For the devout Christians: How do you feel about the theory the Da Vinci Code implies?
151384
Hm attacking the author of a book for his creativity. So the book is fiction. You do realize that there are those that claim your new testament is fiction as well, right? Im might tell you as well not to believe everything you read. Right? I want to know why you think Dan Brown needs professional help, amanochev. What leads you to make such an intolerant and vapid statement? Bred2B, people could say the exact same things about the bible. Pure fantasy. Why is it blasphemous? Its a novel. Dont tell me youre starting to act like someone published a cartoon of sorts...People have freedom of speech and expression. Dan Brown wrote an entertaining book, that millions have enjoyed. Blasphemy? Dont you think thats a wee intolerant...And maybe a little dumb sounding? LIke it could have been said centuries ago? Im just curious. In the meantime, heres a post of mine, I think some of you should read.http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqkU6qiSgh7Cn30xkZZXD8fsy6IX?qid=1006022602143\nBeruch hashem
658829
I understand your confusion, and to a ceratin extent, I agree with you.\n\nI read the book, and I plan to see the movie (as soon as the hype dies down).  I think that the reason this book is taken so seriously is for two reasons:\n\n1.  Dan Brown begins the book by stating that all of the groups, artwork, etc. are completely true.  People assume that if these things are true and accurate, then the whole book must be as well.\n\n2.  The whole premise, that Jesus was married and that the "holy grail" isn't a cup but is in fact the holy bloodline of Jesus, isn't a new theory and is one that some people have argued for many years.  Plus, it is plausible!  I'm not saying that it is likely, but it is possible.\n\nWhat I don't understand is why this film has to change poeple's faith.  Even if it was discovered with 100% certainty that Jesus was married, that doesn't change my faith in Christianity at all!  (It makes me wonder about the people who made the decision to cover it all up, but it doesn't change my faith in God.)  In fact, learning that Jesus was married might actually make me identify with Him more than I currently do.\n\nI wish that people would think about that more seriously... what has REALLY changed?
94885
I have read this book a couple of times and am looking forward to the movie.\n\nI think it is a great piece of fiction.  Sure, there are some truths in it, but for the most part it is pure fiction.  I have been to many of the sites that he pointed to in the book and some just aren't the way he stated.\n\nI think that it makes baseless claims about Jesus being married and having a child, and a few other things, but that is his perogotive as a writer of fiction.\n\nI am Catholic and am not in a hissy or upset or mad that the book was written, but I am upset and mad when people use it as a basis to trash my Catholic faith.  It is FICTION!  He says so himself!  But regardless of being true or not, I look at it this way, if Jesus was married and had a child, what better roll model for me, as a Catholic father to have?
503407
Have ANY of you actually READ the book? \nI never cease to be appalled at the absolute blindness of the Jesus freaks. Not to mention that not one of you has yet answered the main question posed here.\nYes, the main theory behind the premise of the book is that Jesus has actual blood descendants still alive today. And that there is a secret society whose duty it is to trace the blood line through history and present the knowledge at the right time. \nNow, everyone here loves to just immediately scream "It is fiction!" and "Dan Brown made it up!" Well, if they had ANY idea what they were talking about, then they would know that Dan Brown DID NOT make up the theories presented in the book. The plot of course is his own idea, and is fiction, but the historical background he uses, which is what everyone is upset about, is NOT his idea.\nPlease, folks. Educate yourselves, find out WHAT he wrote. How can you say that what he wrote isn't true, if you don't even know what he wrote?\nBecause most of you have put your brain in the hands of various spiritual leaders, and you have made the conscious decision not to think for yourselves.\nSince my personal belief is that Jesus may have existed, but not as the son of God, then I believe that his blood line could still exist. Does a secret society exist for just this reason? Difficult to believe, but a cool idea.\nAnd because this stuff just really gets me going, I have to say something else. If all of the "Christians" truly believed they are following the One True Religion, and they also believe that every word of the Bible is true (my other favorite subject due to all of the discrepancies in it) why  aren't you showing mercy and compassion for all of the misguided?\nInstead you choose to scream for a banning of the book and a worldwide boycott of the movie. These are the actions of scared people. These are the actions of third world leaders who see their power crumbling. Those who have absolute faith in the truth of their beliefs would only grin, slightly amused, at all the turmoil.
503287
Christians are pissed off because although the Da Vinci Code is a complete piece of fiction (and marketed as such), the scenario is real and the things they say make a lot of sense and are very plausable.  They complain about it as though the author is telling a true story when in fact it is not.  \nThat being said, it is a very good read.  I recommend it.
