The Da Vinci Code premiers to criticism in Poland

Radio Polonia ^ | 19.05.06 | Agnieszka Bielawska

[sportutegrl]

I haven't read the book, so probably shouldn't comment. I was trying to make fun of the people that believed that nonsense by saying it was like believing in National Treasure. I guess I had only caught part of an interview on TV, because that was all I remembered, was the author saying it was a work of fiction.

[Miss Marple]

Yes, it is fiction. You misunderstood the point of my comment. Americans are so uneducated about history, and even more so about church history, that a lot of them are being duped into believing that the historical "facts" in this book are true. The reviewer on Fox was one such example.

I do not advocate censorship, and boycotts are counterproductive in this case, but I do believe that the Catholic Church and all churches have a duty to speak about about the errors in this book and movie.

Of particular concern are the unchurched, who may be led through ignorance to believe that Christianity is one big con job, and never give it a look. For those of us who believe in the redemption and salvation of Christianity, it is distressing to think that there are souls who will ignore the Gospel because of this fraud.

[D-fendr]

Got it. The author is playing quite loose with the truth. He claims a lot of it is true. In one interview he was asked what he'd change if he wrote it as non-fiction and he said, "Nothing." At other interviews he'll claim fiction, but based on accurate research..

He seems to believe the underlying point is true - the diety of Christ is based on fraud, the Church repressed the female goddess religion, etc.

And in the beginning of the book he has a fact page, with a couple of whoppers:

Fact:
The Priory of Sion—a European secret society founded in 1099—is a real organization. In 1975, Paris's Bibliothèque Nationale discovered parchments known as Les Dossiers Secrets, identifying numerous members of the Priory of Sion, including Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and Leonardo da Vinci. [this is an admitted fraud]
All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.[Hornswaggle]

Thanks for your reply.