Religion and Literature.

[aesthetic_autumn]

About a week ago I was at a party when my close friend and I got into an argument about the Da Vinci Code. My friend grew up as a Protestant and still invests in those beliefs, while my personal faith has taken on a different nature. Anyway, she was recounting her first viewing of the film version, and how she "couldn't take it seriously" after the main plot point had been revealed (e.g. Jesus makin' babies). I have read the book and seen the film, and I thought it was an excellent story. She asserted that someone somewhere was going to see the film and take it as Bible truth (pun intended).

What do you think? Do you buy into the whole hysteria created whenever some work of fictional literature causes a ruckus within the religious community? If you are religious, do you find blatant works of fiction like The Davinci Code offensive to your beliefs? Why?

I'm quite curious.

[Dream]

I don't care. The book mixes truth with fiction.

[Blackwing]

The Davinci Code to me is like bigfoot spotted in newyork starbucks!!

[R.K.]

She asserted that someone somewhere was going to see the film and take it as Bible truth (pun intended).

Yeah... some people buy into that. We just love conspiracy theories.

I only watched the movie, didn't like it much.

The book itself isnt the problem, the problem is, MANY people do take it as truth, as opposed to fiction, and people have suggested it when trying to discredit my faith, which is really irratating, because it is a known work of fiction.

[Lizzie]

It could have honestly happened. Who knows. Do I believe it? Well I don’t believe Christ is our lord and Savoir… so that really ruins the whole thing: the book and Christianity in general.

[Lorelei]

I've seen and read the Da Vinci Code. It wasn't my favorite story of all time, but it wasn't bad. A friend of mine wasn't allowed to watch it because her parents are pretty much religious zealots.

It's ridiculous to me. Even if you believe in the Bible wholeheartedly, the Da Vinci Code is clearly a work of fiction. So wouldn't it make more sense that the difference between modern fiction and the Bible be taught logically? Then, the people can enjoy their movies and books and not confuse the book of John with the book of Dan Brown.

[TakeTheLeap]

I enjoyed The DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons (his other book) simply as works of literature. I'm somewhat of a conspiracy theorist, so I constantly think about, "What if?" I like the fact that it does pose a different point of view. It's cool to think about things differently from what we're taught, even if we don't agree with it. It just shows how different we all think, and that people today actually DO still think instead of just following what has been considered the, "Norm."

My take on it: It's FICTION. It's not a factual textbook. It is well-researched and intertwines some fact and twists the fiction to make a great book. But it is simply that. A novel.
Could its mentionings be true? Sure, why not? Could it be well-researched and well-written BS? Sure. It presents a different view. That's all. If that changes what you believe, your faith wasn't strong to begin with. Could it be that DaVinci simply forgot to paint the Holy Grail? Absolutely. Maybe there was some sort of symbolism or reasoning behind DaVinci not painting it that is completely different than that of the whole Mary Magdalene theory.
The thing is... We don't know. We probably never will unless we find away to go up to Heaven and ask someone and come back alive. And if anyone tried to claim they did that, they'd be considered a whack job.
But honestly, whether it's true or false, it doesn't change my beliefs at all. It just means that there's something we just didn't know before. Yay?

I think the Catholic Church overreacted over its publishing and its movie release. They saw it as an attack on the Church because there are a lot of people that are not sound in their faith or understand what exactly the book is. They were afraid that people would use the book for motives that are strictly against the Church. As it turns out, that really hasn't been the case because its contents cannot be proven or disproven.

[Heretic]

I don't understand the motivation of religiously zealetous parents who think their kids will be corrupted by seeing such a movie as The DaVinci Code or reading the book. It's supposed to be fiction, and based off of theories and ideas from art, not solid facts. The story is purely hypothetical.

[Hyper Sonic]

It's just a work of fiction, once again religion is overreacting

[Kryptonite]

Originally Posted by Hyper Sonic

It's just a work of fiction, once again religion is overreacting

Agree, but I did like the book. :-P
Regardless if it is true or not.

[Grizabella]

Haha, I love religious conspiracy books like DaVinci Code. They're so amusing to read.