A Question

[twilight_fanat…]

Okay, so I hear the Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman is really good, and I want to read it a lot, but I come from a family that disapproves of those types of books (what with the whole killing of God and whatnot) and my parents would never let me read it.

What should I do???

[Facepalm]

I think you should read it anyway! Find a copy at the library or something.

Or, try talking your parents into letting you read it. I doubt reading those books will convert most people to aethesim (sp?). Besides, that's just another belief system and it's important to know every way you can view life and religion. It would make you a more informed person.

Also, if I remember correctly, it never actually said it was killing god. At least not in the first 2. It was just a bunch of metaphors about dust, which I didn't even understand at the time I read it (although I read it pretty young.).

[djaq]

i think it would definatly be best if you talked to your family about it

reading a book

will not turn you against God

trust me on this

it is just a story

it will not effect your faith

[Ravenclaww]

Well when I first started reading this I was already questioning myself. So when I finished I began to form my conclusion and that's when I became aethiest. And it's not cuz the book helped me or made me but it makes you see things in a different way. It's not the usual stuff we see.

But if I were you, I would tell your parents how it's just fiction and how you want to see how other people think. And like as long as you believe in God and know that they'll always be there for you then it won't do anything to you and you'll see it as a good piece of literature. Just hold on to what you believe and read it with an opened mind. You'll never know, you might love it and still love God and it might build your connection with God even stronger.

But just remember that it's a piece of fiction and not real.

[Silvermist24]

omg, that sucks. You should read it anyways. Or stick up for yourself. That series is awesome, in fact, I just started a thread on it.

[twilight_fanat…]

Well, that's the thing: My mom takes me to the library every so often so its not like I can sneak the dang book into the car, and none of my friends own it xPPPP So I'm thinking of waiting for the school year to start and checking it out of my school's library instead.

[writingenius21]

I think you should difedently talk to your parents about it first. If you read the book even though your parents told you not to you would be betraying their trust. Few things are far worse than having parents who can't trust you. Do you want them cesoring EVERYTHING you do. Besides there are PLENTY of other great books you could read.

[redheart52]

I think you should read the book. If you really want to read it and you are intrested in it then i say go ahead. Your parents should know that a book is only a book and could be educational. You could cheak the school libary and take it out if you are willing to wait.

[Ravenclaww]

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writingenius21 wrote:
I think you should difedently talk to your parents about it first. If you read the book even though your parents told you not to you would be betraying their trust. Few things are far worse than having parents who can't trust you. Do you want them cesoring EVERYTHING you do. Besides there are PLENTY of other great books you could read.

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I don't think she would really be betraying her parents trust. I mean it's only a book she's going after and her parents might have learned only the negative things in the book and not the positive. It's not like she's sneaking out of the house or doing drugs.

[Kyleigh]

I love the trilogy and I adore Phillip Pullman as a writer.  He wrote another series, the Sally Lockhart, books.  So I might show those to your parents first going "See he doesn't always write about evil angels and bringing down a corrupt power hungry maniac."  He's an excellent writer and if you introduce his other books first I think your parents would warm up to it better. 

His Dark Materials is very controversial, yet people forget... it's a book.  It's total fiction.  Some people Harry Potter because they think it promotes witch craft and the devil.  Harry Potters an amazing series and it does none of those things.  It's a work of fiction, nothing more.  I would just try to explain that to your parents.  

[Ravenclaww]

Yea what she said. It's just a book but an amazing one at that. Like you connect with the characters so well that there was a point I cried when a certain thing happened. xD

Yea introduce some of his other books then get The Golden Compass xD

And he doesn't really introduce the whole go against the church thing until the second book I think. Or the end of the first book.

[writingenius21]

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Ravenclaww wrote:

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writingenius21 wrote:
I think you should difedently talk to your parents about it first. If you read the book even though your parents told you not to you would be betraying their trust. Few things are far worse than having parents who can't trust you. Do you want them cesoring EVERYTHING you do. Besides there are PLENTY of other great books you could read.

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I don't think she would really be betraying her parents trust. I mean it's only a book she's going after and her parents might have learned only the negative things in the book and not the positive. It's not like she's sneaking out of the house or doing drugs.

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That's why I think she should ask her parents first, if reading the book is an issue. If her parents say no, but she read the book anyways, against her parents wishes, then she would be betraying her parents trust. Of course the best way to get past this problem would be to have a good discussion with the parents, ask them to really consider the book and look into the details.

[twilight_fanat…]

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Ravenclaww wrote:

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writingenius21 wrote:
I think you should difedently talk to your parents about it first. If you read the book even though your parents told you not to you would be betraying their trust. Few things are far worse than having parents who can't trust you. Do you want them cesoring EVERYTHING you do. Besides there are PLENTY of other great books you could read.

---

I don't think she would really be betraying her parents trust. I mean it's only a book she's going after and her parents might have learned only the negative things in the book and not the positive. It's not like she's sneaking out of the house or doing drugs.

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(That you know of, Ravenclaww xD)

I think you all have great points about what I should do...I mean, my parents let me read Harry Potter and stuff, so, based on what you're telling me about the Dark Materials trilogy, The Golden Compass shouldn't be so different, right???

As for the whole "trust" issue, let me paint you guys a vivid yet refined picture: My mother and father grew up in the state of California (and a scummy part of it, at that!); my mother was kissing boys by the time she was in fifth grade, and my dad had a very, I quote, "wild life" before he met my mom. Both of them regret their past decisions immensely. So as a consequence to us children (meaning me and my two siblings), my mom is paranoid to the seventh degree, overprotective and is constantly watching out for "bad decisions and actions that could lead me astray." My dad, on the other hand, tends to enforce religious concepts. This didn't used to bother me until roughly six months ago.

So basically, if my parents found out I was reading The Golden Compass, they would completely freak. (Trust me, you should have seen the look on my mom's face when I told her I wanted to get my eyebrows waxed and I picked out this one black bra the other day.) In other words, I don't think the "trust" issue can be helped.

Translation: I'm just better off sneaking the book.

[Kyleigh]

That totally sucks.  When you put it that way I think you are better just sneak reading it.  Just don't get caught.  Or put a different cover on it.  (yes I'm a sneaky genius) 

[Ravenclaww]

Omg that really really sucks!

I'm sorry about that. =( So yea just sneak it.

But explain to your parents but if they can't understand it then idk lol sneak it. xD

[melissas]

I grew up in a home where my parents probably wouldn't have wanted me to read this either (the series wasn't out when I was a teen). However, my parents were always willing to listen to reason about things like this. I work in a bookstore, and you can't imagine how many parents come in telling me their teens don't like to read. So, they should actually be happy that you want to read! And like Ravenclaww said, it's just fiction. Your parents may have heard a lot of negative criticism about the series back when the movie came out in 2007. But the truth is, the book really is only a metaphor, and honestly, many people probably wouldn't even see a correlation between the book and Christianity unless they already knew it was there from hearing other people talk about it. So many fantasy books create their own worlds, societies, myths, beliefs, and religions. This is just another one of those books. I have to say, though, I would definitely talk to them about it. If your parents find out you went behind their backs and read it, you may be asking for problems in the future. I think they would proud if you were to approach them about this, as it shows maturity and enthusiasm.

I recommend this series to parents and children all the time because I love the books. I have no doubt that young adults enjoy these books immensely without even thinking twice, let alone completely reexamining their religious views.

Message Edited by melissas on 08-14-2009 01:38 AM

[writingenius21]

couldn't have said it better myself

[Ravenclaww]

Yea, I guess I'm one of the many few who's parents let you read anything. Only because I read and mainly because they're portuguese. They understand english and can speak it but it'll just pass over their heads.

Although my dad (before he read Harry Potter) would yell at me for always readign it. Then he read it and understood. I say you hold back no longer, you go to your parents and explain to them. And hope they understand. Hope all goes well.

[BLUEICEGAL]

my parents dont understand why i like to read period lol, but its like they have no idea wht i like to read and dont take tags on what i read either, so nope i dont really gt anyone telling me u crnt read this or that, plus where teens where not kids im sure where mature enough to make decisions on wht we can or cannot read, of i was you heck id jsut read it undercover, what can they do accuse you of *parent points finger at daughter rambling* just plug in your ed phones that should do the trick (sorry thats just my inner randomness comming out lol)

[Cazie96]

Great idea...you should do that! (The school library idea!)

Message Edited by Cazie96 on 08-14-2009 12:38 PM