I just read a ludicrous statement by some Christian pastor, calling for all Christians to go to see The Da Vinci Code when it opens. His statement was something to the effect of "Every Christian needs to see this film!" I beg to differ.
No. We don't need to see this film. We all know what is in it. (Especially me, as I have read the screenplay.) It is a movie which begins from the point that Jesus was a fraud. He was not only not Divine, he was less than a man, who didn't die and rise to save humanity, but rather settled down in Nazareth suburbia and fathered children. Oh yes, and the Christian Church which made up all the salvific Messiah stuff about Him is a sham association of meglomaniacal conspirators whose unifying principles are in the oppression of women.
I have, thus far, been campaigning for a kind of non-campaign as regards The Da Vinci Code. I was thinking that we should all just agree to ignore it, and put our efforts into praying for the people who hate Jesus and us, His disciples, so much that they would make this film. I was reluctant to throw any free p.r. at the project by speaking about it publically, as that is all that the studio wants here. The people promoting the movie want - with every fiber of their obscenely well-compensated beings - that we make this film an event.
The almost irresistible hook for us all is that we supposedly need to see The Da Vinci Code, so that we can then tell all the other people what is wrong with it. All these Christians are being hooked in to write and speak about the film in the name of "dialogue." "How could you criticize something that you haven't seen?" And, "Everybody is going to be talking about this film! We won't be able to talk back if we haven't seen it."
Folks, there is no dialogue here. The dialogue which might have happened involved Sony and Imagine making changes in the story, that would have reflected some kind of fidelity to history or fairness. They didn't make those changes. Basically because they wanted to bash Christians. (Quick, someone assure me that Time and Newsweek and the NY Times, et al. will NOT be running reviews or ads for The Da Vinci Code because it is such an offensive caricature of the central figure of a major world religion!) Secondly, I don't agree that "everybody" is going to see this film. I found the script somewhere between idiotic and way too cute. I didn't find it half as clever as National Treasure....and that wasn't exactly a work of cinematic genius. As 80% of America is Christian, if they don't get us in, the movie basically tanks. And most of us probably weren't going to be going -- until we were told "Every Christian must!!!" All in the name of "dialogue."
(Note from The Princess Bride: "You keep using that word 'dialogue.' I don't think you know what that word means." Dialogue is based on equal playing field. In this case, the "Jesus was a fraud" side gets a major studio film costing $150 million. Our side gets a little website and a discussion guide.)
Further, we absolutely do not need to see the film to talk about Jesus. No more than we need to see porn to talk about human sexuality. Or to read Mein Kempf to decide whether we can have an opinion about gassing Jews. Besides, it would be dignifying a really inane story. Da Vinci Code is so ridiculous in its premises, that it is giving it a false gravity to even take it seriously enough so as to argue about it. ["And tomorrow, the Christians will be offering a hermenutic of moral praxis as can be gleaned from next week's episode of WWF Smackdown. Ahem."] Yeah, let's all find a starting point for dialogue in the notion that a secret coterie of albino monks has been mythmaking about Jesus' Divinity for 2,000 years. No, you go first.
Now, Christians being coaxed into writing anti-DVC pieces on a stupid web site (like, well, this one) are meekly accepting that they are being given "a seat at the table" in some grand cultural discussion. Duped! There is no seat folks. There is no discussion. What there is, is a few p.r. folks in Hollywood taking mondo big bucks from Sony Pictures, to deliver legions of well-meaning Christians into subsidizing a movie that makes their own Savior out to be a sham.
The masses who will see this film will not be coming to the web site. They will go in to the theaters, eat handfuls of popcorn, and then come out marveling that millions of people for 2,000 years could have been so duped by a lie. They won't go to any web site. They won't be coming to any Christian forum.
I love how we Christians have moved from all agreeing that DVC is evil, to now arguing about what cultural engagement means. Ha! Fabulous! It is a plot twist worthy of Da Vinci Code (if, you know, it were a really clever book with good plot points...)
ANYWAY.... here's what I think we should do. I am hereby announcing my personal "How to Respond to Da Vinci Code Strategy." And the answer is to go to the movies on May 19, 2006. Every Christian who loves Jesus, your mission, if you will accept it is to buy movie tickets. We need to bring our kids, our church groups, our youth ministry clubs, our seniors groups - and buy tickets for the homeless for after we feed them. And we all need to go to see THIS!
