~ Local filmmaker Steve Turner says the controversy over the film is overblown, but the movie is fairly entertaining.

After taking the opportunity to see "The Golden Compass" first (hint, hint, wink, wink) I took a good deep breath, a strong belt of the good stuff, and dived into the world of talk radio and the blogosphere; I've heard tell of a rising tide of organized atheism encroaching on our good way of life and thought it wise to check in with those who know everything.

First impression: I am sincerely taken aback at the amount of religious hate -- on all sides. Who on earth can spend so much time each day being so ticked off? A few do get paid quite well to unload their rage toward the worthless half of the country, but what of the rest?

How can anyone function with such an all consuming agenda? I know why, but how?

Though since no caller or blogger truly identifies themselves, I can't help but imagine it's just a small group (isn't it always?) of my terribly ill-informed Uncle Joes against the likewise ditto heads, with neither group ever willing to back down.

Second impression: When did the Southern Baptist Convention start to consider themselves the controlling Magisterium of Christianity? The Baptists I know scoff at such an idea. The movie does take an obvious swipe at the Catholic Church and its Magisterium, portraying it as an

all controlling, secretive and corrupt organization. If anything, I thought Baptists would halfway applaud a distant but controlling "Rome" being shown in a bad light. Things sure have changed since my grandpa's Little White Chapel.

Third impression: Putting aside the Catholic League -- a small lay organization run by the voluble William Donohue, the official Catholic Church judges "The Golden Compass" a rather good film that's appropriate for adolescents. This is an element of the Catholic Church I've always admired (I'm not Catholic, by the way). They vigorously support secular and religious study and will openly discuss matters of controversy. Having a scholar or writer prove the Christian belief system is false would be greatly appreciated by the Church. Who would want to live a lie? So go for it, they say. Write a book promoting atheism or make your movie, because until your ideas are proven to have merit, it's all entertainment and theory.

Last impression: I've spent the last 20 years managing bookstores, as some of you might know, with the last nine years at Barnes & Noble.

If I learned anything about my fellow humans in those years (and believe me, there's enough juicy material for a good thick book) it's that we are incredibly easy to lead. "Anyone who'll lead" was my mantra when things got weird. It seemed the only explanation of why knuckleheads who are loud and rude and selfish to the extreme can gain a platform. Acquiescence to this immaturity was invariably followed by aggressive imitation. The domino effect was a disheartening process to witness.

Talk radio with its vitriol and anonymous callers -- and the unaccountable blogosphere -- is an ugly dark hole that is pulling at us more and more. "Anyone who'll lead," I've come to find, explains a lot about this world.

All this rambling brings me to Aug. 27, 1987. Incumbent Vice President George H. W. Bush was on a campaign stop in Chicago. When asked about the atheist vote he said, "I guess I'm pretty weak in the atheist community. Faith in God is important to me."

When the follow up question was asked, "Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists?" Bush replied, "No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."

Dare I say that if then vice president Bush had replaced the word "atheists" with any other word, he would have been rode out of town on a rail and serious questions raised about the Reagan/Bush presidency.

The bully pulpit indeed!

I posit this point solely to argue that the many millions of atheists in the U.S. are not, and will likely never be, organized. There are of course extremists for any issue and for all beliefs, but there is absolutely no proof that atheists are making any concerted, organized

effort at anything. The following quip is the best analogy I've come across on organized atheism: "Why would you gather a group to discuss the nonbelief in unicorns on the dark side of the moon? There's got to be better things to do with your time."

Of course if atheist parents (just like Christians, Jews and Muslims, etc.,) are having a specific religion they disagree with taught as truth to their children at public school, who would honestly blame the them in trying to stop the lesson plan? That type of government

intrusion is looking for an organized revolt. In fact our country's history is writ large with activist teachers and school boards.

The atheists I know think about atheism almost as much as they think about those unicorns -- even while being dismissed by the highest levels of government. It's life in America. They don't think about it because being considered ill fit for citizenship on the grounds of religion was shot down back around the time of the Declaration of Independence.

But yes, if there is anything this country can do to help a minority group rise up and organize is to treat them like noncitizens. This country has been through that ugly scenario so many times that atheists can pick from a wide array of playbooks.

But what about the film, you ask? Is it even any good?

"The Golden Compass" just might be your child's favorite film this year. Already arguments abound on whether or not it's as good as "Potter" or "Narnia" (it's definitely not the blood fest that was "Lord of the Rings"), and if they're arguing, you know it's close. If you can

avoid ruining the film by pointing out the very subtle allusions to free will and anti-organized belief, you'll both have a great time.

Truly, if I had not had all this nonsense in my head at the start of the film, I would have missed most of the allusions: If the filmmakers would have changed a few religious words -- that will fly over your kid's heads -- I would have missed them all.

The children want to see the film. Let them go and have a good time. When they come home raving about the brave Polar Bear King and wishing they had a Golden Compass, turn off the TV and talk with them about the "big picture" ... if you like.

Though something to consider is that the "big picture" might not be an atheist cabal but just a very organized capitalist society working around the clock on nothing more than ways to separate you and your dollars.