Merry CHRISTmas

The Golden Compass

Cl.. The 2007 film The Golden Compass is based on a series of books with anti-religious themes.

Status: True.

Examples:

[Collected via e-mail, October 2007] There will be a new Children's movie out in December called THE GOLDEN COMPASS. It is written by Phillip Pullman, a proud athiest who belongs to secular humanist societies. He hates C. S. Lewis's Chronical's of Narnia and has written a trilogy to show the other side. The movie has been dumbed down to fool kids and their parents in the hope that they will buy his trilogy where in the end the children kill God and everyone can do as they please. Nicole Kidman stars in the movie so it will probably be advertised a lot. This is just a friendly warning that you sure won't hear on the regular TV. [Collected via e-mail, October 2007] I don't just generally dismiss a movie or book just because someone 'says' it's meant to be something else...but this is worth knowing if you plan to see it (or plan to take your kids). "Hi! I just wanted to inform you what I just learned about a movie that is coming out December 7, during the Christmas season, which is entitled THE GOLDEN COMPASS. It stars Nicole Kidman and it is directed toward children. What is disturbing to me is that this movie is based on the first of a trilogy of books for children called HIS DARK MATERIALS written by Philip Pullman of England. He's an atheist and his objective is to bash Christianity and promote atheism. I heard that he has made remarks that he wants to kill God in the minds of children, and that's what his books are all about. He despises C.S. Lewis and Narnia, etc. An article written about him said "this is the most dangerous author in Britain" and that Pullman would be the writer "the atheists would be praying for, if atheists prayed." Pullman said he doesn't think it is possible that there is a God and he has great difficulty understanding the words "spiritual" and "spirituality." What I thought was important to communicate is what part of the agenda is for making this picture. This movie is a watered down version of the first book, which is the least offensive of the three books. The second book of the trilogy is THE SUBTLE KNIFE and the third book is THE AMBER SPYGLASS. Each book gets worse and worse regarding Pullman's hatred of God. In the trilogy, a young girl becomes enmeshed in an epic struggle against a nefarious Church known as the Magisterium. Another character, an ex-nun, describes Christianity as "a very powerful and convincing mistake." As I understand it, in the last book, a boy and girl are depicted representing Adam and Eve and they kill God, who at times is called YAHWEH (which is definitely not Allah). Since the movie would seem mild if you viewed it, that's been done on purpose. They are hoping that unsuspecting parents will take their children to See the movie, that they will enjoy the movie and then the children will want the books for Christmas. That's the hook. Pullman says he wants the children to read the books and decide against God and the kingdom of heaven. If you decide that you do not want to support something like this, I suggest that you boycott the movie and the books. I googled a synopsis of THE GOLDEN COMPASS. As I skimmed it, I couldn't believe that in a children's book part of the story is about castration and female circumcision.

Origins: The Golden Compass, a fantasy film starring Nicole Kidman that is scheduled to be released into theaters on 7 December 2007, has been drawing fire from concerned Christians. The film is based on Northern Lights (released in the U.S. as The Golden Compass), the first offering in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy of children's books, a series that follows the adventures of a streetwise girl who travels through multiple worlds populated by witches, armor-plated bears, and sinister ecclesiastical assassins to defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God.

Books of the trilogy have sold more than 15 million copies around the world, with Northern Lights winning the Carnegie Medal for Children's Literature in 1995 and in 2007 being awarded the 'Carnegie of Carnegies' for the best children's book of the past 70 years. The Amber Spyglass, the final book of the series, won The Whitbread Prize in 2001, making it the first children's book to do so.

The series' author, Philip Pullman (who has described himself as both an agnostic and an atheist), has averred that "I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God; I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words 'spiritual' or 'spirituality.'" Critics of Pullman's books point to the strong anti-religion and anti-God themes they incorporate, and although literary works are subject to a variety of interpretations, Pullman left little doubt about his books' intended meanings when he said in a 2003 interview that "My books are about killing God" and in a 2001 interview that he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief." (In 2002 conservative British columnist Peter Hitchens labeled Pullman "The Most Dangerous Author in Britain" and described him as the writer "the atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed.")

