Donald45:
How can one criticize a novel that he has not bothered to read, or a film that he has not taken the time to see? Catholics, it seems to me, do well to stear clear of such knee-jerk, reactionary impulses and leave this kind of non-thinking to the protestant fundamentalists.
By reading the novel (or viewing the film) for oneself, one earns the right to an opinion on its content. By taking refuge in pietistic anti-intellectualism, one forfeits that right.
By the way, Fidelis, that’s an interesting website. Thanks.
Truly,
Don
The problem in my mind with this is giving money to that man or his publisher.
I did read the novel, I borrowed it from someone - though you could get it from the library. I will not give him, his publishers, or the studio that produces it any money by going to see the movie. I will watch it when it comes on cable I suppose.
While I agree that it is difficult to critize something without reading it, Dan Brown writes on page one of The DaVinci Code:
Code:
*http://www.danbrown.com/images/transparent.gif***The Priory of Sion****—a European secret society founded in 1099—is a real organization**. In 1975, Paris's *Bibliothèque Nationale* discovered parchments known as* Les Dossiers Secrets*, identifying numerous **members of the Priory of Sion, including Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and Leonardo da Vinci.**
Code:
http://www.danbrown.com/images/transparent.gifThe Vatican prelature known as Opus Dei is a deeply devout Catholic group that has been the topic of recent controversy due to **reports of brain-washing, coercion, and a practice known as "corporal mortification." **Opus Dei has just completed construction of a $47 million National Headquarters at 243 Lexington Avenue in New York City.
Code:
**A****ll descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.**
This alone should be enough to say this is pure fantasy at best, or scandalous drivel at worst. He tries to say Jesus was married, had children, and their descendants have been hunted into near extinction by the Catholic Church for 2,000 years to hide this secret - and all for power and money.
We know the Priory of Sion was formed in 1975 by a con artist in France, so we know it was impossible to Isaac Newton and DaVinci to be members since they were long dead. We know the purpose of Opus Dei is to evangelize, their website says:
Opus Dei provides spiritual formation aimed at helping people develop their spiritual life and apostolate. These activities are held in Opus Dei centers or in a church, office or private home. **Anyone who wishes may participate in Opus Dei’s activities. **
They are open to ALL, and currently have 85,000 members, its pretty hard to be a secret society with 85,000 members.
Mr. Brown also claims, in his novel, that the pyramid in front of the Louvre had 666 panes of glass in it. Here the protagonist reflects that “this pyramid, at President Mitterand’s explicit demand, had been constructed of exactly 666 panes of glass - a bizarre request that had always been a hot topic among conspiracy buffs who claimed 666 was the number of Satan” (p. 21).
The Louvre museum however states that the finished pyramid contains 673 glass panes (603 rhombs and 70 triangles).
If the author cannot get these things straight how can anyone even think of taking his theory that Jesus was human, married to Mary Magdeline - who is some sort of “sacred feminine” goddess, and the Catholic Church has been hunting their descendents ever since seriously.
You don’t have to read the book, just the first few lines to be able to debunk it.
