain, and glory of the world. If their religion does practice such things, I would reply to them that they would be better off looking for the source of corruption within their organization, the reason that such secret combinations have hold upon them, than to criticize a movie or suggest that all religion is represented by the evil Magesterium of The Golden Compass.

~Quaggy