In 2007, when I was eight and “The Golden Compass” was released into theaters, my mom had finished the book and wanted to go see it, as one would. I was extremely excited because I had seen trailers for it, and, from what I had gathered, this movie would be an amazing fantasy story with adventure, witches, and talking animals. Also, something about a compass that was probably golden and would be of some relevance at some point in time in the movie.
The movie rating was PG-13, so I figured I would brag to my classmates about how I would get to see this movie most likely before them.
At lunch the next day, I started my ingenious plan of showing off my superiority. The feedback I got made me disquieted since the other students told me all about how this movie had anti-religion themes. They asked why my family would even want to see such a movie, and I replied with an “I don't know...”
I was raised agnostic, meaning I believed there could be a god, but did not worship one. Before this movie incident even occurred though, I could not even find it in myself to acknowledge a god and turned to atheism. I didn't go to church every Sunday or go to Bible study and for a couple days people would constantly ask about my religion and I was too afraid to admit that I didn't believe in God or Hell or even Heaven.
The rest of the week dragged on and by the time we were ready to go, I wasn't as excited as before because I honestly believed that what we were doing was wrong, even though I couldn't give a valid reason. It was the middle of December, and I remember it snowing as my family climbed into the car. It was a quiet ride.
My parents didn't immediately drive to the movie theater, though. Instead they drove to a church. I thought maybe fate had played some evil trick on me and that maybe my parents learned of my “lack of beliefs” and wanted to make me believe like the other kids. I was terrified, until my Dad changed the radio to a station playing a variety of Christmas songs and I realized we were facing a building across from the church that had synced its lights up to that particular station.
  By the time we left the parking lot, I was feeling a lot better.
Upon arrival, the snow was falling heavier and I was grateful for the warmth of the building. We prepared for the movie and settled in our seats.
In all honesty, I don't remember much about that movie except for that the monkey freaked me out, I didn't like the separation scene, and the polar bear fight still scars me to this day. But it didn't matter because I had, for the most part, enjoyed the movie, and after that experience, I learned not to let people influence me to the point of being uncomfortable.