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rosey
Guest
This book is required summer reading at our Catholic High School. I don’t know much about it, other than the author also wrote the “DaVinci Code”. Any suggestions?
- Status
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KennySe
Guest
Dan Brown’s “The DaVinci Code” is Gnostic, New Age, esoteric POISON against Christianity.
I cannot imagine that the book you are being forced to read is anything but poison, too.
Why has this book been chosen? There are books written by Catholics, in line with Catholic Church teaching, that could have been chosen.
My advice is: you must realize and share with your schoolmates that Dan Brown’s beliefs are counter to the Catholic Church and to Christianity itself. He might just be wrong in what he is pushing as truth in the book.
Tread carefully.
I cannot imagine that the book you are being forced to read is anything but poison, too.
Why has this book been chosen? There are books written by Catholics, in line with Catholic Church teaching, that could have been chosen.
My advice is: you must realize and share with your schoolmates that Dan Brown’s beliefs are counter to the Catholic Church and to Christianity itself. He might just be wrong in what he is pushing as truth in the book.
Tread carefully.
A
asquared
Guest
find another school for your kids, don’t waste all that money on a non-Christian anti-catholic education, which is what you will be getting if you stay there. At least at public school you know who the enemy is. Our public schools last year required DaVinci Code in one English class and several parents followed up on my suggestion to protest based on separation of church and state, using religious propaganda in the classroom - and they won. Trouble is kids are always attracted to something that’s banned, so we had some discussion and teaching sessions on the book to explain the errors. I am just guessing, is it a Jesuit school?
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tee_eff_em
Guest
It is of the same ilk as the Da Vinci Code, but with a key difference, which I believe represents in part why that latter work was so much more successful. In the Code, the Church (or “Vatican”, as Brown would name it) is actually sinister, while in Angels & Demons it is morally neutral – Sure, it removed all the pagan statuary from the Pantheon, but at least it preserves plenty of the same in its museums, which (to Brown’s hero) renders it worthy of being saved from annihilation.
Like the Code, there are plenty of errors of fact in A&D, mostly about the workings of the sede vacante, but some that are much more humorous: For instance, a big deal is made about the “secret” *passetto * between the Vatican and Castel San Angelo. Do you think he means the broadside-of-a-barn-big-aqueduct-looking thing that runs between them, and that’s explained in any tour book you pick up, and if it isn’t you should demand your money back from the salesperson who never should have made the move from McDonald’s to Barnes & Noble…!!? Oy vey!
tee.
Like the Code, there are plenty of errors of fact in A&D, mostly about the workings of the sede vacante, but some that are much more humorous: For instance, a big deal is made about the “secret” *passetto * between the Vatican and Castel San Angelo. Do you think he means the broadside-of-a-barn-big-aqueduct-looking thing that runs between them, and that’s explained in any tour book you pick up, and if it isn’t you should demand your money back from the salesperson who never should have made the move from McDonald’s to Barnes & Noble…!!? Oy vey!
tee.
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tee_eff_em
Guest
If nothing else: I am on record noting that *Angels & Demons * is the source of an absolutely fabulous quote (p. 40, paperback):
“Conspiracy buffs,” Langdon replied. He had always been annoyed by the plethora of conspiracy theories that circulated in modern pop culture. The media craved apocalyptic headlines, and self-proclaimed “cult specialists” were still cashing in on millennium hype with fabricated stories that the illuminati were alive and well and organizing their New World Order. Recently the New York Times had reported the eerie Masonic ties of countless famous men – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the Duke of Kent, Peter Sellers, Irving Berlin, Prince Philip, Louis Armstrong, as well as a pantheon of well-known modern-day industrialists and banking magnates.
Exactly how I feel about Dan Brown and the Da Vinci Code!
Wishing Peter Sellers or Louie Armstrong had seized world power when they had the chance,
tee.