518048
It is a thriller story involving secret societies, conspiracies, the Catholic Church, and the fictional "truth" about Jesus Christ. Here is the author's own summary: \n\nA renowned Harvard symbologist is summoned to the Louvre Museum to examine a series of cryptic symbols relating to Da Vinci's artwork. In decrypting the code, he uncovers the key to one of the greatest mysteries of all time . . . and he becomes a hunted man.\n\nDuring the course of the novel it is alleged that the Catholic Church is perpetuating a major, centuries-long conspiracy to hide the "truth" about Jesus Christ from the public, and it or its agents are willing to stop at nothing, including murder, to do so.\n\nBefore reading the book, I would refer you to this literature that will give you a background of the basis of the book and the real historical fact.  http://www.crisismagazine.com/september2003/feature1.htm
522891
It is a work of fiction.  As with most fiction, it is based upon some fact, some myth, and some imagination.  It presents some interesting ideas and certainly has generated worldwide discussion and controversy, which is great for the author - certainly boosts sales. \n\nThe book itself was a disappointment considering all the hype - just a good read, not awesome.  Though I will go see the movie, or rent it later, I'm not expecting it to be spectacular - the book wasn't, so the movie wouldn't usually be better than the book. \n\nAs to the ideas presented, I take no particular stand on those.  The Catholic Church certainly can be prone to secrets, and in Jesus' day it would have been very unusual, even somewhat unacceptable, for a man of his age to be unmarried.
650043
Interesting fiction.\nEntertainment.\nCompletely challenges my religion but I don't care. \nPerhaps a grain of truth.\nThese rumors didnt' just begin with DaVinci Code.\nIt's been ongoing gossip since the crucifiction\nThere must be a grain of truth to it.\nIf not, it's interesting.  \nGet's people interested in discussing religion.  \nI see no problem with Jesus being married and having children. \nWhy would he have not?  \nThe bible completely skips a majority of his life when marrying and having children would be the normal thing to do at the ages skipped.  \nWhy leave those years blank?  \nIs it true?\nWho knows?  Who cares?\nIt's just interesting.  \nNot offensive.
505723
A Response to "The DaVinci Code": What's the Problem?  \n\nSince its release in 2003, forty million hardback copies of The Da Vinci Code have sold. Six million paperback copies also are now in circulation, and this weekend, a major Hollywood movie will be released. In both the book and the movie, the central character is one who does not actually appear in either, and that is Jesus Christ. Because of that, many of our friends and neighbors are going to be talking about who Jesus is and why He came. Many of our neighbors are going to be seeing, perhaps for the first time, an explanation about who Jesus is and why He matters, and our great concern is that the entire story presented in this movie is a lie. \n\nThe interest in this book and movie should remind us that there is going on right now a spiritual battle, not only between light and darkness, and between the truth and the lie, but also between life and death. Our great concern therefore should not be merely that people might be confused, but that people would be blinded and held captive by a story that appeals to them, and yet a story that is an anti-Gospel, a false gospel, the very thing that the Apostle Paul warned against when he said, "If I or even an angel were to come to you preaching any other gospel, let him be anathema." \n\nYou see, sometimes the church does not remember this, but it is the church's responsibility to anathematize. That is something we don't talk about very much, but it is the church's responsibility clearly to declare as false anything which stands against the true gospel of Jesus Christ. We live in a harmonious age when everyone wants to nod at everything, smile appreciatively at everything, and not pass judgment on anything. In the midst of such an age, however, the church is called to say "no" and to identify the false as false. Otherwise we cannot truly honor the truth. \n\nAuthored by Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code is a conspiracy story. It is a mystery suspense thriller, and Americans love mystery suspense thrillers. What makes this story different, however, is that the conspiracy theory that lies at the very heart of the book's plotline has to do with the Gospel. What drives the action of the story is the argument that the church's traditional teachings about Jesus are all a fraud. Instead of revealing who Jesus really was and what he really did, the book argues, the church buried the truth in an intentional conspiracy, claimed that Jesus was divine, and said that He had come to save sinners from their sin.\n\nBeginning in chapter 55, Brown gets to the very heart of the story when the central character begins to reveal to another character the truth about the conspiracy. Consider what the character Leigh Teabing says: "The Bible is a product of man, my dear, not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds, man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times and it has evolved through countless translations, editions and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book." \n\nNow if that is true, then we are reading a kind of committee report when we open the Scripture. But it is not true. This is one of those insidious statements that makes sense to sinners, because in effect, that one paragraph has just declared that we do not have to take the Bible as the Word of God. It is just a human document, says the book. \n\nHe goes on: "Jesus Christ was a historical figure of staggering influence, perhaps the most enigmatic and inspirational leader the world has ever seen. As the prophesied Messiah, Jesus toppled kings, inspired millions, and founded new philosophies. As a descendant of the lines of King Solomon and King David, Jesus possessed a rightful claim to the throne of the King of the Jews. Understandably, his life was recorded by thousands of followers across the land. More than eighty gospels were considered for the New Testament, and
395546
I'm in the middle of Da Vinci Code right now.  I am an atheist, this book neither stregthens or weakens my atheistinity,  neither should it weaken or stregthen a Christians Christianity,\n\nwhat you see is a good book that uses historical figures to make a story, a fiction,\n\nany Christian who says, I don't know any more,  well,  where was their faith to begin with.\n\nI think ultimately the born again christians who ask people to pick between Jesus and evolution is whats going to kill christianity, cause the evidence just keeps mounting for evolution, and more and more people flock to science, not dogma
647361
i am excited about the Da Vinci code. to be honest, i am excited about any book or movie that gives rise to the possibility that THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR. my parents raised me in the church but i questioned EVERYTHING... and at 34 i have not stopped with the questions of religon.  it is comforting to know that NO ONE is without fault and although i have always believed that Jesus was a good man, i never believed him to be anything more.  i have taught my own children that the Bible is a very good story book and it is filled with alot of helpful things, but it too is just another work of man.  my feelings on this subject started when i was 7 and were NEVER popular.  my parents made me go to church ALMOST every day after school to spend time learning more...but the more i learned the more i questioned. and the longer i was exposed to holy people the more hipocritical they all appeared.  i'm looking forward to yet another angle on the whole Jesus thing and likewise are my husband and children.
