I honestly dont get all these conspiracy theories that have been comming up about the cathloic church and I dont get why cathloics feel the need to refute these claims.
It is a work of fiction, its not real.
Of course it is a work of fiction. Those who write books refuting the claims of the novel are quite keenly aware of that. The first Question in Amy Welborn’s book “The DaVinci Code Mysteries” (It’s a Q & A book) is “The Da Vinci Code is a novel. Don’t you understand that?”
To which she replies: “Yes, we do. But amazingly, and perhaps unfortunatley, millions of readers of
The Da Vinci Code have come to believe, for whatever reason, that the assertions that this work makes about history reflect the real work and opinions of serious academic scholars. They don’t.”
The reason Catholics need to refute the claims in this book is not because
we take them seriously but because there are many other people who *do *take it seriously. We wouldn’t be very good disciples of Christ if we sat idly by and allowed people to be misled by Dan Brown about who Jesus Christ really is.
Some of the ideas in the book are plausable, but that is part of the appeal of the story. Fiction can be based on real life or historical events, making the world in the book like an alternate reality of our own. But at the end of the day, the story is fiction and is even presented as such.
The best argument against people who choose to go for the conspiracy thing is simply to say: “You do realise that it is fiction and was never meant to be taken as something other than a work of fiction?”
But the novel starts with a “Fact” page, and he includes a list of
resources consulted. This is enough to convince people that it is
historical fiction. Thus, even though the reader fully recognizes that the characters and events are fictitious, they accept the historical backdrop without question. After all, on the surface it looks like an impressive bibliography and the reader is left with the impression that Dan Brown has done some serious research.
If they want to continue with their “ideas”, let them. Just remind them every now and then that it is in fact fiction and is presented as such. Trying to refute their claims simply encourages them.
First off, I don’t quite understand how trying to refute their claims only encourages them. Encourages them to do what? To question the validity of Dan Brown’s history and christology?
We would be very lax Christians indeed if we sat back and did **nothing **while MILLIONS of people read this novel and believe what it says about history and about Jesus. In this case, our silence would be deafening and would only lead people to believe (falsely) that we have no problem with the claims the novel makes.
I wouldnt feel bad about the book making you question your faith, apparently you are not alone in that. Just remember that the story isnt real and move on.
Perhaps you are blessed with an excellent understanding of history and a good grasp of the distinction between fiction and reality. If so, then you are very fortunate. The truth is, there are many people out there who are not like you and who *do *believe what the novel says. They simply cannot easily dismiss it as “move on.”
I have friends who are having an awful time trying to convince their grandmother that what the book says about Jesus and Mary Magdalene isn’t real. You may laugh a thought of a little old lady foolishly believing what the book says is true, but it is a very sad situation. What’s even more sad is that her situation is not unique.
) and I happened to catch the movie the other night. I do agree that it was a page turner as I wanted to know what happened next, same with the movie, although it was waaaaayyyyy too long and kind of boring. As far as the outlandish ideas and such in it, its rubbish. It didn’t shake my faith but I can see how it might if you were succeptable and looking for answers.