Catholic Church fights Da Vinci Code novel

BBC ^ | Mar. 15, 2005

[Xenalyte]

Re your tagline: "Hero's" should be "heroes", no capital, no apostrophe, -es ending. My heroes have always been cowboys.

Helpful hint from the Grammar Maven - have a great day!

[Terriergal]

Dozens of occult history books, conveniently cross-linked by Amazon.com, are following in its wake.

INteresting!!! Thanks for that.

[Terriergal]

An historian fried of mine says he has read better history in Mad magazine.

LOL!

[Terriergal]

Yes, ironic and very funny. Who writes his material?

Ah, yes, you must be referring to Public School textbook fables.

[Zechariah_8_13]

"It astonishes and worries me that so many people believe these lies."

It doesn't astonish me. Most people believe all sorts of lies. People have been believing lies since Eve.

I hope the Catholic church is coming out in force to refute these lies (not just lament their existence) at a congregational level. IMO, the real danger is not so much the God-haters and tinfoil hatters, but rather, the "Cultural Christians" in the pews, in whom it will plant a seed of deceit.

Matt 24:10 “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold..."

[cowboyway]

Thanks for the grammar lesson. I'll get right on the problem, mam.

[Terriergal]

Some posters on FR have posted that yes, it is a work of fiction, but the history contained in the book is accurate.

That's pretty shameful. They must believe the New York Times and CNN actually reports the news too, and that the UN knows what it's doing.

Sheesh. That's disappointing to hear. But I know they do hang out here, for some reason.

[Terriergal]

People have been believing lies since Eve.

And people have been going along with and enabling them since Adam.

;-)

[stuartcr]

Why do you believe that people will come to this conclusion? What is the compelling case?

[E. V. Republitarian MD]

I believe that if someone approaches the Bible with an open mind, asks questions, and listens to the arguments of informed apologists and skeptics, that they will come to the conclusion that the Bible is the Word of God.

I don't have a ton of time to get in to an involved Biblical debate, but I disagree with this statement. I spent several years in my Episcopal High School, studying and learning about the New and Old Testaments. I was taught the stories and history in great detail (although I admit I've forgotten many of the specifics over the subsequent years). I believe that the Bible has many interesting stories and parables. I believe that if more people lived by the Ten Commandments, the world would be a happier place (if not a bit less fun). But I also believe that the Bible is a work of MAN. Stories were written and compiled for numerous reasons over a long span of time. It's a work of "Historical Fiction", some stories may be true, some based on truth but embellished, and others completely fictional (with no good way of distinguishing the types). I find TREMENDOUS irony in an archbishop critizing an OBVIOUS work of fiction (DaVinchi), while his own Bible is filled with parables and obvious fictions that are passed on as "TRUTH".

OK folks, I've got my flame retardant, asbestos-lined suit on... FIRE AWAY!!! Just keep in mind, that I'm not an atheist liberal weenie.

[meandog]

Are you deducing that he was first seen by Mary because he had some kind of sexual relationship with her???

...no, however I wonder if she is the "beloved disciple" that the Gospel of John and Luke speaks about. Also, the "Gospel of Mary" seems pretty compelling that there is evidence of a special relationship with Christ. (Incidentally, I do not believe that all of the Gnostic Gospels should be rejected out of hand is non-doctrinal...)

[meandog]

...I spent several years in my Episcopal High School,

The same Virginia one that John McCain graduated?

[TheMom]

Brown states in the Forward, I believe, that evrything in the book is true or accurate

Not true.

[stuartcr]

If what one believes to be the truth, is dependent on faith...then what is the difference between what one person faithfully believes to be the truth, and anothers faithful belief? How does one tell whose faithful belief is true?

I'm sure there are some non-Christians that have as much faith in what they believe, as you do...which one knows the truth?

I'm not questioning the authenticity of the manuscripts, I'm questioning whether they are the word of God...how is this proven?

I have no problem with possibly becoming converted...if I wake up tomorrow a believer, as you are, then so be it...that is what God wants.

[KC_Conspirator]

Lets start out with simple refutations. The claims in the book about the Rose line, the Louvre, and the old church in England are all untrue. The claims about Opus Dei are all untrue.

Furthermore, the claims in which the whole book is based is on some feeling that Leonardo was a member of a secret society; in which the secret society has never been proven to exist (Priory of Scion) in Leonardo’s time or Italy. He has never been proven to be a member of the society that did not exist when he was alive.

Finally, the art history that the claims about his “Last Supper” painting borders on the criminal for incompetence in art history. I heard some yahoo on TV claim that the area in the painting between Jesus and the supposed Mary forms a “V”; which is code for “vagina” and thus for femininity. That’s modern day liberal nonsense being shoved into a Renaissance age painting.

[redgolum]

It isn't just the Roman Catholics speaking out about it. There have been more books refuting the Da Vanci Code than anything else.

As the article said, there are a lot of people who read the book and think it is the real deal.

[Buggman]

A good knowledge of the history of the apostolic and early Church usually suffices. If you're the sort that likes to get into wierd history, you can go deeper into the Merovingian claims if you want, but that's not necessary to debunk The DaVinci Code by a long shot.

[Terriergal]

I'm questioning whether they are the word of God...how is this proven?

God proves his own Word with each individual. Seek him for that answer. I'm sorry but it is humanly impossible for anyone else to do so.

[KC_Conspirator]

BTW - I still think this is a fantastic book for a fictional story and would be an outstanding movie.

[TheMom]

Brown states in the Forward, I believe, that evrything in the book is true or accurate, I don';t have it in front me.

Can you rephrase that a little more clearly?

"All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate."