Even as The Golden Compass blockbusts its way to success, controversy over the story's anti-religious foundations continues to make it a hot topic among commentators and bloggers. Within the religious community, though, a plurality of views exists regarding just what the book and movie are all about. On one side of the debate, Pete Vere—author of Pied Piper of Atheism: Phillip Pullman and Children's Fantasy—sees the issue as being simple: "You have two characters who set out to kill God—it seems obvious." Likewise, Albert Mohler of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary says, "Pullman has an agenda. That agenda is atheism."

On the other hand, some say that the religion attacked in Compass isn't true Christianity at all, but, rather, a false, corrupt impression of biblical faith. Sister Rose Pacatte, director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies, says, "That's his image of religion that he's doing away with and frankly, we can all do away with that image of church and religion because that's not the church in Christianity that we believe in today." The Christian Post offers tips on using Compass to share the Christian faith.

Meanwhile, all the controversy has translated into profit for Pullman and his publishers; according to a press release, sales of the books have shot up by 500 percent. "More than ten years after its original publication, The Golden Compass has hit USA Today's Top 50 Best Sellers list, having seen a 500 percent increase in sales over the last three months."

Despite commercial success, however, Compass isn't playing nearly as well with film critics.

In other movie news:

Prince Caspian trailer debuts (NarniaWeb)
First look at second Narnia movie

National Board of Review names No Country Best Film (MCN)
Tim Burton, George Clooney, Julie Christie also honored

Bella is a "rallying point" (Los Angeles Times)
Grassroots swell means success for "anti-abortion" film

Black, Cera go "back to biblical times" (Hollywood Reporter)
Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) to produce new comedy

Artists celebrate Charlie Brown Christmas movie (Nuclearity)
Podcast honors classic cartoon, features Christian authors and musicians

I Am Legend: "Pro-God" message? (Kyle Smith)
New York Post columnist says sci-fi flick tackles science, religion

Johnny Depp teams with Michael Mann in Public Enemies (Paste)
Actor to play John Dillinger for Heat director

Jurassic Park 4 due in 2009; 4th Bourne uncertain (ComingSoon)
Veteran producer Frank Marshall also talks Indy 4 progress

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