A day late, but a very Merry and Blessed Christmas to all!
And a Happy New Year as well!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
The Golden Compass- A Few Thoughts
The movie The Golden Compass takes a look at the problems facing the world and the Roman Catholic Church in a way that is quite compelling- a fantasy genre. The obvious reference to the 'Magisterium' (the teaching authority of the Roman Church) is obvious and a main theme within the film.
Even more compelling for the theme of this blog is the way in which some of the children were selected to be separated from their parents by the Magisterium. The Magisterium would then separate the children from their daemons (souls) so that they could have greater control over them--- and the universe that the Magisterium wants to control after they find a way to cross into the parallel universes. It is in the parallel universes that the Magisterium lacks control and they want to expand their influence and control.
The obvious parallel between contemporary thought on youth ministry as personified by Life Teen and the Magisterium separating the souls from the children is quite striking. This makes it all the more important that a family-based model of ministry be introduced so that the souls of the children and teenagers are not corrupted for the greater good of the institution.
Any ministry should, in the end, bring people closer to God and a personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ-- not an institution that is made up of human beings. The argument has been that the Church cannot be separated from Christ. However, when an individual human being claims the power (albeit rarely officially used) of infallibility, it is parallel to saying that that person has the power of God, since only God is infallible. The Roman Church, in the ordinary and universal magisterium, claims this very power in two ways-- 1) All of the bishops together as a group and 2) In the person of the Pope.
I am not going to make a statement about this, but only bring up a point to ponder-- Could it not be said that when a man (or group of men) claim to be God that there is something in the institution that goes against Scripture and the Word of God Himself? Also, would this view not taint any youth ministry that comes from-- or is STRONGLY endorsed by-- the magisterium? These questions I will allow the reader to prayerfully consider.
Even more compelling for the theme of this blog is the way in which some of the children were selected to be separated from their parents by the Magisterium. The Magisterium would then separate the children from their daemons (souls) so that they could have greater control over them--- and the universe that the Magisterium wants to control after they find a way to cross into the parallel universes. It is in the parallel universes that the Magisterium lacks control and they want to expand their influence and control.
The obvious parallel between contemporary thought on youth ministry as personified by Life Teen and the Magisterium separating the souls from the children is quite striking. This makes it all the more important that a family-based model of ministry be introduced so that the souls of the children and teenagers are not corrupted for the greater good of the institution.
Any ministry should, in the end, bring people closer to God and a personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ-- not an institution that is made up of human beings. The argument has been that the Church cannot be separated from Christ. However, when an individual human being claims the power (albeit rarely officially used) of infallibility, it is parallel to saying that that person has the power of God, since only God is infallible. The Roman Church, in the ordinary and universal magisterium, claims this very power in two ways-- 1) All of the bishops together as a group and 2) In the person of the Pope.
I am not going to make a statement about this, but only bring up a point to ponder-- Could it not be said that when a man (or group of men) claim to be God that there is something in the institution that goes against Scripture and the Word of God Himself? Also, would this view not taint any youth ministry that comes from-- or is STRONGLY endorsed by-- the magisterium? These questions I will allow the reader to prayerfully consider.
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