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hienieboo
Guest
no i highly doubt that your wrong… lol i haven’t read the da vinci code but i recently watched
somewat of the movie
somewat of the movie
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tamarnp
Guest
I have not read it, nor do I plan to read it. Like minds…
C
Crumpy
Guest
Ditto.I have not read it, nor do I plan to read it. Like minds…
My non-Catholic uncle was bugging me about the sensational movie version of this. I think he was licking his chops because the book and the movie are anti-Catholic, viz., that the Vatican has been hiding stuff from people, especially something big like this.
To handle criticism from outside the Church, we have to delve into subjects that we would rather not, if we had any choice.
From my hazy understanding of all this, the idea that Jesus was married, etc. sounds a lot like the gnostic heresies in the early years of the Church. They had a mystical perspective that was wierd and died out long ago, except to be resurrected for monetary gain, like Dan Brown.
Brown can get away with attacking Christianity. I’d like him to take on the Prophet Mohammed, if he really has the guts to do it. Islam has some good points, but it has many errors. Why doesn’t he try to fix THAT?
M
Mark77
Guest
Pray for Dan Brown, Ron Howard, Tom Hanks and all those who profit from spreading lies and half-truths cloaked in the fog of “historical accuracy”.
We do not have to read every piece of garbage that is produced to damage the Catholic Church. We, as Catholics, do need to be able to defend our faith and be familiar with the lies and false accusations, so we can discuss it rationally with our friends, family and neighbors.
Those strong in the faith should read these works, so that we can rebuke the lies with credibility and so the weak in faith or the confused detractors cannot say “How do you know, you didn’t read it?”
While many of these types of “fictional” stories try to deceive innocent people by claiming to be “historically accurate”, they can also strengthen our faith. We should ask questions and we must get accurate answers concerning the Truth that Jesus teaches through His Catholic Church.
Read Sacred Scripture, read the Catechism, read Church Fathers and ask your parish priest for guidance. Most of all pray, pray to learn the Truth of the will of God and pray for the courage to stand up for that Truth!
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!
Mark
We do not have to read every piece of garbage that is produced to damage the Catholic Church. We, as Catholics, do need to be able to defend our faith and be familiar with the lies and false accusations, so we can discuss it rationally with our friends, family and neighbors.
Those strong in the faith should read these works, so that we can rebuke the lies with credibility and so the weak in faith or the confused detractors cannot say “How do you know, you didn’t read it?”
While many of these types of “fictional” stories try to deceive innocent people by claiming to be “historically accurate”, they can also strengthen our faith. We should ask questions and we must get accurate answers concerning the Truth that Jesus teaches through His Catholic Church.
Read Sacred Scripture, read the Catechism, read Church Fathers and ask your parish priest for guidance. Most of all pray, pray to learn the Truth of the will of God and pray for the courage to stand up for that Truth!
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!
Mark
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whatevergirl
Guest
Mark, good points…
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catharina
Guest
I haven’t read it and I won’t be reading it.
Same goes for Andrew Greeley’s works of fiction.
Life is too short. Why stuff my brain with junk?
Same goes for Andrew Greeley’s works of fiction.
Life is too short. Why stuff my brain with junk?
J
jeanne71350
Guest
While we were out of power for a week for Hurricane Gustav, I read it. I have to say it kept me pretty entertained, But I took it for what it was. A work of fiction. Throughout history, there have been many heresies, and who did these heresies pry on? The ones with weak faith. They are struggling with what to believe, and they hear these heresies, and think “You know, that might be true,” whereas those with tremendous faith, the saints and such stood strong and told people “hey that’s not right.”LOL…I might be, I think.
I bring this up, because I went to Borders today to buy a Scott Hahn book (yay, I love his writing!) and saw a large display of this book–AGAIN. Is it making a come back or something? I noticed a new book of his and didn’t bother to look at it.
