Scratch the Da Vinci Code and reveal the truth

The Daily Telegraph ^ | May 12, 2006 | Jonathan Petre

[MadIvan]

Scratchcards, usually associated with National Lottery games offering "instant cash prizes", are to be put to a more elevated use - debunking The Da Vinci Code.

The Christian Enquiry Centre is distributing 270,000 specially designed cards today to every cinema screening the Hollywood version of the Dan Brown bestseller when it is released next week.

The film is expected to be one of the biggest hits of the year despite being denounced as "stridently anti-Christian" by Vatican officials.

The cards feature 10 claims made in the book. Cinema goers are asked to judge whether they are fact or fiction by scratching the appropriate box.

For example, the cards state that "the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene is a matter of historical record". If the box marked "fact" is scratched off, it will reveal a cross, while the box for "fiction" will show a tick.

The cards, which will be placed in racks in cinema foyers, will also encourage film goers to apply for a free booklet called Cracking the Da Vinci Code by Mark Stibbe, which examines the claims in more detail.

The £20,000 "scratch-for-truth" scheme is part of a campaign by the churches to capitalise in the interest in the book, which has already sold more than 40 million copies since its publication in 2003.

"In The Da Vinci Code story, several of the lead characters make highly contentious claims about secret gospels, the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, and whether the Church has been engaged in a cover-up for the past 2,000 years," said Jeff Bonsor, the director of the centre.

"We want to set the record straight and introduce people to the real story of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and the events surrounding the life of arguably the most influential figure in history."

Following an attack on the book on Easter Sunday by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, the Church of England has launched a website challenging people to make up their own minds.

The website quotes the Rev Richard Burridge, the Dean of King's College, London, which appears in the book, saying: "The Da Vinci Code is a cracking read, a real page-turner of a novel. One of its appeals is that we all like secrets.

"But its claims about Jesus are cracked. In fact, sometimes the real truth is stranger than fiction. Get exploring!"

A more confrontational approach has been taken by the Vatican, with senior bishops calling for the film to be boycotted. Archbishop Angelo Amato, of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said: "If such lies and errors had been directed at the Koran and Holocaust they would have justly provoked a world uprising."

Cardinal Francis Arinze, who was tipped to become Pope last year, said: "Christians must not just sit back and say it is enough for us to forgive and forget. Sometimes it is our duty to do something practical."

[MadIvan]

I am concerned that we're giving what is essentially a pretty awful piece of fiction more publicity than it deserves.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[Echo Talon]

I don't understand why any christian would go see this movie.

[MadIvan]

I'd broaden that - I don't understand why anyone with any taste would see that film, regardless of religion. It's just another example of the triumph of hype over substance.

Regards, Ivan

[Echo Talon]

ya know what you're right, no idea why anyone wants to see it(other than atheists) since they seem to hate everything to do with the Church.

[the_Watchman]

There was a 90 minute program on the University of California cable network, UCTV, last month. The speaker was a Professor of History with training from various schools including Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena.

The speaker was a Protestant Christian. He spent the program demonstrating that the contents of the book doesn't even rise to a level of veracity which would require rebuttal by serious historians. He made the program because he was concerned that too many people have accepted the premises of the book as accurate. He stated that the sect of the Rosicrucian's was started based on a similar piece of sham literature.

He spent a lot of time debunking inaccuracies in the art aspects and pointed out that even the name is a sham: Da Vinci is a suffix indicating that Leonardo was from the town of Vinci. He said it would have made as much sense as writing a book about Jesus and referring to him as "of Nazareth".

His contention was that the book was actually good reading as fiction and he intended to see the movie expecting it to be good.

He spent some time pointing out that Dan Brown has been cagey when attempts have been made to get Brown to admit that the story line is fabricated.

I recorded the program on DVD for my son who is a seminary student.

[My Opinion]Protestants should not see this as attack on the Roman Catholic Church. It is actually an attack on the Christian faith! We need to stand with our Catholic brethren and beat this thing back. Remember that the "Passion of Christ" was brought to us complements of a Roman Catholic! :)

[ndt]

Correction

The film is expected to be one of the biggest hits of the year despite being because it was denounced as "stridently anti-Christian" by Vatican officials.

Best propaganda a film can get for free.

[Prime Choice]

Ah, if only there were a few cartoons of Mohammed in "The Da Vinci Code." Then we could at least have fun watching liberal heads implode as they screech about the need "sensitivity to people's strongly-held religious beliefs."

Funny how the "mainstream" (sic) press isn't covering that angle, eh wot?

[fizziwig]

"Best propaganda a film can get for free."
_______________________________

Certainly its true that the public denouncments have brought attention to the film, but to have said nothing in fear of bringing that attention would have implied that the Church approved or at least did not object. That would have been worse in my opinion.

Dan Brown deliberately put the Church into a no-win situation. He is a con man....he is a turd.

[Buck W.]

"The cards feature 10 claims made in the book. Cinema goers are asked to judge whether they are fact or fiction by scratching the appropriate box. "

Quality aside, it is a NOVEL. Might as well distribute the cards outside a screening of Star Wars asking whether the viewers believe that Darth Vader is really Luke's father.

[Pikamax]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EDWLUA/104-4793851-1432743?v=glance&n=130

The Real Da Vinci Code with Tony Robinson by UK's Channel 4 just trashed the book debunking everything in it. Highly recommended.

[mvpel]

I enjoyed the book for what it was - fiction - and I expect to enjoy the movie for what it is - fiction.

[Mongeaux]

I really enjoyed the book too and I will see the movie. I believe "The DaVinci Code" is just a suspense novel with a wild premise, (like all the rest of them) and it is disingenuous to suggest it should be anything more. Works of fiction don't need to be totally accurate in the same way as nonfiction - just because the Titanic turned out to be unraiseable, that doesn't mean Clive Cussler's "Raise The Titanic" wasn't a great action novel.

[MissouriConservative]

"Then we could at least have fun watching liberal heads implode as they screech about the need "sensitivity to people's strongly-held religious beliefs.""

LOL....I am actually picturing the movie Mars Attacks and the aliens heads exploding after hearing Slim Whitman yodle.

Ah, now that was a piece of celuloid.

[JennysCool]

Unbelievable all the fuss over this.

Hey, folks:

(a) It's just a work of fiction

(b) It's just a movie.

Thanks, folks, for your attention. Enjoy the buffet.

[durasell]

Just a movie? Just a movie!

Was Pauly Shore's Son-in-Law just a movie?
Was Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, just a movie?
Was Dude, Where's My Car just a movie?

[Mongeaux]

Durasell: you are always on about Pauly Shore.

True, he was a genius, but he was no Emo. He wasn't even HALF a Gallagher!

[Mongeaux]

"Enjoy the buffet"

But don't eat the shrimp.

[JennysCool]

You're just being shellfish.

[mvpel]

Oy!