Bill Donohue, president of The Catholic League, has condemned The Golden Compass as a "pernicious" effort to indoctrinate children into anti-Christian beliefs and has produced a 23-page pamphlet titled The Golden Compass: Unmasked in which he maintains that Pullman "sells atheism for kids." Donohoe told interviewer John Gibson on 9 October 2007 why he believes Christians should stay away from the film:

Look, the movie is based on the least offensive of the three books. And they have dumbed down the worst elements in the movie because they don't want to make Christians angry and they want to make money. Our concern is this, unsuspecting Christian parents may want to take their kid to the movie, it opens up December 7th and say, this wasn't troubling, then we'll buy the books. So the movie is the bait for the books which are profoundly anti-Catholic and at the same time selling atheism.

Other reviewers, however, have described Pullman's works as being more generally anti-religion rather than specifically anti-Christian or anti-Catholic:

In "His Dark Materials," Pullman's criticisms of organized religion come across as anti-authoritarian and anti-ascetic rather than anti-doctrinal. (Jesus isn't mentioned in any of the books, although Pullman has hinted that He might figure in a forthcoming sequel, "The Book of Dust.") His fundamental objection is to ideological tyranny and the rejection of this world in favor of an idealized afterlife, regardless of creed. As one of the novel's pagan characters puts it, "Every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling."

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

Who really looks like who?

So I did a look alike meter on the kids and Joel and myself... here are the results. If I used different Pictures they were a bit different each time and the median I actually came up with the most often is that they are equally like both of us...

Who has better social skills, a chimpanzee or a two year old?

I got this from a Blog written by a woman named Dawn: http://mom2my6pack.blogspot.com Just had to share

I recently read an article which stated that toddlers are smarter than chimpanzees. The article went on to cite studies that claim the social learning skills of a two year old child are superior to those of an ape. The person who conducted these studies has obviously never met my children.

Let's talk a little about these five social skills that a toddler could be expected to demonstrate.


1. Saying "Please" and "Thank you" - Your toddler should always remember the magic words - please and thank you. My children are actually pretty good with their Ps and Qs. "Please, please, please can I have a piece of candy?" "Pleeeeease can I just have one more glass of water, goodnight kiss, or story?" "Thank you for letting me bring twenty-two worms in the house." And finally, "Thank you for letting me wear my Batman mask to the grocery store."
Yes, they've covered the ground on please and thank you.


2. Introductions - When introduced to an adult, your toddler should be able to say, "Nice to meet you." My toddler hasn't quite gotten to that point yet. I usually hear something more like "Hello. You look like Santa Claus", or "Hello. Why is there hair coming out of your nose?", or my personal favorite, "Hi. Are you going to have a baby soon?" Yep, that's social finesse at its finest. Shaking hands during introductions or greetings is another opportunity to teach toddlers good manners. Greeters stand at the door as we walk into church, waiting to shake our hands. My toddler usually looks at his feet and tries to hide behind me. Sometimes he'll be in an outgoing mood and perfectly willing to shake the other adult's hand, but having seen him lick his palm, wipe at his nose and cough into his hand on the way into the building, I quickly usher him along before he can pass the grossness on to some unsuspecting person.
I think that covers introductions for toddlers.


3. Sharing - It's important to teach your toddler to share. My children do an exceptional job when it comes to sharing. They are happy to share blame. To the question, "Who broke the picture frame?" all six will reply, "They did it!" while simultaneously pointing to the sibling on their left. They're also wonderful at sharing germs, bacteria and viruses. If one gets sick, they make sure they share until all six of them get sick.
More generous, giving children, you'll never meet.


4. Table Manners - Right from the start, you must show your toddler how to behave at the dinner table. I never have to worry about my children's table manners in public. Honestly. We simply never go out to eat. At home, well, let's just say that not a meal goes by where we aren't graced by some charming bodily function followed by hilarious laughter. Generally, enough food to feed a small village winds up on the floor and the phrase, "This is yucky" is uttered at least twice a week.
Perhaps they could use a little work in this department.