As a Catholic if you have read it, I think it can help perhaps to see how to defend our faith. But, I just don’t feel like supporting Dan Brown’s bank account anymore than it already has been supported by all of this hype.
Anyways, my son brought this book up recently, and asked me why I didn’t read it…and I explained the same thing to him, as I explain here to you all. He said, I ‘should’ read it so I can defend our faith better. I dunno, is he right on that?
I remember when this book first hit the market, and the stir it caused, and how some seemingly devout Christians started doubting their faith?
I just was curious, if I’m one of the few who has never read this, and if you read it, did you feel outrage, or did you just view it as another work of fiction, written by an opportunist?
That’s kind of what we have to do with this DaVinci code buissness. People strong in their faith should educate themselves with it, and help those struggling with their faith.
-Jeanne
-Jeanne
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Cat
Guest
I haven’t read it.
I like fiction that is accurate to real-life as much as possible. I love it when the history in fiction is accurate. The historical romances by Anya Seton are like this–so well-researched, it’s hard to tell where the historical fact ends and the fiction begins.
If someone is going to write fiction, then they should create a whole new world rather than twisting the real world. And if they do twist the real world, they should be honest and inform the readers (which apparently Brown did in fine print somewhere).
I write novels about a fictional synchronized skating team. In these novels, I have created a totally-fictional world police organization. I give quite a few details about this organization in the novels. AND–I state plainly in my Afterword that this organization is fictional.
A few weeks ago, a woman who had read my novels asked my husband, “How does your wife know so much inside information about that organization?”
He told her, “It’s totally fictional. She made it all up.”
The woman still didn’t believe him. I think that she thinks that the organization is real but that I have changed the names!
Anyway, my point is, be honest with the readers.
I like fiction that is accurate to real-life as much as possible. I love it when the history in fiction is accurate. The historical romances by Anya Seton are like this–so well-researched, it’s hard to tell where the historical fact ends and the fiction begins.
If someone is going to write fiction, then they should create a whole new world rather than twisting the real world. And if they do twist the real world, they should be honest and inform the readers (which apparently Brown did in fine print somewhere).
I write novels about a fictional synchronized skating team. In these novels, I have created a totally-fictional world police organization. I give quite a few details about this organization in the novels. AND–I state plainly in my Afterword that this organization is fictional.
A few weeks ago, a woman who had read my novels asked my husband, “How does your wife know so much inside information about that organization?”
He told her, “It’s totally fictional. She made it all up.”
The woman still didn’t believe him. I think that she thinks that the organization is real but that I have changed the names!
Anyway, my point is, be honest with the readers.
W
whatevergirl
Guest
I don’t have a problem with works of fiction, but when that fiction surrounds making fun of Christ, or making Christ looked like He was who He said He wasn’t…I don’t want to support that author in his works. Dan Brown made quite a nice living I imagine writing falsely about Christ, even if it was just a whipped up form of fiction. Harry Potter is fiction, but the character is completely made up, and I have seen much controversy in Christian circles over reading that book, but it’s different with books that concoct Christ to be someone who He wasn’t…I just think that is playing with fire, in my eyes. 
(for the author) Nothing wrong with reading it, I just think that giving money to someone who spins a tale using Christ’s name is not something I’m willing to do…thanks for contributing here, everyone, your thoughts are interesting on this.
(for the author) Nothing wrong with reading it, I just think that giving money to someone who spins a tale using Christ’s name is not something I’m willing to do…thanks for contributing here, everyone, your thoughts are interesting on this.
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manualman
Guest
I read it. If anyone is still listening.
As a purely fictional novel, it was a mediocre thriller type. For pure entertainment, anything by Clive Cussler or Jack Higgins is MUCH better (though in Higgin’s case often more violent).
