Did anyone know about The Golden Compass controversy? Catholics are up in arms because they say the story's goal is to indoctrinate kids into atheism. Isn't this ridiculously ironic? Christians concerned about child indoctrination? A catholic school board in my area has actually pulled the books from the school libraries.
Actually, now that you mention it, oilgun, it doesn't surprise me at all. These books really do go after organized religion, specifically Christianity. Many of the basic ideas Pullman used come from Milton's
Paradise Lost. Here are Wikipedia links to
His Dark Materials and
Paradise Lost. The articles help explain some of the reasons for the controversy.
It is ironic that Christians are decrying the indoctrination of children. I guess that can apply to everyone who wants their children to be brought up in only the belief system they feel is right. Trouble is, this is one heckuva big, complex world, full of innumerable belief systems. Also, we have access to more information at our fingertips than ever before. Parents have their work cut out for them, trying to keep their kids unexposed to other beliefs.