“Conspiracy buffs,” Langdon replied. He had always been annoyed by the plethora of conspiracy theories that circulated in modern pop culture. The media craved apocalyptic headlines, and self-proclaimed “cult specialists” were still cashing in on millennium hype with fabricated stories that the illuminati were alive and well and organizing their New World Order. Recently the New York Times had reported the eerie Masonic ties of countless famous men – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the Duke of Kent, Peter Sellers, Irving Berlin, Prince Philip, Louis Armstrong, as well as a pantheon of well-known modern-day industrialists and banking magnates.
Exactly how I feel about Dan Brown and the Da Vinci Code!
Wishing Peter Sellers or Louie Armstrong had seized world power when they had the chance,
tee.
K
KennySe
Guest
Yep. The book is poison.
Some bits from amazon’s reviews.
first, I present a direct quote in bold from the book.
God, Buddha, The Force, Yahweh, the singularity, the unicity point - call it whatever you like - the result is the same. Science and religion support the same truth - pure energy is the father of creation.
“I suppose my biggest reaction to this book is his sermonizing. It is quite obvious that he uses his books as a platform to espouse his views which, of course, he is entitld to do (as we are entitled to critique it). He espouses a worldview that would suck the life out of both science and religion and would lead to a rather bland stew that is mostly broth.”
“Michelangelo was not the architect of any stair case in the Vatican City. Second the Vatican does not possess any male nude sculpture by Michelangelo, with its stony penis removed . Dan’s errors is irritating and a trifle irresposible.”
“As an Italian, born and raised in Rome, I have 2 culture specific comments:
1- Most (90%+) of italian terms and expressions are wrong. Mispelled, wrong words, words that do not exist, words taken from other languages, english expressions that seem to have been translated by web based automated tools…
It does not help; in fact it detracts from my reader trust in the seriousness of Brown’s research.
In fact I find hard to imagine that he, obviously not knowing much of the language, could or would not find a friend (or his publisher find a buck or two) to have the stuff checked and corrected.”
“i loved “demons” but i found my share of holes in it that just could not be ignored. brown, being an astute researcher, apparently, knows nothing about television. in one chapter, he mentions how CNN snubnoses a story and films it quickly like it’s unimportant. cnn doesn’t film anything, i worked there for 8 years. its all video. and msnbc fakes being on the scene for a story, using in-studio wind and rain machines? no such thing! msnbc never, EVER had facilities like that as water is the bain of television equipment. lots of people who work the technical sides of television freelance at various networks for extra money, so we get around - tonight i am at court tv - and i have never heard of such things that brown mentions in this novel and i’m sure he hasn’t either.”
"There are huge flaws, as mentioned in other reviews. The time-table is sketchy, the history is altered for reasons unknown, facts are confused, and the ending seems to have a few too many twists and a fall a bit too great. "
“To give Brown the credit he deserves, a lot of tourists in Rome will have fun checking out the locations and monuments he describes in the course of this book. But I hope they don’t try to follow the directions they supposedly encode, or they’ll end up wandering in confused circles somewhere out in the suburbs of Rome. Since Brown seems to know the city fairly well, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and assume it’s poetic license, but he rotates several works of sculpture 180 degrees, puts the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria on the wrong piazza, gives the piazza the wrong shape and puts the wrong fountain in it.”
Some bits from amazon’s reviews.
first, I present a direct quote in bold from the book.
God, Buddha, The Force, Yahweh, the singularity, the unicity point - call it whatever you like - the result is the same. Science and religion support the same truth - pure energy is the father of creation.
“I suppose my biggest reaction to this book is his sermonizing. It is quite obvious that he uses his books as a platform to espouse his views which, of course, he is entitld to do (as we are entitled to critique it). He espouses a worldview that would suck the life out of both science and religion and would lead to a rather bland stew that is mostly broth.”
“Michelangelo was not the architect of any stair case in the Vatican City. Second the Vatican does not possess any male nude sculpture by Michelangelo, with its stony penis removed . Dan’s errors is irritating and a trifle irresposible.”
