One reason why The Golden Compass tanked at the box office?

Interesting thoughts on The Golden Compass's author Philip Pullman's works from New Testament prof Leslie Baynes, in the Wall Street Journal:

The main problem with "His Dark Materials," however, is not the atheism per se but rather its mindless dogmatism. There is no such thing as an open-minded Christian in the series. Take this quote from "The Amber Spyglass": "I met an angel. . . . She said that all the history of human life has been a struggle between wisdom and stupidity. She and the rebel angels, the followers of wisdom, have always tried to open minds; the Authority and his churches have always tried to keep them closed." To be fair, Mr. Pullman himself noted in a 2000 interview that this one-sided portrayal is "an artistic flaw," but there it is nonetheless.

Given that the film tanked at the box office - contrary to expectations - one reason might be that people sense that the premise is simply false to their own experience.