Posted on 05/19/2006 9:53:45 AM PDT by Simi Valley Tom
War on Christianity has been declared. On which side of the battle line will you stand?
The movie version of Dan Brown's book, THE DA VINCI CODE, is now in theaters. Although the movie significantly waters down the unrelenting, anti-Christian attacks and virulent paganism and goddess worship of the novel, it promotes the book and contains enough falsehoods and scurrilous conjecture to distort the truth about Jesus Christ, the Bible, Christianity, and God. That, coupled with the books popularity and some Christians ignorance about their faith, leads us to believe that the movie, and the attention it draws, will increase peoples hatred and prejudice against Christians and Christianity.
If this sounds like an overreaction, consider this:
* THE DA VINCI CODE presents blasphemous fiction as fact in a deceptive fashion
* THE DA VINCI CODE book denies the divinity of Jesus Christ, claiming He was no more than a mortal prophet, and the movie says it doesn't matter whether Jesus was divine or not
* THE DA VINCI CODE alleges Jesus married Mary Magdalene with whom He had a child
* THE DA VINCI CODE falsely claims the Christian church has historically hidden these facts through deception, murder and conspiracy
THE DA VINCI CODE novel has already caused great harm. Over 45 million copies of Dan Browns book have been sold, and its been a staple on worldwide best-seller lists for two years and counting. Brown, however, doesnt present it as an overt work of fiction. A simple statement in the prologue reads, All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.
Many Christians are already theologically malnourished; how will they withstand the assault of distortions, lies and bigotry from THE DA VINCI CODE?
We must combat THE DA VINCI CODEs attack on Jesus, the Bible and the very integrity of the Christian faith.
On which side of the battle line will you stand?
Note: See the News and Articles sections of www.movieguide.org for more analysis of Dan Brown's book, and see Current Reviews at www.movieguide.org for a review of the movie version.
Wow - there is a wealth of "in a nutshell' in that statement! Took me paragraphs to say the same... ;o)
This really is much to do about nothing. The DiVinci Code is a movie based upon a book that is fiction. If the fear is that people might question their faith because of a stupid movie, then they didn't have much faith in the first place. Some people really need to get a life.
as a Christian, i see that it's a silly little fictional story... why exert so much effort? all the uproar is only lending to it a fake credibility...
HUH? Producers have a responsibility to label their movies fictional?
Better apply that to 99% of all the movies ever made.
The idea is preposterous.
I posted that a few days ago on another string - and, oh yeah, I got flamed - seems some folk are particular about which truths they want protected
Well we now how accurate that belief is. Why do I get the feeling that those who wrote that were looking for a way to prove that their doctrine was correct and others were heretics?
"The Last Temptation of Christ" was boycotted and bombed at the box office despite great reviews from all the MSM whores.
Good thing the Inquisition is outlawed or there would be a lot of folk - Brown at the head - being made into human marshmallows at the stake.
Time, place and names change, but people don't. The same folks that would have been on both sides of the pogroms in history are still with us today.
Maybe earth life is boot-camp where we individually work out which side of the street we're going to walk on - On the sun-LIGHT side, or in the shadows
"The movie is going to fail due to all the bad reviews, why build it up by attacking it."
Because they have to wait so long between Harry Potter movies.
But he has been hauled into court - unsuccessfully - and he has had to build a protective fence around his home - against un-Christian "Christians"
Can't say I know what you mean. As a Christian, I absolutely believe in the inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures. If I didn't, I wouldn't be trying so hard to follow them.
Denny Crain, to Shirley Schmidt.
Agreed, it's silly to say a movie should be labeled as fiction. Even the movies that are supposed to be biographies are largely fiction, right?
Here's a blurb off Dan Brown's site that I thought was interesting --
HOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS TRUE?
The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction. While the book's characters and their actions are obviously not real, the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in this novel all exist (for example, Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings, the Gnostic Gospels, Hieros Gamos, etc.). These real elements are interpreted and debated by fictional characters. While it is my belief that some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations. My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history.
"My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history."
Not to mention making a whole boatload of filthy luchre.
What a bunch of self-serving crud. I'm sure Danny sat down to write his novel purely for the betterment of mankind.
"My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history."
It should have read;
" My hope in writing this novel was that it would sell and I'd make a lot of money. I write for a living".
Got one little word for ya....................."context".
Who hauled him into court. I thought he was in court for stealing ideas from Holy Blood, Holy Grail, not for attacking Christianity. Completely irrelevant.
Well yeah maybe old Dan Brown's statements are just a tad bogus and self-serving. But I would not blame him if he wrote the book just to make a boatload of money. I believe in the profit motive. It drives human progress.
And people can have multiple motives. So maybe he wanted the book to serve as a catalyst and a springboard for these lively and dorky discussions and ALSO make a boatload of money.
Actually, I'm not sure that he really has said that it is a work of fiction. And that's the problem.
"The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction." Dan Brown (on his web page)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.