The Catholics are coming out in force against the Golden Compass movie. Oh that should keep people away.

The Golden Compass is being advertised as "an exciting fantasy adventure" for children set in "a world where witches rule the northern skies, where ice bears are the bravest of warriors, and where every human is joined with an animal spirit who is as close to them as their own heart."

But the $180 million Hollywood movie, which opens Dec. 7, is also drawing criticism from religious groups that describe it as "militantly atheistic," "blasphemous," "heretical," and "diabolical."

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights and the American Family Association are among the groups calling for a boycott.

The controversy stems from His Dark Materials, the series of children's fantasy novels on which The Golden Compass is based. Written by 61-year-old British author Philip Pullman, the books in the trilogy have sold more than 14 million copies since debuting in 1995.

Mr. Pullman has described himself at various times as either an atheist or an agnostic, but in a recent interview with Donna Freitas for Beliefnet.com he called himself "a religious man" because he is "preoccupied by the questions religion is preoccupied with," including "Who created the universe?" "What are we here for?" and "What happens when we die?"

Mr. Pullman has made it clear that he is not happy with the way religious institutions have answered those questions.

Wow I was not even remotely interested in seeing this movie, but now it has moved to the top of my "must see" list.

All this author did was express doubt that the answers to all of life's question can be found through religion, and they go on the attack like this? How fragile is this religion? And how insecure are its adherents?

The idea that you can't even question a religions belief system in a public forum without suffering repercussions seems insane to me. These people do know that we live in America don't they?

In the end all they are going to do is give this film free publicity and get people who may not have been interested in the movie, like me, a reason to go see it.

Damn these people are simple!