Archbishop attacks Da Vinci Code 'obsession' (Archbishop of Canterbury)

UK Telegraph ^ | 4/16/06 | Elizabeth Day

[wagglebee]

The Archbishop of Canterbury today attacks society's obsession with books such as The Da Vinci Code which, he says, encourage people to believe that the Christian faith is a series of "conspiracies and cover ups".

In a strongly worded Easter sermon being delivered in Canterbury Cathedral this morning, Dr Rowan Williams says that there is a tendency to treat Biblical texts "as if they were unconvincing press releases from some official source, whose intention is to conceal the real story". Fascination with "bringing secrets to light", he said, evoked All the President's Men, the 1976 film about the investigative journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, who exposed the Watergate scandal.

"We have become so suspicious of the power of words. . . the first assumption we make is that we're faced with spin of some kind, with an agenda being forced on us. So that the modern response to the proclamation, 'Christ is risen!' is likely to be, 'Ah, but you would say that, wouldn't you? Now, what's the real agenda?'"

The Da Vinci Code, by the American author Dan Brown, tells of a Church-led conspiracy to suppress Christ's marriage to Mary Magdalene and his fathering of a royal bloodline. The novel has sold more than 40 million copies and was the subject of an unsuccessful plagiarism action in the High Court this month.

The Archbishop also pours scorn on the recent discovery of a leather-bound papyrus written around 300AD believed to be "The Gospel of Judas", which claims that it was Christ himself who asked Judas to betray him.

"Anything that looks like the official version is automatically suspect," says Dr Williams. "Someone is trying to stop you finding out what 'really' happened, because what really happened could upset or challenge the power of officaldom."

In his first Easter sermon, on Friday, the Pope effectively dismissed the "Gospel" text by reasserting the orthodox thinking that Judas, the 13th apostle, "evaluated Jesus in terms of power and success". And Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, the Pope's personal priest, also used his Easter sermon to criticise The Da Vinci Code.

[wagglebee]

Dr Rowan Williams says that there is a tendency to treat Biblical texts "as if they were unconvincing press releases from some official source, whose intention is to conceal the real story".

A fitting description of what the left is attempting.

[wagglebee]

Ping.

[PetroniusMaximus]

"Anything that looks like the official version is automatically suspect," says Dr Williams. "Someone is trying to stop you finding out what 'really' happened, because what really happened could upset or challenge the power of officaldom."

Excuse me!!!, but isn't the CoE guilty of the same thing by their uncritical acceptance of the various flavors of liberal theology?!?!

[wagglebee]

Yes, but I'm not entirely sure if Williams has the power to prevent it.

[mtbopfuyn]

As if he couldn't find something more prevalent than to criticize a work of fiction.

[SkyPilot]

The Da Vinci Code, by the American author Dan Brown, tells of a Church-led conspiracy to suppress Christ's marriage to Mary Magdalene and his fathering of a royal bloodline. The novel has sold more than 40 million copies.

Bush
Total Votes: 62,040,606 Percentage of Vote: 51%

Kerry
Total Votes: 59,028,109 Percentage of Vote: 48%

I see - now I know where Kerry got 40 million of his votes! Very suspicious. I see a conspiracy here.

Seriously, anyone who believes in fairy tales like the DaVinci Code or the "gospel of Judas" is a fool, and nothing more. They have no faith in Christ, or in anything else besides themselves.

"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. "For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. "And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit"
(2 Peter 1:16-21).

Happy Easter.

He is Risen.

[Huber]

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[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic was posted 04/15/2006. Thanks wagglebee.