5. Saying you're sorry - Teaching your toddler to own up to their mistakes and offer an apology when they've wronged someone is essential.
"I'm sorry I put my sister in the clothes dryer, I'm sorry I squished Play Doh in the couch cushions, and I'm sorry for using your expensive lipstick to color on the wall," are all good examples of this lesson.
Yep, I've heard them all.


The researchers of this study go on to state that children could understand nonverbal communication, understand the intentions of others, and imitate other's solutions to problems better than chimpanzees and orangutans. I'm inclined to agree with them.


1. …could understand nonverbal communication - They understand what that look means. You know, the'Wait Until we get Home Mister' look that we give our children when they're misbehaving.


2. …could understand the intentions of others - They understand perfectly what their older brother's intentions are. "Mom, I messed up Austin's room and now he's going to kill me!"


3. …could imitate other's solutions to problem solving - "Well, he hit me first, so I hit him back."


Actually I think it's a toss up on who has better social skills, a chimpanzee or a two year old. But I'm pretty sure a chimp has never flushed a Barbie doll down the toilet, painted a television with chocolate pudding, or given their little sister a haircut with a pair of kitchen shears. Of course, I don't know too many adults who walk around doing those things either, so I guess eventually, they can be taught the finer art of social graces and in the meantime, they sure provide us with plenty of fun.

My kids...

look even more alike than I even thought

In the pic sets below it goes Maddie then Allie then Logan...

Logan William

Logan was born Monday Aug 20th at 3:45pm.

He weighs 8 lbs and 2 ozs and is 20 inches long.

Both mommy and Logan are doing great!!!

It's still a boy!!!

So today was a better day... My AFI and NST both went well. And the best part is that we are 100% sure that we are having a little man

Here are a couple of great pics we got!!!

37 week appointment :(

Well my luck has run out

My BP jumped from 106/68 last Thursday to 140/82 today. I also have been having near fainting spells too. The doc almost sent me to OB triage because she is rather concerned about this lovely history I have. But instead we set up a plan of attack.

I have to go in for Bi weekly NST's (Non stress test) and weekly AFI's (Amniotic Fluid index checks) I also have to take my BP 2-3 times a day to make sure we don't see even more of a rise. This is all nothing new for me since I had to do this for almost 5 weeks with Allie. I am also on restricted bedrest. Which means I can stll do a few things but for the most part belong in bed or on the couch. She did make it sound like there is a very good chance I could be having him next week though!!!

The Pluses: I lost one pound since Thursday, and I get to see little man on ultrasound tomorrow (double check those parts is a hope and a good face 3D as well)

So Please send some my way that all stays as is till Sat morning from there we are all set I just really want to see my brother get married and the girls be his flower girls... I also want little guy to be safe and healthy!!!

Holy Cow...

3 weeks from right now at this time I will be spending some time with my new little man I am so excited... I can not believe that Aug 22nd is now only 3 weeks away rather than months away!!!

The only prayer I have is that I have no signs of labor from August 6-10... any other times would be fine as we are 100% ready to meet this little man. Plus being at 36 weeks along I am at a great point.

I can not wait to post a picture of this little guy!!!

Heartburn sucks....

That is really all I have to say about that but I have come to the conclusion that little boys give ya worse heartburn than little girls. I never had it this early with both of the girls. Zantec is now my new best friend!!!

Just a quick FYI...

The family website has been updated with pics of the little man....

It's a...

BOY

I can not believe it. We are very excited but still in a bit of oh my goodness state...

Tomorrow is the Big Day!

We get to find out what we are having!!!

I can say I really have no extreme preference at this moment. I go back and forth so I'll be happy either way I do believe :)

Can not wait to share the big news and pics. I will post all of the pics on our homepage tomorrow.

More baby info...

As things happen with the baby and me I will update our family website... I probably won't post much here. So check out the family web page at : The Ross Family Website!!!!! (http://www.the-ross-family.com/)

Due date at this point is August 29th, 2007 but I will have a c-section sometime mid August!!!

Allie's News!!!