The only thing about it that made it a mega-hit was Brown’s shrewd strategy of taking dead gnostic fantasies and reviving them as “lost history.” I don’t think Brown believes any of it for even a second. He’s too smart for that. He just correctly surmised that he could wring a HUGE amount of attention to himself by appearing to claim legitimate historical accuracy in the astonishing claims made in the novel. In short, he’s applying the Howard Stern strategy of marketing to the novel.
Take away that and it’s a made for paperback book.
As a purely fictional novel, it was a mediocre thriller type. For pure entertainment, anything by Clive Cussler or Jack Higgins is MUCH better (though in Higgin’s case often more violent).
The only thing about it that made it a mega-hit was Brown’s shrewd strategy of taking dead gnostic fantasies and reviving them as “lost history.” I don’t think Brown believes any of it for even a second. He’s too smart for that. He just correctly surmised that he could wring a HUGE amount of attention to himself by appearing to claim legitimate historical accuracy in the astonishing claims made in the novel. In short, he’s applying the Howard Stern strategy of marketing to the novel.
Take away that and it’s a made for paperback book.
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Contarini
Guest
I read/skimmed it in an airport layover (it was a long layover and I’m a fast reader) without buying it. Perhaps unfair to the bookstore, but like you I didn’t want to put money in Mr. Brown’s pocket. I find his offenses against history outrageous (I am not outraged by someone promoting an alternative view of Christianity, however much I disagree with it), and the claim that “it’s just a novel” disingenuous. I read the book largely because, whenever someone found out that I studied religion for a living, they would ask me about the DaVinci Code. I think it’s a good idea to read books that are popular and influential in order to engage in thoughtful discussion about them–but this has to be balanced with our desire to read books that are intrinsically valuable and will enrich us. (I recently read Twilight for much the same reason–while it’s not contemptible in the way that Brown’s book is, it’s of even less literary value, perhaps.)LOL…I might be, I think.
I bring this up, because I went to Borders today to buy a Scott Hahn book (yay, I love his writing!) and saw a large display of this book–AGAIN. Is it making a come back or something? I noticed a new book of his and didn’t bother to look at it.
As a Catholic if you have read it, I think it can help perhaps to see how to defend our faith. But, I just don’t feel like supporting Dan Brown’s bank account anymore than it already has been supported by all of this hype.
Anyways, my son brought this book up recently, and asked me why I didn’t read it…and I explained the same thing to him, as I explain here to you all. He said, I ‘should’ read it so I can defend our faith better. I dunno, is he right on that?
I remember when this book first hit the market, and the stir it caused, and how some seemingly devout Christians started doubting their faith?
I just was curious, if I’m one of the few who has never read this, and if you read it, did you feel outrage, or did you just view it as another work of fiction, written by an opportunist?
Edwin
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msugeotech
Guest
I have read all 4 of Dan Brown’s books - all of them before becoming a Catholic. Even so, I thought they were silly. The “Fact Page” at the beginning of them is just plain ridiculous.
The reason they’re back on display is that Angels and Demons is now a movie, so they’re gonna restart the money machine for Mr. Brown.
Yay.
The reason they’re back on display is that Angels and Demons is now a movie, so they’re gonna restart the money machine for Mr. Brown.
Yay.
W
whatevergirl
Guest
I know…it’s sad. I am tired of having to stoop down looking for the Catholic books when these books are out front and center…for all to see.I have read all 4 of Dan Brown’s books - all of them before becoming a Catholic. Even so, I thought they were silly. The “Fact Page” at the beginning of them is just plain ridiculous.
The reason they’re back on display is that Angels and Demons is now a movie, so they’re gonna restart the money machine for Mr. Brown.
Yay.
F
foolishmortal
Guest
Some think that if you don’t read books challenging your faith, you’re not open-minded. How many leftists read an official or a formally-declared error-free Catechism? If we want to hear opposing viewpoints, we can watch some mainstream news or the newspaper (which involves chopping down many trees, as if their Greenpeace-nik comrades care) show–quick and simple. Still, we’ve heard it all before.
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