Thursday, May 18, 2006
Oh dear... now it's the Da Vinci code...
Well, James is at it again. This week, The Da Vinci Code is the target of his cutting wit and flock of lower-case 'I's.
I dont usually comment on recently released films, but after reading an article posted by Boris Johnson MP on the Da Vinci Code, i thought i might as well give my point of view towards the film (especially as im a confirmed Christian). In all truth, i can understand why the Catholic church is fearing its release, after all, surveys show that over 60% of the adult population in Britain believe it to be true (which according to old Boris here, is about 7 million people in this country).
You seem to have mis-read Old Boris' article, he in fact states the figure that out of the 22% of people in Britain who have read TDVC, 60% believe that there may be some truth in the work. Easy mistake to make, mind, so we'll be charitable and not hold it against him
But being a Christian, most people would expect me to be completely against this book by author Dan Brown, believing that not only is it blasphemous, but also mocks the Catholic church by claiming that they have covered up the descendants of Christ who are supposingly living in France........not true. In fact, when i have the time, the chances are that i will be visiting my nearest cinema in Newport (most likely with my girlfriend) and viewing this film which is supposed to be one of the best films of all time.
One of the best films of all time? I'll wait until I see it before I decide that, but judging from the quality of writing in the book, I would be doubtful.
Dont get me wrong, i cant exactly say that i agree with Dan Browns argument, i dont even believe that Jesus married Mary Magdalene (let alone had a child/children)
Thank Goodness! Some Orthodoxy! Although the 'exactly' worries me slightly...
...but then again, i also consider that Dan Brown (like the rest of us) is only human, and therefore (like most Christians in the world) conjure their own opinions to the meaning of the bible.
'Conjure'? To an extent, yes, but there is a reason for the temporal church - to guide the faithful. I, for example would guess that St. Luke's Gospel would recomend a favourable stance towards the poor, perhaps reflected in a progressive tax system, but, well, The Magnificat and Lucan Beatitudes are quite ambiguous in relation to social values...
And im one of them. Too right 'Jesus was for the death penalty' anyone?
There are many situations in my life where i dont fully agree with the bible, such as its belief that all spiritual mediums are contradictory to God. Call me crazy, but i dont agree with this at all, as i regularly visit my family medium for advice and guidance in life, even though the bible forbids this
OK - mediums are psuedo-scientific folk, who are merely self-deluding (to be charitable) or knowing charlatans, out to exploit people's grief and willingness to believe any 'non-traditional spirituality' for the sake of profit. Perhaps the medium influences James' beliefs - after all, no rational person who identifies as a Christian could afirm that it's fine to kill prisoners if they cost too much money could they? I know James is a Tory, but even I accept that not all Conservatives are dreadful people. I'd recomend that James pop along to see a proper priest (I know the school chaplain is a decent sort, who could put Master Skinner back on the straight and narrow).
...and i think its also the same with Dan Brown. He may have his different opinions on the New Testament, but we cant judge him as being any less of a Christian as us......it is un-Christian to do that in the first place!
Granted, we shoulf no judge 'lest ourselves be judged', but it is still permissable to point out to a person when they have crossed the line into heterodoxy, or indeed heresy.
He may have created a best-selling book, which may have turned into one hell of a film, but lets not get carried away with this. It doesnt mean that his story must be added to the gospel...it simply means that, like most us, Dan Brown has differing opinions about the bible, and it is up to us whether we choose to believe it.
Brown presents his views in a very clever way, loads of small things that add up to give the impression that it must be true, and one would be a fool not to believe it. Granted, he puts a disclaimer in front of the book, stating that it is fiction, but it presents ideas that undermine the faith of those that simply don't have the background to check the details out. Granted, one of the saints does look a little feminine in 'The Last Supper', but no serious art scholars are going to believe that the Friars who sat below it for their meals for many years didn't notice and investigate things like this. There's a propper site dedicated to answering your questions about The Da Vinci Code here. People are always going to have some distrust of authority, and conspiricy theories are hugely popular, partly because of the "well you would say that wouldn't you?" answer to any reasoned criticism. The book's a gripping read (if rather formulaic), and great fun, but to be honest, as Umberto Eco said: "Anyone who starts talking about the Knights Templar is almost certainly going to be a loony".
