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
At the end I wondered what all the hype was about.
Much like the conspiracy theories surrounding 9/11 there are always conspiracy theories surrounding religion.
lol
Blasphemy? Are we back in the Middle Ages? Are we a part of the Muslim world?
The giants of Western thought have been challanging the truth of the Bible for what?...500 years? We're been through religious wars which splintered the Catholic Church. If your faith has survived those challanges why should you care what a movie and its creators say?
Ian McKellen needs a disclaimer that he has a brain!
Ian McKellen needs a disclaimer that he has a brain!
Ian McKellen needs a disclaimer that he has a brain!
lol, and well said.
Mckellan thought he made the lord of the rings. He got lucky and got into a good movie, now he thinks he ca n insult Christians. Well Opie and Forest Gump and goofoff can take his movie and I shall do what a lot of us will do. Don't spend my money on it, or even see the piece of junk.Remember Viggo , what happened to his great movies after Lords. Shut up and act!~
What a goofball!
I absolutely do NOT support him or his lifestyle but he is a great actor in some of my favorite movies (LotR and X-Men).
Brown can believe whatever he wishes, I have no problem with that. But his beliefs are no more credible as a Holocaust denier, and he should be exposed for that. Brown's beliefs are based on hatred towards Christianity, not on facts. There is nothing credible about any of the stuff Brown passes off as facts.
The Bible must be fiction - why else would God choose to write a book about a bunch of arabs in aramaic? :D
Personally, I've got a lot of time for God, it's his fan-club I can't stand. . . . .
But then the author comes out and says something like this. Hmmmm....
Aunt Bee ain't too happy either.
Wow.
Where to start.......
He already has his own special place in the real Mordor reseved...so, what does he have to lose?
Ugh. I have learned something about Ian today I didn't know. Now it will be hard watching LOTR when his part comes on.
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