988691
I can only speak from my personal experience in this life. I have read the bible and I have done some reseach. I have been in church and heard sermons. The conclusion I came to, is that the bible is for the most part a well intentioned spiritual text. It is written by men inspired by that which inspires all human kind. I do not believe it was written by God anymore than the Da Vinci Code is written by God.  Perhaps God wrote both? Perhaps Dan Brown in 1000 years will be considered a prophet of God. Who knows? The world is very crazy place. A person writes a book with certain intentions and before they know it , the world has twisted the message. So, quoting the bible to me as an authority on spiritual matters is a waste of time.  Just my two cents.
325835
I don't think everything he writes about is true, of course. The author himself admitted to this. The only thing that I'm starting to be sure of is Jesus' relationship with Mary Magdalene and her being present in Da Vinci's "The Last Supper". We shouldn't believe everything the book tells us, but we might be able to read between the lines.
672222
The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction: that is, the story has been made up. As for the things behind it, they vary, and unfortunately Dan Brown's note at the start of the book is misleading.\n\nThe Priory of Sion is not an ancient society, but was invented in 1954 by a French hoaxer.\nThe evidence for the normal Christian story rests on many sources from that time, but Dan Brown has no evidence for Jesus having married or had children.\nThe Knights Templar were broken up because they had lots of money that the authorities could confiscate, not because they were protecting Jesus' bloodline.\nThe Holy Grail is based upon Welsh myths of "Power Cauldrons", and so cannot really be connected even metaphorically to the story of a carpenter from Israel.\nOpus Dei do not murder or persecute people: they do much charity work and leading democratic activists around the world have been members.\nChrist's divinity was decided upon by the Church elders, but only in the same way that a scientific conference would have voted to approve the theory of gravity.
674335
BASIC SYNOPSIS OF THE DA VINCI CODE:\n\nThe Da Vinci Code directly challenges many essential Christian beliefs, claiming the Bible is unreliable; the resurrection of Jesus is mere mythology; Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and they had a child; descendants of Jesus are still alive today; and a secret society guards this “truth” about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and their descendants.\n\nClaims of this magnitude certainly need solid evidence to support them, something not found in The Da Vinci Code.  As a matter of fact, historical evidence serves to refute these claims.  For example, Dr. Bart Ehrman at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill states, “Not a single one of our ancient sources indicates that Jesus was married, let alone married to Mary Magdalene.”\n\nDespite the fact that The Da Vinci Code belongs squarely in the category of fiction, there is a very real danger that with millions of people either reading the book or viewing the movie, many will accept the story’s theories about Jesus as truth.  Skeptics are already using these conspiracy theories to support their arguments that the Christian faith is founded on mere myth.
1139390
yeah,but if you dig deeper,the da vinci code is purely fictional,and the catholic church gave out their views on this...most if not everything on dan brown's book is merely a product of his wild imagination...but it was very entertaining...
32793
It is a movie based on the book The Davinci Code by author Dan Brown. It is a tale of murder and mystery surrounding the search for the Holy Grail, commonly thought of as the cup Jesus used in The Last Supper. If you don't want to know the plot, stop reading now.\n\nDan Brown introduces theories of Jesus having a bloodline AFTER him (not just before him through his mother)through Mary Magdeline. Dan Brown also hints at Mary Magdaline being one of his original 12 disciples-- the one Jesus refers to as "the Beloved Disciple" or the disciple that Jesus loved.\n\nDavinci and other artists of the time were thought to be in secret societies and used their art/paintings to hide clues to lead to the location of the "real" Holy Grail. There are depictions of religious ceremonies that have sex involved. It is an entertaining book--nothing more, and I am sure the movie will draw much controversy. My suggestion is that for the truth about Christ, read THIS bestseller:\n\n"The Bible"