Posted on 03/21/2006 3:13:20 PM PST by Crackingham
In a world accepting of docudramas and reality TV shows that aren't real, how does one counter a blockbuster movie whose theme challenges the orthodox religious history of the Western world? That's the task facing Christians already distressed by Dan Brown's wildly popular novel, "The Da Vinci Code," and his claim that the thriller is based on historical facts.
With sales of more than 40 million, the book has become a cultural phenomenon. Unless the copyright-infringement trial in London (which now awaits the judge's decision) brings an injunction against use of the material, the May release of the film starring Tom Hanks will surely magnify its global impact.
Rather than organize protests or boycotts - steps taken in the past against controversial films - Evangelicals and Catholics instead are mobilizing "truth squads." They're producing books, websites, TV documentaries, DVDs, and study guides. Some hope to use the film as a "teachable moment" that could turn the occasion to their advantage.
"Our task is to be the missionary to the unbelievers," says the Rev. James Garlow, pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, Calif. He's developed a four-phase strategy for churches leading up to the film's release.
Yet others suggest there's more involved than a question of historical accuracy. They say part of the book's appeal is that it raises deeper issues about the nature of Christianity that many people, including devout Christians, want to talk about.
Eric Plumer, a theology professor at the University of Scranton, a Catholic institution in Pennsylvania, has been surprised by the intense interest he's encountered when giving talks about "The Da Vinci Code" in public libraries, colleges, and senior-citizen centers.
"The turnouts have been mainly standing room only," he says. "Some want to know how to refute the book; some want their belief in it strengthened.... Even if people can't wholly accept what Dan Brown has to say, they feel he has touched on something they want to discuss."
Jeez, people, its a friggin novel!
Never challenge my beliefs!
This is just the sort of nonsense that reasoned and total refutation lends credence to among the sort of people who would tend to take it seriously in the first plsce.
True, albeit with an agenda, don't you think?
It's a movie, folks. It's a movie, based on a fictional book, folks. If you don't like it, don't see it.
However, if you wish to give this movie additional publicity, enriching the producers, just go ahead. I'm sure you'll have great success.
"True, albeit with an agenda, don't you think?
"
Of course there is an agenda: To sell lots of books, and to make a movie that makes millions of dollars for everyone.
What agenda did you think it has?
Someone forgot to circulate the memo that "The Da Vinci Code" is fiction.
Who would have thought that sweet, freckle faced, red headed kid would produce movies like this?
I am very serious....and seriously disappointed.
He must not believe in anything...
bump
BOYCOTT! BOYCOTT! DON'T SEE THIS MOVIE! IT'S TERRIBLE! IT'S NOT TRUE!
"Hey, Susan...everyones talking about this movie. I wonder what all the fuss is about...."
"I dunno, you wanna go see it?"
"Yeah...let's go this weekend."
"OK."
It's a movie of a novel...a work of fiction, like the "Celestine Prophecy" movie that is coming out soon also. What is it about a work of fiction that is so upsetting to people? Why do you feel the need to refute a novel?
It's a movie of a novel...a work of fiction, like the "Celestine Prophecy" movie that is coming out soon also. What is it about a work of fiction that is so upsetting to people? Why do you feel the need to refute a novel?
Actually I think this is a good way to handle it. Unfortunately there are people who don't even know what the word "fiction" means. BTW, I'm a Christian who isn't distressed over the movie at all. In fact, I think I'm going to go see it. But I do know what the word "fiction" means.
"Little Opie sure did grow up with a vengeance, don't you think?"
Opie? Opie was a fictional character, just like the characters in this movie. Hellooooo!
What are they going to do next - try to refute Harry Potter?
Yes it is a fictional novel. However, (for the hundreth time), Brown claims the events integrated into the story are "accepted truths". His story is based largely upon the work of Henry Licoln who in the 1960s published a book named "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" or something like that. Brown claims in interviews ect, that this historical claims in his book are indeed true. This is not an innocent story as many claim. It has an agenda to make false claims about Christ.
Did Harry Potter have a fictional account about Jesus in it? I must have missed that somewhere.
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