“As an Italian, born and raised in Rome, I have 2 culture specific comments:
1- Most (90%+) of italian terms and expressions are wrong. Mispelled, wrong words, words that do not exist, words taken from other languages, english expressions that seem to have been translated by web based automated tools…
It does not help; in fact it detracts from my reader trust in the seriousness of Brown’s research.
In fact I find hard to imagine that he, obviously not knowing much of the language, could or would not find a friend (or his publisher find a buck or two) to have the stuff checked and corrected.”
“i loved “demons” but i found my share of holes in it that just could not be ignored. brown, being an astute researcher, apparently, knows nothing about television. in one chapter, he mentions how CNN snubnoses a story and films it quickly like it’s unimportant. cnn doesn’t film anything, i worked there for 8 years. its all video. and msnbc fakes being on the scene for a story, using in-studio wind and rain machines? no such thing! msnbc never, EVER had facilities like that as water is the bain of television equipment. lots of people who work the technical sides of television freelance at various networks for extra money, so we get around - tonight i am at court tv - and i have never heard of such things that brown mentions in this novel and i’m sure he hasn’t either.”
"There are huge flaws, as mentioned in other reviews. The time-table is sketchy, the history is altered for reasons unknown, facts are confused, and the ending seems to have a few too many twists and a fall a bit too great. "
“To give Brown the credit he deserves, a lot of tourists in Rome will have fun checking out the locations and monuments he describes in the course of this book. But I hope they don’t try to follow the directions they supposedly encode, or they’ll end up wandering in confused circles somewhere out in the suburbs of Rome. Since Brown seems to know the city fairly well, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and assume it’s poetic license, but he rotates several works of sculpture 180 degrees, puts the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria on the wrong piazza, gives the piazza the wrong shape and puts the wrong fountain in it.”
P
Peace-bwu
Guest
Rosey,
This is the perfect opportunity to expose the garbage Dan Brown is passing off as “historical Fiction” to our scandal-loving society. You have the chance to write a nice report and can even compare it to antisemitic paraphanelia. I view Dan Brown’s work, especially the DaVinci code and Angels and Demons as thinly disguised hate literature because of the seeds of scandal and negativity it plants in the minds of unknowing readers. Even if not requiered, you could write an essay give one copy to the Principal, on to the teacher and one to the school board. Just a thought. I’m sorry you are required to read this junk, but you can turn it into something positive.
This is the perfect opportunity to expose the garbage Dan Brown is passing off as “historical Fiction” to our scandal-loving society. You have the chance to write a nice report and can even compare it to antisemitic paraphanelia. I view Dan Brown’s work, especially the DaVinci code and Angels and Demons as thinly disguised hate literature because of the seeds of scandal and negativity it plants in the minds of unknowing readers. Even if not requiered, you could write an essay give one copy to the Principal, on to the teacher and one to the school board. Just a thought. I’m sorry you are required to read this junk, but you can turn it into something positive.
R
rosey
Guest
Thanks, everyone for your reply. Actually it is my son reading the book. I plan to read it as well, only to help him see the truth (or lack of!) I like the idea of taking this as an opportunity to speak the truth and delivering the message loud and clear to the school.
If anyone has any tips or expllcit evidence of any lies in the book that could help me, please let me know!
If anyone has any tips or expllcit evidence of any lies in the book that could help me, please let me know!
M
montanaman
Guest
Angels & Demons suffers from many errors, but that didn’t bother me so much. What REALLY bothered me was the terrible dialogue, the contrived plot, the pretentiousness and the shallow characters. I think these much-celebrated books deserve criticism for their alleged literary merits first, then theological.
C
cestusdei
Guest
The re-released this book to capitalize on Da Vinci Code. It is anti-Catholic. I don’t know why a Catholic school would require it. As a priest I would not permit it to be on the school reading list. Protest to the school and pastor. If they don’t listen then write your bishop. If he doesn’t respond then write the pro-nuncio in Washington DC. Consider having your son refuse the assignment as a matter of conscience. Instead have him read something Catholic. Now there’s an idea for a Catholic school! To actually read Catholic books!
