"Well, I've often thought the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying this is fiction"
Posted on 05/17/2006 5:54:17 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
May 17, 2006
If the Da Vinci Code was already feeding the flames of controversy with its challenge to the basic tenets of Christianity, actor Ian McKellen managed to throw a refinery tank's worth of gasoline on the fire on this morning's Today show, asserting that the Bible should carry a disclaimer saying that it is "fiction."
Matt Lauer, on his second day "On The Road With The Code," was in Cannes for the film festival, where the Code will have its debut. It has already been screened to some critics, who have given it decidedly mixed reviews.
As I reported here yesterday, NBC reporter Melissa Stark timidly dipped a toe in the sea of controversy when yesterday she interviewed Code director Ron Howard, asking how he reacted to the controversy the movie has created . . . for the Church! Sounding more like the Delphic oracle than a Hollywood director, Howard offered up some ambiguous prose about it being healthy thing for people to engage their beliefs.
Lauer took the bull of controversy more directly by the horns when he interviewed the cast and director Howard today. Said Lauer:
"There have been calls from some religious groups, they wanted a disclaimer at the beginning of this movie saying it is fiction because one of the themes in the book really knocks Christianity right on its ear, if Christ survived the crucifixion, he did not die for our sins and therefore was not resurrected. What I'm saying is, people wanted this to say 'fiction, fiction, fiction'. How would you all have felt if there was a disclaimer at the beginning of the movie? Would it have been okay with you?"
There was a pause, and then famed British actor Ian McKellen [Gandalf of Lord of the Rings], piped up:
"Well, I've often thought the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying this is fiction. I mean, walking on water, it takes an act of faith. And I have faith in this movie. Not that it's true, not that it's factual, but that it's a jolly good story. And I think audiences are clever enough and bright enough to separate out fact and fiction, and discuss the thing after they've seen it."
With the camera focused on McKellen, one could hear a distinctly nervous laugh in the background, seeming to come from either actor Tom Hanks or director Howard. McKellen's stunning bit of blasphemy is likely to test the adage that all publicity is good publicity.
Finkelstein, recently a guest on the Lars Larson Show, lives in the liberal haven of Ithaca, NY, where he hosts the award-winning public-access TV show 'Right Angle'. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net
Sure, why not? I suppose he could aggravate it further by claiming that adultery is cool, marching in adultery pride parades, teaching the acceptance of adultery in schools-the whole nine yards.
Troll: signed up 5/16/06
Yes to the first two. The third would be up to the employer as far as I'm concerned. The last was popular with Protestant democrats, which I am neither.
Actually, Remole, stating something is "fact" or "the truth" in novels is a fairly common literary device. It gets the reader's attention, and is most often used to make very clear what the storyteller's perspective is. I used to read a lot of Kurt Vonnegut in high school, and I remember him using that on occasion for things that were obviously not "the truth."
Don't take it literally.
Hey, Ian! "Lord of the Rings". Fiction or fact?
How about marching in "eating shellfish" parades or teaching that it's OK to eat bacon in schools?
I would rather rely on the merits of Christ than my wit, which may seem rather feeble at that point.
The first two would result in a serious decline in public civility, already at an abysmal low. The last would result in a kind of religious war in which people were discharged for their religious beliefs or lack of. I wonder how much further you, and those who think like you, would be willing to go?
Blasphemy in the United Kingdom
As far as I'm concerned you're not much different than the Muslim savages...but you're urges are restrained by our secular cultures where they are free to inflict their barbarities.
"In the Old Testament, the Mosaic Law specifies no less than 36 capital offenses calling for execution by stoning, burning, decapitation or strangulation. Included in the list are idolatry, magic, blasphemy, violation of the Sabbath, murder, adultery, bestiality, pederasty and incest.
Do you want to go back to this?
I knew that. But it is worth pointing out his personal agenda...
"Evidently the film is a stinker."
So it's not exactly "The Passion of the Christ" which Hollyweird refused to promote......may this 'novel' Da Vinci Code TANK bigtime at the box office for besmirching the truth about Christ. Is nothing sacred anymore to these leftist, morally decrepit bunch.
Statements from actors on nearly any subject should have a disclaimer "Idiot Moron Opines"
That is like saying a novel that blames the Jews for the Holocaust is not antisemitic because it is fiction. It just opens the door for discussion. I don't buy the argument.
MIXED? All I have heard is it is awful.
"Well, I've often thought the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying this is fiction"
We're being kind here at FR ;-)
He did a great job with Apollo 13, one of my favorite movies of all time.
He jumped the shark for me when I read that he and his wife named their kids after where they were conceived. That's just creepy!
Opie has spent way too much time in Hollywood. Too bad! GG
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