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Whose God May We Mock
Townhall.com ^ | May 16, 2006 | Pat Buchanon

Posted on 05/16/2006 8:41:28 AM PDT by DeweyCA

If "such lies and errors had been directed at the Koran or the Holocaust," said Archbishop Angelo Amato, the Vatican's secretary for the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, "they would have justly provoked a world uprising."

The archbishop was speaking of "The Da Vinci Code," the Ron Howard film that debuts at Cannes and opens worldwide this week, and is expected to gross $500 million by summer's end.

The archbishop's point is undeniable. Blasphemous cartoons of the Prophet with a bomb in his turban, published a few months ago in a Danish newspaper and reprinted on the front pages of Europe's major papers, ignited demonstrations in Muslim communities across Europe and violent and deadly riots across the Islamic world.

Leaders friendly to the West, from Egypt to Afghanistan, felt compelled to denounce the cartoons, as did many in the West, as a provocation and insult to the faith of a billion people.

In the 1990s, the British novelist Salman Rushdie spent years in hiding after Ayatollah Khomeini issued a "fatwa" calling for his killing for publishing the blasphemous "Satanic Verses." In the 1970s, the film "Muhammad," starring Anthony Quinn, was pulled from many U.S. theaters after bomb threats. The film had offended Muslim faithful by showing the face of Muhammad.

Last February, British historian David Irving, whose books on World War II have sold in the millions, was convicted in an Austrian court of Holocaust denial and sentenced to three years in prison. His crime: In two speeches in Austria in 1989, Irving asserted there were no gas chambers at Auschwitz. Though he recanted in court, it did not save him. Prosecutors felt his sentence was too light.

Karen Pollock of Great Britain's Holocaust Education Trust applauded the verdict: "Holocaust denial is anti-Semitism dressed up as intellectual debate. It should be regarded as such and treated as such."

In nine countries of Europe, Holocaust denial is a crime. In the United States, to deny the Holocaust happened or suggest that it has been exaggerated is not a crime, but marks one down as a social leper.

If you would know who wields cultural power, ask yourself: Whom is it impermissible to offend? Thus the hoopla attending the release of "The Da Vinci Code," based on the Dan Brown novel that has sold 7 million copies in the United States, tells us something about whose God it is permissible to mock and whose faith one is allowed to assault.

For what "The Da Vinci Code" says is that Roman Catholicism is a gigantic fraud, that the church has for centuries been perpetrating a monstrous hoax, duping hundreds of millions into believing something it knows is a bald-faced lie. At the novel's heart lies the contention that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married, that they had a daughter, that the Vatican has known this and been hiding the descendants of Jesus, that Opus Dei is a secret order whose agents will engage in murder to protect the secret.

Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Last Supper" is said to hold the secret, as Jesus is portrayed touching the hand of the youngest apostle, John, who holds the place of honor at his side -- and who is, on close inspection, Mary Magdalene.

In Catholic teaching and tradition, the Holy Grail is the chalice that contained the blood of Jesus. In the book, the Holy Grail is Mary Magdalene, carrying the flesh and blood of Jesus in her womb.

If "The Da Vinci Code" is based upon facts, no other conclusion follows than that to be a Catholic is either to be in on this fraud or to be the dupe of those perpetuating it. But if it is fiction, why would Hollywood put out so viciously anti-Catholic a film that can only have the effect of undermining the faith of millions of Christians?

Putting "The Da Vinci Code" on film, with what it alleges about the Catholic Church, is the moral equivalent of making a movie based on the "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" and implying this is the truth about the Jewish plot to control the world. One imagines Ron Howard and Tom Hanks would take a pass on that script.

Like the "Hitler's Pope" smear of Pius XII, a man who did more than any other to save the Jews in World War II, "The Da Vinci Code" is a Big Lie that, though readily refuted by the facts, will be believed.

But that it will be a box-office smash, that it is the subject of lavish praise in the press, that it is the best-selling novel of the 21st century, tells us we live not just in a post-Christian era, but in an anti-Catholic culture not worth defending or saving, for it is truly satanic.


