What's the big deal about the DaVinci Code??

on May 18, 2006

Very overblown. I brought this subject up in Sunday School last week, and we discussed it for some time.
I guess you could kind of compare it to "Raiders of the Lost Ark" or "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", or even "The Omen" or "The Exorcist", in that a few stated, known facts are taken waaaay out of context or even altered somewhat, and used to make the story seem plausible.
"Code" has taken on a life of its own, however. People (morons, really) are actually believing it as though it were a a non-fiction tale or documentary, printed as fact, which, as you pointed out, it was not.

See the movie, read the book, or vice versa. Then ignore it as best you can.

2

JillUser

on May 19, 2006

RW, I couldn't agree more. I saw a show advertised on TV called "Brown's Code is Wrong" and thought "it's FICTION!" Was DaVinci Code ever claimed as nonfiction by the author? Good grief! It is meant for entertainment. People need to lighten up.

I thought the comparison to the Indiana Jones movies was a very spot on one BTW.

3

Gideon MacLeish

on May 19, 2006

Actually, if you check the History Channel and A&E's lineup, they have had several programs discussing the "facts" presented in Dan Brown's novel. Dan Brown has appeared in interviews on these programs, leading me to believe he at least tacitly endorses them. And he has stated on more than one occasion that although the book is fiction, the history contained within the book is factual. This is a false statement, easily disproven; as a starting point, look up the "priory of Sion", around which much of the plot centers. While there WAS a monastical order called the priory of scion in the middle ages and there is a current order, the current order was founded by a contemporary con man who declared that he was, himself, a direct descendant of Jesus. The fact that he was never taken seriously by ANY serious scholar speaks volumes. As to the order of the Middle Ages, it bears no connection to the current order.

All of that aside, you're right. It does not affect my faith, nor that of any sincere Christian guided by the Holy Spirit. It's just this book, see....

4

bakerstreet

on May 19, 2006

" RW, I couldn't agree more. I saw a show advertised on TV called "Brown's Code is Wrong" and thought "it's FICTION!" Was DaVinci Code ever claimed as nonfiction by the author? Good grief! It is meant for entertainment. People need to lighten up."

SOrry to differ with you Jill, but that isn't true. Brown states that it is a work of fiction, but claims that the historical circumstances on which the mystery is based are true:

"HOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS TRUE?
The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction. While the book's characters and their actions are obviously not real, the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in this novel all exist (for example, Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings, the Gnostic Gospels, Hieros Gamos, etc.). These real elements are interpreted and debated by fictional characters. While it is my belief that some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations. My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history." (Link)

People know that it is fiction, but it is fiction supposedly based upon fact, and many/most of those 'facts' that Brown cites are mistakes or fabrications. He, in my opinion, ripped off other people to write the book to begin with, to the point that he even copied their mistakes. One author noted that the same scene happens in his book, ON THE SAME PAGE.

Take a moment and look into Browns claims, and look into the folks that are debunking his "facts". Look at what he says about his own book. He talks about how he is pleased that it is opening a dialogue about the supposed truth of early Christianity. There is a lot more involved in this than just a fictional work.

5

Dynosoar

on May 19, 2006

There's a conspiracy alright....a conspiracy to sell books and movie tickets..........

6

JillUser

on May 19, 2006

There is a lot more involved in this than just a fictional work.

Only if you decide there is. I read it as fiction for entertainment value...period. I always laugh off the "based on true...." crapola that usually preceeds fictional stories in both books and movies. Heck, I take most stuff that is claimed as nonfiction with a fair helping of scepticism. I guess that is why I don't get worked up about this sort of thing.

Stuff like Frey claiming his "Million Little Pieces" was a true account bugs me a lot more.

Seriously though, anyone who feels their faith is threatened by a fictional book or movie has much bigger problems than said book or movie.

7

bakerstreet

on May 19, 2006

It doesn't have to do with what I decide, it has to do with what the book and its author states. My faith isn't threatened by Brown, but lies are lies. I'm more offended as a student of art and history, frankly. You don't have a horse in the race, cool, but that doesn't mean people who do are more uptight or insecure than you.

It is annoying to see the mindless reading junk like this and taking the historical detail in it as fact. People understand when American Indians toss a fit when their culture is skewed in popular culture, or when people start saying every other historical figure was gay, etc. I'm not one who thinks that baseball teams should change their names, but if an author claimed that all American Indians were bloodthirsty cannibals, I'd be annoyed.

When it is the christianity, though, we're uptight or insecure to point out when someone profits from lies and people believe them. He's hijacked revisionist history to make a point thinly disguised as fiction. He's a kook, frankly, and a kook that can't even make original blather, he has to borrow it from other kooks...

8

messybuu

on May 20, 2006

Perhaps I'm an optimist, but I don't think that people are actually being fooled that the book is historically accurate. I think that the people who take it seriously are simply the people already looking for another excuse to deny Christianity. It's funny actually. The same people who would think me less intelligent for being a Christian (a creationist Christian for that matter!) are learning history from a book that's as historically accurate as Dragon Ball Z!

9

Gideon MacLeish

on May 20, 2006

It's funny actually. The same people who would think me less intelligent for being a Christian (a creationist Christian for that matter!) are learning history from a book that's as historically accurate as Dragon Ball Z!