M
Mike_C
Guest
I think Catholic students in HIGH SCHOOL should be required to read “The Da Vinci Code”. First, so they can learn to think. some day, when they go to college they will have to do research. If Dan Brown had to submit his manuscript to a college professor he would have had the manuscript turned down. Second, it would help them to discover that there are anti-Catholic people and ideas out there and they need to defend the faith against idiots.
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ricatholic
Guest
I was unaware that Brown’s angels and demons was on the non-fiction list. I thought it was a much fiction as the DaVinci code.
But if it is true it must be feared?!!
Peace
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Thepeug
Guest
Personally, I think both the *Da Vinci Code *and Angels and Demons should be read in Catholic high schools. Clearly, both books are sensational fiction with a few facts printed on the front page to immediately convey an impression of scholarly research and historical accuracy. From a literary perspective, I found both books entertaining page-turners. At the same time, I’m amused and amazed by the amount of people who are conviced that these vacation thrillers are factual. Both books are works of entertaining fiction, nothing else. The illusion of historical truth presented in both books is a credit to Dan Brown’s skill as an author. My brother, for one, is convinced that the Sangreal documents are real and that their suppression is the result of an ancient Catholic conspiracy against the “divine feminine.”
My arguments with him about the book have forced me to research and think more deeply about my own faith. In the process, I have only strengthened my own convicions.
For this reason, I think that Catholics should read both books. From a non-Catholic perspective, refusal to read the books translates into denial of the harsh “truths” that the books supposedly expose. Only by reading them can one formulate the arguments necessary to effectively combat the numerous anti-Catholic veiwpoints expressed in both books, particularly the Da Vinci Code. You have a much greater chance of success against your opponent if you know what tricks he’s going to use.
In Christ,
Chris
My arguments with him about the book have forced me to research and think more deeply about my own faith. In the process, I have only strengthened my own convicions.
For this reason, I think that Catholics should read both books. From a non-Catholic perspective, refusal to read the books translates into denial of the harsh “truths” that the books supposedly expose. Only by reading them can one formulate the arguments necessary to effectively combat the numerous anti-Catholic veiwpoints expressed in both books, particularly the Da Vinci Code. You have a much greater chance of success against your opponent if you know what tricks he’s going to use.
In Christ,
Chris
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ShamHy89
Guest
The book just wasn’t believable. Far too fantastic to be taken as serious or informative literature.
Shamus
Shamus
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Monicathree
Guest
This guy’s books are anti catholic and based on old heresies. That is fine, like somebody said about letting them read it, as long as throughout their reading there is proper material being taught to show the errors. However, I am disturbed that a Catholic school is demanding this book be read, I am assuming with no refutation of its heretical content.
Yikes, what is happening to some Catholics??!!!
I would go to whoever is in charge and have a talk!! Seriously, this kind of garbage is what leads souls astray.
peace
Yikes, what is happening to some Catholics??!!!
I would go to whoever is in charge and have a talk!! Seriously, this kind of garbage is what leads souls astray.
peace
C
Chris_C
Guest
Rosey
What diocese do you live in? Will you name your son’s High School?
Chris C.
What diocese do you live in? Will you name your son’s High School?
Chris C.
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Fidelis
Guest
If young people are to be encouraged to read a book of this type, it has to be done under strict supervision and in a guided manner. To just give them the book to read and try to let them analyze it themselves would be the height of irresponsibility. Most young people simply do not have the background and critical thinking skills to effectively process the amount of disinformation present in books of this type.
If this were done with the Da Vinci Code, for example, it should be done with something like Amy Welborn’s Decoding Da Vinci as a required companion guide. It is easy to read, small and inexpensive, includes critical questions at the end of each chapter, and is totally orthodox. Learn more about it here:
amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1592761011/qid=1091473408/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/002-4927574-6642423?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
If this were done with the Da Vinci Code, for example, it should be done with something like Amy Welborn’s Decoding Da Vinci as a required companion guide. It is easy to read, small and inexpensive, includes critical questions at the end of each chapter, and is totally orthodox. Learn more about it here:
amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1592761011/qid=1091473408/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/002-4927574-6642423?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
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Thepeug
Guest
I agree. This way, students can get both sides of the story (the fictional one and the factual one).