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: ac; antiantisemitism; bigotry; buchanan; christophobia; davincicode; gopatgoaway; mediabias; persecution; thedavincicode
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To: DeweyCA

I would suggest if you are a Christian and are thinking about seeing the movie for the entertainment or out of curiosity, then at least go to th emovie armed to the teeth with the truth.


From the Christian Worldview Network

The Da Vinci Code

Separating Truth from Fiction
By Sean McDowell

A few weeks ago I received a frantic call from a mother afraid her daughter would lose her faith after reading The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown. “How do I answer her questions?” she asked. And, “What part of the novel is fiction, and what part is truth?” The novel is appropriately placed in the “fiction” section of bookstores, but because of Brown’s clever blending of fact and fantasy, countless people have been convinced that its outrageous claims are actually rooted in history. And with the movie release on May 19th, questions will likely increase.

One reason some people have been confused is that the opening page of the book says, “FACT…All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.” When asked on The Today Show how much of the book is based on reality, author Dan Brown replied, “Absolutely all of it…is historical fact” (October 10, 2005).

While The Da Vinci Code may be great fiction, it is certainly not historical fact. Consider just a few of the historical blunders:



THE DA VINCI CODE: “During 300 years of witch hunts, the Church burned at the stake an astonishing five million women” (p. 125).



TRUTH: Historians all agree that the actual number of people burned at the stake was 30,000-50,000. If Brown’s math were correct, then a total of 46 women would have been burned at the stake each day for the entire 300 year period. This would be 40% of the female population in Europe during this time! Clearly, his claim is fiction.



THE DA VINCI CODE: “Some of the gospels that Constantine attempted to eradicate managed to survive. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in the 1950’s hidden in a cave near Qumran in the Judean desert” (p. 234).



TRUTH: Constantine had nothing to do with the completion of the biblical canon or the destruction of secret gospels. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947, not the 1950’s. They included books of the Old Testament and writings of the Essenes, a strict Jewish community. Not a single New Testament book or gospel was found in the entire collection of scrolls.



THE DA VINCI CODE: The Priory of Sion is allegedly the oldest secret society, founded in 1099. This small band of conspirators knew the truth about Jesus’ marriage to Mary Magdalene, but because of opposition from the church, kept the explosive secret hidden. They waited for the perfect moment to reveal the secret to the world (pp. 157-58).



TRUTH: The real Priory of Sion was founded by Pierre Plantard and registered with the French government in 1956! The documents that supposedly prove the existence of the Priory were fabricated by Pierre Plantard and his associates, who have since admitted to the cover-up.



THE DA VINCI CODE: The figure on the right of Jesus in the “Last Supper” painting by Leonardo Da Vinci is Mary Magdalene (p. 243).



TRUTH: Da Vinci himself labeled the figure on Jesus’ right side as “Johannes,” referring to John, the beloved disciple. If Mary was added to the painting then there should be fourteen figures, whereas there are still only thirteen (Jesus and the twelve disciples).



THE DA VINCI CODE: “The marriage of Jesus to Mary Magdalene is part of the historical record” (p. 245). Two primary arguments are put forth to support this claim: First, it was unlawful for a Jewish man to be unmarried. Second, according to the “gospel” of Philip, Jesus kissed Mary on the mouth, which indicated his special relationship to her.



TRUTH: There were in fact many Jewish rabbis who were not married. We know of two specifically during the time of Jesus—John the Baptist and the apostle Paul. Paul said, “Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord and Peter” (1 Corinthians 9:5). If Jesus had been married, certainly Paul would have cited Him as the ultimate example! The “gospel” of Philip, as we will see below, was written far too late to be considered a reliable historical document.



THE DA VINCI CODE: “More than eighty gospels were considered for the New Testament, and yet only a relative few were chosen for inclusion—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John among them” (p. 231).