Technorati Tags: The Da Vinci Code, Theology
I dont usually comment on recently released films, but after reading an article posted by Boris Johnson MP on the Da Vinci Code, i thought i might as well give my point of view towards the film (especially as im a confirmed Christian). In all truth, i can understand why the Catholic church is fearing its release, after all, surveys show that over 60% of the adult population in Britain believe it to be true (which according to old Boris here, is about 7 million people in this country).
You seem to have mis-read Old Boris' article, he in fact states the figure that out of the 22% of people in Britain who have read TDVC, 60% believe that there may be some truth in the work. Easy mistake to make, mind, so we'll be charitable and not hold it against him
But being a Christian, most people would expect me to be completely against this book by author Dan Brown, believing that not only is it blasphemous, but also mocks the Catholic church by claiming that they have covered up the descendants of Christ who are supposingly living in France........not true. In fact, when i have the time, the chances are that i will be visiting my nearest cinema in Newport (most likely with my girlfriend) and viewing this film which is supposed to be one of the best films of all time.
One of the best films of all time? I'll wait until I see it before I decide that, but judging from the quality of writing in the book, I would be doubtful.
Dont get me wrong, i cant exactly say that i agree with Dan Browns argument, i dont even believe that Jesus married Mary Magdalene (let alone had a child/children)
Thank Goodness! Some Orthodoxy! Although the 'exactly' worries me slightly...
...but then again, i also consider that Dan Brown (like the rest of us) is only human, and therefore (like most Christians in the world) conjure their own opinions to the meaning of the bible.
'Conjure'? To an extent, yes, but there is a reason for the temporal church - to guide the faithful. I, for example would guess that St. Luke's Gospel would recomend a favourable stance towards the poor, perhaps reflected in a progressive tax system, but, well, The Magnificat and Lucan Beatitudes are quite ambiguous in relation to social values...
And im one of them. Too right 'Jesus was for the death penalty' anyone?
There are many situations in my life where i dont fully agree with the bible, such as its belief that all spiritual mediums are contradictory to God. Call me crazy, but i dont agree with this at all, as i regularly visit my family medium for advice and guidance in life, even though the bible forbids this
OK - mediums are psuedo-scientific folk, who are merely self-deluding (to be charitable) or knowing charlatans, out to exploit people's grief and willingness to believe any 'non-traditional spirituality' for the sake of profit. Perhaps the medium influences James' beliefs - after all, no rational person who identifies as a Christian could afirm that it's fine to kill prisoners if they cost too much money could they? I know James is a Tory, but even I accept that not all Conservatives are dreadful people. I'd recomend that James pop along to see a proper priest (I know the school chaplain is a decent sort, who could put Master Skinner back on the straight and narrow).
...and i think its also the same with Dan Brown. He may have his different opinions on the New Testament, but we cant judge him as being any less of a Christian as us......it is un-Christian to do that in the first place!
Granted, we shoulf no judge 'lest ourselves be judged', but it is still permissable to point out to a person when they have crossed the line into heterodoxy, or indeed heresy.
He may have created a best-selling book, which may have turned into one hell of a film, but lets not get carried away with this. It doesnt mean that his story must be added to the gospel...it simply means that, like most us, Dan Brown has differing opinions about the bible, and it is up to us whether we choose to believe it.
Brown presents his views in a very clever way, loads of small things that add up to give the impression that it must be true, and one would be a fool not to believe it. Granted, he puts a disclaimer in front of the book, stating that it is fiction, but it presents ideas that undermine the faith of those that simply don't have the background to check the details out. Granted, one of the saints does look a little feminine in 'The Last Supper', but no serious art scholars are going to believe that the Friars who sat below it for their meals for many years didn't notice and investigate things like this. There's a propper site dedicated to answering your questions about The Da Vinci Code here. People are always going to have some distrust of authority, and conspiricy theories are hugely popular, partly because of the "well you would say that wouldn't you?" answer to any reasoned criticism. The book's a gripping read (if rather formulaic), and great fun, but to be honest, as Umberto Eco said: "Anyone who starts talking about the Knights Templar is almost certainly going to be a loony".
Technorati Tags: The Da Vinci Code, Theology