M
Makerteacher
Guest
My first question is, required for which grade and which class?
If it’s a freshman book, the student is probably too young to grapple in a mature way with the issues raised in the book. Conspiracy theories are fun, and the younger you are the easier it is to get sucked into them. But for an older student, IF ( and that’s a HUGE if) as Fidelis said, it is " done under strict supervision and in a guided manner ", it could be a fruitful study. Brown’s work offer a panoply of errors for discovery, discerning, and discussion.
Secondly, is this for an English class? If so they might be discussing the author’s style, which is pretty typical 7th grade level or lower dialogue and action. Or maybe the complete lack of character development, scholarship, and respect for csociatal institutions. Logic class? GREAT! They’ll be able to tear the alledged “scholarship” to shreds, and reveal any number of faulty deductive leaps that simply make so sense at all. A religion class or history class? Alarm bells! The religion and history presented in the Da Vinci Code book is SO poorly done that I cannot imagine this one being better.
I personally don’t like the author’s theories and think he is botyh a huckster and a poor writer. However, for an older high school student, this piece of work could be a great way to teach fallacy, propoganda, deductive reasoning, and bias issues, to start with. I am hopeful that your son’s teacher will guide his/her students through the work with a strong Catholic paradigm: but as a parent, I would want to make SURE that was what happened.
I would also be concerned about this being required reading in a high school which labels itself Catholic. Usually in Catholic high schools, students are given a list of approved books from which to choose. My son is reading Virgil’s Aenied. My daughter is reading Flannery O’Conner.
The suggestion to have your son read with a grain of salt, then dissect the work, with help from you and the plentiful online sources out there, and then distribute his research to the principal, the board of directors or school board, and the Bishop’s Diocesan educational offices, etc etc, sounds great to me.
If it’s a freshman book, the student is probably too young to grapple in a mature way with the issues raised in the book. Conspiracy theories are fun, and the younger you are the easier it is to get sucked into them. But for an older student, IF ( and that’s a HUGE if) as Fidelis said, it is " done under strict supervision and in a guided manner ", it could be a fruitful study. Brown’s work offer a panoply of errors for discovery, discerning, and discussion.
Secondly, is this for an English class? If so they might be discussing the author’s style, which is pretty typical 7th grade level or lower dialogue and action. Or maybe the complete lack of character development, scholarship, and respect for csociatal institutions. Logic class? GREAT! They’ll be able to tear the alledged “scholarship” to shreds, and reveal any number of faulty deductive leaps that simply make so sense at all. A religion class or history class? Alarm bells! The religion and history presented in the Da Vinci Code book is SO poorly done that I cannot imagine this one being better.
I personally don’t like the author’s theories and think he is botyh a huckster and a poor writer. However, for an older high school student, this piece of work could be a great way to teach fallacy, propoganda, deductive reasoning, and bias issues, to start with. I am hopeful that your son’s teacher will guide his/her students through the work with a strong Catholic paradigm: but as a parent, I would want to make SURE that was what happened.
I would also be concerned about this being required reading in a high school which labels itself Catholic. Usually in Catholic high schools, students are given a list of approved books from which to choose. My son is reading Virgil’s Aenied. My daughter is reading Flannery O’Conner.
The suggestion to have your son read with a grain of salt, then dissect the work, with help from you and the plentiful online sources out there, and then distribute his research to the principal, the board of directors or school board, and the Bishop’s Diocesan educational offices, etc etc, sounds great to me.
M
Monicathree
Guest
Yes, Fidelis, yes. That is exactly what I am saying, as well. It actually could help these kids help other kids and adults that are reading it.
Peace
Peace
- Status