TRUTH: There were never eighty gospels being considered for inclusion in the Bible. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were all based on eyewitness accounts, are internally coherent, and have been corroborated by archaeology and non-Christians sources. The four biblical gospels were all completed within the first century (by 85 A.D.). In comparison, the so-called “gospels” of Mary, Thomas, and Philip were written by imposters no earlier than A.D. 150.



THE DA VINCI CODE: “Until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet…a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A Mortal” (p. 233). In other words, Jesus was not considered divine until the 4th century when Constantine turned him into a deity at the council of Nicea.



TRUTH: The question being debated at the council of Nicea was not whether Jesus was divine, but how he could be both God and man. Jesus was considered God since the inception of the church. Paul said Jesus was, “in very nature God” (Phil 2:6), John writes that Jesus made “Himself equal with God” (John 5:18), and the early church father Ignatius refers to, “our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.” All of these quotes are at least 200 years before the council of Nicea.



THE DA VINCI CODE: “Sophie, every faith in the world is based on fabrication. That is the definition of faith—acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove” (p. 341).



TRUTH: While this may be true for some faiths, it is outrageous to claim this is true for all faiths. Christianity, in particular, is not based on wishful thinking, but rather on historical fact. Christianity is rooted in objective history, including events like the exodus from Egypt, the reign of King David, and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. In fact, Paul said that if the resurrection of Jesus did not really happen then we are to be pitied and our faith is worthless! (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17).



But if it did happen, then there is forgiveness and hope for those who follow Jesus: “He who sees me sees the one who sent me…Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me (John 12:45; 14:1).


41 posted on 05/16/2006 11:31:13 AM PDT by NavyCanDo
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To: Albion Wilde

I am the very same way!


42 posted on 05/16/2006 11:36:30 AM PDT by red irish (Gods Children in the womb are to be loved too!)
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To: MEGoody
Hmm,

Even if a book or a movie is trying to make Jesus only human, what does that make of Judaism and Islam? Where is the uproar in that? Those very religions proclaim the same thing, yet we have to be "tolerant" for them?

No need to get upset over any Hollywood movies, it is after all hollywood, Not Holy wood....

43 posted on 05/16/2006 11:42:06 AM PDT by Zavien Doombringer (Mr. Franklin, what form of customes did you create in Tiajunna? A beeber, Madam, if you can stune it)
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To: Zavien Doombringer

The story is not about sin. It is about intrigue.


44 posted on 05/16/2006 12:24:03 PM PDT by ClaireSolt (.)
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To: Zavien Doombringer
Even if a book or a movie is trying to make Jesus only human, what does that make of Judaism and Islam?

So you are saying that those who believe Dan Brown's book aren't just being deceived, they've started a new religion?

yet we have to be "tolerant" for them?

Who said that? Not me. I speak the truth of Jesus to Jews and Muslims every chance I get.

No need to get upset over any Hollywood movies

Exactly what did I post that made you believe I was 'upset'?

45 posted on 05/16/2006 12:28:21 PM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: Zavien Doombringer
No need to get upset over any Hollywood movies, it is after all hollywood, Not Holy wood....

Correction. It's UnHolywood.

46 posted on 05/16/2006 12:49:18 PM PDT by FJ290
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To: Zavien Doombringer
"Why would Mary ask Jesus in the first place. "

Because she didn't want her friends to be embarrassed. And Mary knew who Jesus was and knew that he could make things alright.

Jesus'response was basically, "Why are you asking me?" But Mary insisted.

47 posted on 05/16/2006 1:20:04 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: DeweyCA
is the best-selling novel of the 21st century

Only until "Harry Potter and the Code of Da Vinci" comes out. That'll give everyone two things to complain about.

-PJ

48 posted on 05/16/2006 1:34:33 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (It's still not safe to vote Democrat.)
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To: MEGoody
So you are saying that those who believe Dan Brown's book aren't just being deceived, they've started a new religion?

No, people are going to believe anything they can to "wish" God out of thier lives. They want an excuse for judgement day...

Who said that? Not me. I speak the truth of Jesus to Jews and Muslims every chance I get.

