The DaVinci Code

[fallenone]

mikor said:

I hate to make you all feel stupid, but the Da Vinci code is fiction, its not based on fact at all.
The author just made it all (well, some of it) up.

about d**n time.
the only thing he claims as facts are the descriptions, his interpretations are not. at least in the movie they made Langdon somewhat of a voice of reason when he pointed out those priory documents were a hoax.

[LilyJ]

So I just found this thread, and I had to comment!!

Believe it or not, I actually kinda *gasp* LIKE The DaVinci Code. It's a well written piece of fiction, a nice story, and if nothing else, it gave me stuff to think about.
That doesn't mean, of course, that I agree with the whole Jesus-married-Mary-Holy-grail thing. I don't! BUT it's an interpretation that could, to a non-Christian, make a lot of sense. Depending on how you look at it, you could say that there's a lot of evidence for or against it.

I also disagree with the statement that DVC "bashes" the Christian church. Perhaps it bashes the authorities of the Catholic Church - which, since it's fiction, doesn't bother me as much - but if anything, it portrays Christians as ignorant. Which we all know is NOT true, so why fret about it?

What I'm trying to say is, look beyond the whole hype and just read the book for yourself, and then decide for yourself what you do and don't believe. And when other people ask you about it, you can talk about it and tell then exactly what YOU believe.

[heartofgold]

The fact that's its fiction doesn't mean a whole lot as a lot of people don't realise this. A lot of people view is as some sort of docudrama which tells the true story of the beginning of Christianity (exhaustively researched of course).

Perhaps it bashes the authorities of the Catholic Church - which, since it's fiction, doesn't bother me as much

Wait, so it would bug you in real life (cause its happens every five minutes or so)?

This is really what bugs me most about the DaVinci code. It just further goes to prove that now there's only one kind of prejudice allowed, and that's Anti-Catholicism. You can't criticize a Jew, you can't criticize a Muslim, you can't criticize anybody of any other racial background, etc. (and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, don't get me wrong). The only people you are now allowed to criticize are Catholics. So we can write books about the evil Catholics, we can write Chick Tracts about the evil Catholics, we can make movies about the evil Catholics, so on and so forth.

Seriously, if I wrote a book saying all black people were part of a huge conspiracy and were someday going to kill us all and take over, I'd just get crucified (figure of speech). But if I write a book about how all the Catholics are part of a huge conspiracy and are going to kill us all and take over, everybody would love it (people like conspiracy books). I see a problem with that (note though, that I don't think the answer is to let people write black people conspiracy books, that's not good either).

[nella]

heartofgold said:

It just further goes to prove that now there's only one kind of prejudice allowed, and that's Anti-Catholicism. You can't criticize a Jew, you can't criticize a Muslim, you can't criticize anybody of any other racial background, etc. (and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, don't get me wrong)

What do you mean by "and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, don't get me wrong"? Are you advocating criticizm of other races or religions? I am sure that's not what you mean, but I don't quite understand what you are trying to say.

Sorry, I know that's off the topic from the DVC, but I am a little confused and it is bugging me.

[LilyJ]

I think she's saying it's not a bad thing that we can't bash any religions.....?

I didn't say I agreed with the fact that DVC bashes the Catholic church - I AM Catholic, and trust me, I know my Chruch is not anywhere near the way it's portrayed in DVC - I jsut think that the books alleged anti-religious message is blown WAAAY out of porportion. And my mother, whom I dragged alogn to see the movie with me, agrees wholeheartedly, though she supposes the book might be worse. (Might I add that my mother has been a Catholic her entire life.)
Also, I said it bashed the AUTHORITIES - i.e. several Vatican members, not all Catholics.

The one group that I could very well understand for taking offense to DVC is Opus Dei, which is very real, but very unlike it's portrayal by Dan Brown. Everyone else should honestly find more pressing issues to complain about. It's controversial, the facts are skewed to make a story that SEEMS real - it's not a good thing, don't get me wrong, but it's not a sign of the apocalypse, either.

[nella]

He. HoG is a he, not a she. Just thought I'd point that out :-)

Was that what you meant, HoG? I'm guessing it was.

[LilyJ]

Oh Sorry!!!! I dunno why I automatically assumed "she"... probably cause we're all girls on Elendor!!!! I am so sorry, though!!!

[heartofgold]

What do you mean by "and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, don't get me wrong"? Are you advocating criticizm of other races or religions? I am sure that's not what you mean, but I don't quite understand what you are trying to say.

Sorry, I know that's off the topic from the DVC, but I am a little confused and it is bugging me.

No, it is a good thing we can't just bash each other's religious beliefs whenever we want. Its bad that we can bash Catholics whenever we want.

I didn't say I agreed with the fact that DVC bashes the Catholic church - I AM Catholic, and trust me, I know my Chruch is not anywhere near the way it's portrayed in DVC - I jsut think that the books alleged anti-religious message is blown WAAAY out of porportion. And my mother, whom I dragged alogn to see the movie with me, agrees wholeheartedly, though she supposes the book might be worse. (Might I add that my mother has been a Catholic her entire life.)
Also, I said it bashed the AUTHORITIES - i.e. several Vatican members, not all Catholics.

The one group that I could very well understand for taking offense to DVC is Opus Dei, which is very real, but very unlike it's portrayal by Dan Brown. Everyone else should honestly find more pressing issues to complain about. It's controversial, the facts are skewed to make a story that SEEMS real - it's not a good thing, don't get me wrong, but it's not a sign of the apocalypse, either.

Well, its not anymore so than any other catholic-bashing books. I think its just the fact that its popular, meaning more people read it.

But yes, its not going to single handedly bring down the Catholic Church either.

He. HoG is a he, not a she. Just thought I'd point that out :-)

Um, yes everybody. I'd like to preserve at least a little of my manliness here .

[nella]

Yeah, it is hard to get used to a guy/girl forum. I'm just used to everyone being a she :-) I almost called you a guy once, HoG. :-D

~Nella

[robertpalson1]

The bible what I believe isn't a book of what is going to happen but a book that is a bout good ways to live life like not to kill and be good to each other! And Just like The DaVinci Code and the bible have stories its all how you portray them.