From the moment when I was seven and my mother sat me down to read Harry Potter for the first time, I have loved fantasy more than anyone I know. I practically drown myself in it. I long to find a magic of my own because I’m a firm believer in the idea that magic is real. Hard to see, perhaps, but most definitely real.

I grew up as a “Catholic” (I was only baptized two years ago) my entire life, but when I was younger, we rarely went to church – usually only on Easter and on Christmas. In sixth grade, however, I started at a Catholic school and so we began going to church regularly.

When I discovered that the Church had a major problem with Harry Potter, I was furious. How could they possibly think that Harry Potter was, in some way, wrong and might turn people from God? Harry Potter is nothing less than the classic battle of Good vs. Evil, a theme that, might I point out, is in EVERY work of literature that you can think of. So what that it involves magic? Does that really threaten the Church so much?

Even before this discovery, as I got a little older, I began to read other fantasy as well - other books in general - and, in fifth grade, I read the His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman. Though ost of it flew over my head at the time, I absolutely loved it. I identified so well with Lyra and I instantly fell in love with Will. I found myself longing to fly with the witches and see Iorek and his bears in their ice kingdom.

But, you see, not everyone feels that way.

I wonder how many people who have condemned the Golden Compass to the deepest circle of hell have actually read it. If they haven't, they don't know what they're missing. I do suppose that, yes, in many areas, it does go against what the Catholic Church teaches, but just because you don't agree entirely with what something says doesn't mean you shouldn't read it. If we that, we'd never read anything. We'd never DO anything!

And that "turning people (mostly children) away from God" thing is a load of bs. If people are turned away by one author's ideas, they probably weren't very faithful in the first place.

If you ask me, I think that the church is just scared that people who read the series and see the movie will start to think. Cause let me tell you, we don't do nearly enough of that in this world. And if we think, then we start to form our own ideas about the way the world works - or should work. And The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass are books that make us think about things that need to be thought about - things like free will and sacrafice.

Both of which, I'll point out, are mentioned a whole lot in the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Those of you who have doubts about reading the Golden Compass or seeing the movie, I urge you do both. Not so you can turn away from God (hey, I've read the books hundreds of times and I still firmly believe in God), but because they are good books and, you never know, they just might make you think.