I prefer Dr. Seuss as a historian myself.

10

Larry Kuperman

on May 20, 2006

Dan Brown's book borrows liberally (I can't say plagarizes, a court has decided otherwise) from Holy Grail, Holy Blood by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln. Which in turn draws upon the documented Priory of Sion hoax of Pierre Plantard. Both the original hoax and the Holy Grail, Holy Blood book were supposed to be factual.

Eventually, people will realize that there is no historical basis behind the work. Dan Brown lives in a world where the Free Masons and the Illuminati gather with the Elders of Zion to plot destruction. The man has never met a conspiracy theory that he didn't like.

What is sad is that the end result will be that true scholarly works such as Elaine Pagel's The Gnostic Gospels will end up being lumped in with lessor works.

Some links for those inclined:

Holy Blood, Holy Grail: Link

Pierre Plantard and the hoax: Link

Council of Nicea: Link

Leonardo Da Vinci: Link

11

Larry Kuperman

on May 20, 2006

Dan Brown's book borrows liberally (I can't say plagarizes, a court has decided otherwise) from Holy Grail, Holy Blood by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln. Which in turn draws upon the documented Priory of Sion hoax of Pierre Plantard. Both the original hoax and the Holy Grail, Holy Blood book were supposed to be factual.

Eventually, people will realize that there is no historical basis behind the work. Dan Brown lives in a world where the Free Masons and the Illuminati gather with the Elders of Zion to plot destruction. The man has never met a conspiracy theory that he didn't like.

What is sad is that the end result will be that true scholarly works such as Elaine Pagel's The Gnostic Gospels will end up being lumped in with lessor works.

Some links for those inclined:

Holy Blood, Holy Grail: Link

Pierre Plantard and the hoax: Link

Council of Nicea: Link

Leonardo Da Vinci: Link

12

Larry Kuperman

on May 20, 2006

Dan Brown's book borrows liberally (I can't say plagarizes, a court has decided otherwise) from Holy Grail, Holy Blood by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln. Which in turn draws upon the documented Priory of Sion hoax of Pierre Plantard. Both the original hoax and the Holy Grail, Holy Blood book were supposed to be factual.

Eventually, people will realize that there is no historical basis behind the work. Dan Brown lives in a world where the Free Masons and the Illuminati gather with the Elders of Zion to plot destruction. The man has never met a conspiracy theory that he didn't like.

What is sad is that the end result will be that true scholarly works such as Elaine Pagel's The Gnostic Gospels will end up being lumped in with lessor works.

Some links for those inclined:

Holy Blood, Holy Grail: Link

Pierre Plantard and the hoax: Link

Council of Nicea: Link

Leonardo Da Vinci: Link

13

Larry Kuperman

on May 20, 2006

Dan Brown's book borrows liberally (I can't say plagarizes, a court has decided otherwise) from Holy Grail, Holy Blood by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln. Which in turn draws upon the documented Priory of Sion hoax of Pierre Plantard. Both the original hoax and the Holy Grail, Holy Blood book were supposed to be factual.

Eventually, people will realize that there is no historical basis behind the work. Dan Brown lives in a world where the Free Masons and the Illuminati gather with the Elders of Zion to plot destruction. The man has never met a conspiracy theory that he didn't like.

What is sad is that the end result will be that true scholarly works such as Elaine Pagel's The Gnostic Gospels will end up being lumped in with lessor works.

Some links for those inclined:

Holy Blood, Holy Grail: Link

Pierre Plantard and the hoax: Link

Council of Nicea: Link

Leonardo Da Vinci: Link

14

Larry Kuperman

on May 20, 2006

Dan Brown's book borrows liberally (I can't say plagarizes, a court has decided otherwise) from Holy Grail, Holy Blood by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln. Which in turn draws upon the documented Priory of Sion hoax of Pierre Plantard. Both the original hoax and the Holy Grail, Holy Blood book were supposed to be factual.

Eventually, people will realize that there is no historical basis behind the work. Dan Brown lives in a world where the Free Masons and the Illuminati gather with the Elders of Zion to plot destruction. The man has never met a conspiracy theory that he didn't like.

What is sad is that the end result will be that true scholarly works such as Elaine Pagel's The Gnostic Gospels will end up being lumped in with lessor works.

Some links for those inclined:

Holy Blood, Holy Grail: Link

Pierre Plantard and the hoax: Link

Council of Nicea: Link

Leonardo Da Vinci: Link

15

Larry Kuperman

on May 20, 2006

Dan Brown's book borrows liberally (I can't say plagarizes, a court has decided otherwise) from Holy Grail, Holy Blood by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln. Which in turn draws upon the documented Priory of Sion hoax of Pierre Plantard. Both the original hoax and the Holy Grail, Holy Blood book were supposed to be factual.

Eventually, people will realize that there is no historical basis behind the work. Dan Brown lives in a world where the Free Masons and the Illuminati gather with the Elders of Zion to plot destruction. The man has never met a conspiracy theory that he didn't like.

What is sad is that the end result will be that true scholarly works such as Elaine Pagel's The Gnostic Gospels will end up being lumped in with lessor works.

Some links for those inclined:

Holy Blood, Holy Grail: Link

Pierre Plantard and the hoax: Link

Council of Nicea: Link

Leonardo Da Vinci: Link