What do you think of Dan Brown's DaVinci Code? When it was released several years back I reacted with annoyance and refused to buy the book or read it. I wasn't going to put money in Brown's pocket for such a scandalous and outrageous assault on what I believed. I figured this would go the way of many a pop culture sensation. . . at least in time.
Then months before the movie was released, I figured it was time to read it and then see the movie. It seemed that people kept asking me what I thought of the book. (I love to read and considering the fact that I'm a language arts teacher, people must have assumed that I would have read this when it first came out.) My ultimate decision to read it came as a result of the fact that I find it maddening when people pontificate about something they really don't know anything about.
I read it. And then I stewed about it. The theories question the truths we believe in such an insidious way. There are enough facts intertwined with falsehoods, that one could be sucked in quite easily. They creep into our brains and, as the serpent did, cause doubt . . . Is it really so?
As a Christian, I didn't feel that I was armed with the appropriate "tools" to argue Brown's theories. To say that Brown's character's theology is heretical is an understatement. Their claims threaten the very foundation of what Christians believe. If I couldn't even logically and satisfactorily pit an argument against these theories, then on what did my faith actually rest? Was it blind faith? Or just forgotten explanations?
This set me on a path which led to a small group Bible study. We begin at the end of the month and I'm looking forward to it. I always benefit by leading people through a study. I feel I must be 10 times better read on the subject, so that I can answer any possible question. I am using a prepared study as a core curriculum, but I have several other books to supplement my research as well as Brown's site.
Did you know that Brown considers himself a Christian? What Christian would publish a book like this? What Christian would cause so many to question their faith knowing that they might not seek the truth? He says that the true enemy of faith is apathy. I agree. And so many of us are complacent and so easily accepting of relative truth. My fear is that some might become confused.
I can think of only one good thing about The DaVinci Code. It was serve to get quite a few Christians off their collective butts to examine the book's claims. Anything that causes us to be activists in our faith could hardly hurt our faith, but, in fact, make it stronger.
Has Dan Brown's novels hurt or helped Christianity? Let me know what you think.
To borrow a favorite word from a favorite on-line friend...."Ahem."
I'd like to point out that this is a work of fiction we are discussing. I'm not sure why that keeps getting lost in the shuffle. Perhaps in researching the material he used for the book, Brown strengthened his own religious beliefs. Surely, the re-evaluation of our personal beliefs that has come as a result of his book has to be healthy.
I agree that it's very difficult to tell where truth leaves off and fiction starts. Like you, I did some research after I read the book, and it's possible that my belief is stronger just from contemplating all the possibilities.
My knowledge of the Bible is slim compared to the rest of my family. What I hope you'll be able to tell me after your study is this: Does the possibility of Jesus having been married and having a daughter make him any less the Christ, and Son of God? What is there about this that threatens your belief in Him? And, is it possible that the early Catholic Church DID have a hand in shaping our beliefs by their choice of what books would be in the Bible and which were considered apocryphal?
Lead on dear sis....I'd love to hear what you think.
Nan, I have also just finished reading the book. I am a big skeptic (of the books theories, conjectures), so my world was not so shaken. But, still in some ways it was. I think the best a controversial book can do is stimulate questioning, reflection, thought, in the mind of the reader. This book, however, theorizes with enough background detail to strive to weave fiction into solid facts. That is the incidious thing operating here.
Anyway, uncannily the day after reading it, some divine thing led me to a beautiful stunning antidote. A book fell into my lap from a tipped box of books in the garage called "Quo Vadis" which means "Where are you going?" It is an historical view of Roman and Christian society during the time of Christ. And it healed the wounds of the DaVinci Code and returned to me greater understanding and appreciation for Christianity. I am working on a blog to impart some of the beauty of a book written in 1896 that needs to be uncovered and dusted off and shelved right next to "The DaVinci Code."
ah yes nan, id like to know what you decide after your study.
i did see the movie but i watched at a work of fiction so as far as my faith went it didnt make a difference. and i stand by that as it is located in the fiction section of book stores.
i do appreciate what you are saying tho, there are people that will treat it as fact and wont find out more.
my opinion is that if christ had married and had offspring then she would stand out a mile. i cant believe that any offspring could fail to have internal motivation. i think we would know about it.
I don't know why so many got up in arms over a work of fiction.
As far as books go, it was okay - I won't bother to see the movie though (but then again, I see very few movies).
Wow, I love controversy, but then Buffy well knows this - right lovey!???
First, I agree. It's fiction. Even Dan Brown says so. But that's not my concern. It's the way his mixing of fact and fiction that can be so misleading.
As for Christ being married and having children? I doubt he had the time to bother. More importantly, my attitude is that he had a far more important "mission", if you will, on this earth to be distracted by that kind of relationship. It doesn't follow. Would it bother me? Not in the least. I'm sure it would have served scores of generations to see how the Master lived out 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 in his own marriage. Surely man has needed nore help in this area!
Bod - I agreed with your statement that his child would have stood out - no man, not even the most powerful, could have stopped what would have been a sinless child of God from making an impact. I don't buy the conspiracy theories that suggest that the real story of Jesus' life was erased from history.
Roberta - I'm fascinated by your story about the Quo Vadis dropping into your lap! I believe that God talks to us this way sometimes. It is for the "tuned in" to hear! I know nothing of this book, but I'm curious to know more.
Thank you, friends, for spicing up the conversation! There are many other questions and possibilities you have posed that I can't address just now (I've just started my day at work) and want to write about those another time.
Quo Vadis was made into a movie, in the Sixties, I think. No doubt the book is better than the movie (isn't that always the way?). I'm sure it was a lovely antidote to the Da Vinci Code.
There's another movie that I can just barely recall......it starts out with Joseph of Arimethea. I wonder if it might have been called "The Chalice"? I'll have to surf and see.
I know this is off the subject, just a little trivia for the day, while I ponder the concept of Jesus and the distraction of romance.