I am really and honestly relieved to hear that. When I whitness to Muslims, I reiterate to them that they are the brother to the Jews and there was never emnity between Ishmael and Isaac. They look bewildered when I showed them that at Abrahams burial that the two embraced.

Exactly what did I post that made you believe I was 'upset'?

Sorry, that was a generalized statement. It seems that the body of believers is getting roused up as if thier foundation was being shaken. We will see whose house is on the Rock, and not on sand.... This Movie/book is trivial, those who are firm in the truth will/shall not be moved.

49 posted on 05/16/2006 1:38:07 PM PDT by Zavien Doombringer (Mr. Franklin, what form of customes did you create in Tiajunna? A beeber, Madam, if you can stune it)
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To: ClaireSolt
It really is a tool for Satan to get those that are "stradling the fence" in thier faith to look at another view.

As in my earlier post - "To set a spark to the dry tinder of your mind"

Jesus is Lord

50 posted on 05/16/2006 1:40:53 PM PDT by Zavien Doombringer (Mr. Franklin, what form of customes did you create in Tiajunna? A beeber, Madam, if you can stune it)
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To: Zavien Doombringer
"whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man,
it shall be forgiven him:
but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost
it shall not be forgiven.
(Luke 12:10)
51 posted on 05/16/2006 1:44:27 PM PDT by evets (Dude.)
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To: DeweyCA
They can mock my G*D.
They just shouldn't be surprised if he mocks them back.
52 posted on 05/16/2006 1:44:59 PM PDT by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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To: DeweyCA

To answer the lead question, use mine, I'm not.


53 posted on 05/16/2006 1:48:49 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: Junior

(deities should be powerful enough that they do not require mere mortals to carry their water for them.)

I totally agree with the spirit of this. That's why I think muslims are pathetic to think that Allah would really need them to kill the infidels. Had Allah not wanted free will, he would have killed the infidels himself.

However, in this instance, we're not talking about a movie that mocks God. What I have a problem with is fabrication of facts knowingly, and waiting for the gullible to fall for it. We do need the other side to use the truth to counteract the falsehood and not allow it to stand; except that the falsehood is much better publicized through a book and a movie, both well distributed because they are "entertaining".


54 posted on 05/16/2006 2:42:19 PM PDT by winner3000
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To: winner3000

Fiction is all about fabricating facts. That's why it's called "fiction."


55 posted on 05/16/2006 6:13:31 PM PDT by Junior (Identical fecal matter, alternate diurnal period)
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To: DeweyCA
The international left, which does not like Judaism and hates Israel almost as much as Pat, uses the Holocaust as a sledgehammer against nationalism.
It is not about about the Jews, Roma, Poles, and political prisoners who died.
56 posted on 05/16/2006 8:02:13 PM PDT by rmlew (Sedition and Treason are both crimes, not free speech.)
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To: nathanbedford

In the real world, Zionist Freepers hate anti-religious bigots.


57 posted on 05/16/2006 8:04:20 PM PDT by rmlew (Sedition and Treason are both crimes, not free speech.)
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To: DannyTN

I love that account. As a son - I find it interesting that Mom had to give HER son a little push. I know my mom had more confidence in me than I did sometimes.


58 posted on 05/16/2006 8:29:35 PM PDT by geopyg ("I would rather have a clean gov't than one where -quote- 1st Amend. rights are respected." J.McCain)
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To: red irish
I am the very same way!

And I am, at last, red Irish myself, with the help of L'Oreal (having previously been mousy brown Irish with gray in it). LOL!

59 posted on 05/16/2006 10:39:08 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (Got freedom? Thank a veteran)
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To: geopyg

I love that account too. But I don't think she had more confidence in Him than He had in Himself. I think she was just being a stubborn mom who wasn't going to take no for an answer in this situation even from the Most High. At least it wasn't a selfish request she was asking for.

A freeper once point out to me on one of the crevo threads that Jesus first miracle was making something with the appearance of age.


60 posted on 05/17/2006 12:57:00 AM PDT by DannyTN
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