Let's make this little movie the biggest release of the year. Let's have DVC positively dwarfed in the weekend box-office, because all of us dutifully marched off to register our vote for the other movie opening that weekend. It's brilliant, mais oui?
Over the Hedge! Over the Hedge! More screens for Over the Hedge!"
And let us pray for Sony Pictures.
39 comments:
Okay, I'm in!
-- Don in TX
I'll not only pray for Sony, I'll pray that they bring out DVD box sets of Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot, so that I can give them money to make up for the huge flop I hope DVC will be. (Also, Men in Black: The Series.)
Right on!
One small comment. I think the quote from Princess Bride that you are looking for goes, "I do not think that word means what you think it means", spoken by Inigo Montoya to the Sicilian guy (what was his name?)
You got your point across, either way, and you're right on with that comment.
I do think we will have to address the misperceptions and outright lies about the Church, but that can be more easily done one on one when meeting a misguided soul than in posting on Sony's website.
I love it...how funny and you know what kind of ingenious...
I completely agree that we don't need to see the film to engage in the discussion...
(i remember telling a group of students a couple years ago that they all needed to see the movie Dogma to open religious conversations...and I was thinking..."man I wish I didn't watch Dogma...why is this guy encouraging them to see it?")
What a great idea! I'm writing it on my calendar now.
Huh? Why, then, don't you use your gift of 'free will' to shoot someone or see a porn movie? Come on! Why go see something that is nothing more than a sick blasphemy against our Savior and His Church?
I think I can find something much more productive to do than to go see such a movie, I think it would be disgusting.
To 438
Thank you for your third posting which perfectly illustrated both the Moral Relativist's position as well as the problem with that position. No, I am sorry. I do not have to accept "In [no]way are you wrong for your beliefs and in [no] way am I wrong for mine." The Truth is that I can be wrong in my beliefs and you can be wrong in your beliefs. Truth is truth regardless of the number of people who accept it.
How can you possibly know that everyone posting on this site is guilty of "judging"? Frankly, we are called to judge actions all the time. Just read what Jesus says in the New Testament. To be faithful to what He calls us to do requires discernment of our own actions as well as those around us. What we are not called to judge is hearts.
Why is it that when I disagree with someone I am told to not be judgmental, but when they disagree with me they are expressing their informed, justified, God-given, constitutional, 1st Amendment, right to express the truth...uh, I mean their opinion?
I have to agree with ogilvie's sentiments as well. I would rather have never read the comments of 438, who like so many pulls out the "Attack the Church because of the Priest Scandal" card anytime someone disagrees with them and they want to justify their own opinion. How long will we have to endure that move, as if priests are the only group in the world that commits sin and so we must condemn the whole lot of them? I think watching "Over the Hedge" will be splendid!
I never said you shot anyone or watch porn; I was making a point about 'free will.'
Free will is all about what you do WITH it; you can use it to do good or evil, and using it to watch a piece of blashpemy certainly ain't good.
I am concerned about blasphemy and I am also dang well concerned about child abuse as well!
And I apologize if you didn't understand what I was saying or took offense. It simply isn't what I tried to say.
Everybody here edifies me! Let's be together in this: that's where our strength lie.
"Over the Hedge," May 19? Let's roll!
Every movie can make one feel closer to God...but when we go to movies, we essentially support them financially...
So I won't see DVC anymore than I saw Silence of the Lambs, or Cidar house rules, which glorified Abortion, or saw Million dollar Baby, which glorified euthanasia...
This is the post where one RC found the other RC and wanted to make it know...
for details go to strangeculture.blogspot.com
--RC of strangeculture.blogspot.com
I just read your article in the paper and I'm a Christian, better yet, I'm Catholic and I found the book very intriguing so I intend to see the movie for that reason alone. And I don't really like the Catholic Church at all. They are totally backward, they do have a negative view towards women, gays, and the like, and I actually think that the points the book brought up about a possible coverup of Jesus being married to Mary Magdalene was well done. I actually believe it! Jesus was around 2000 years ago. Who are we to say that we "know him"? If he was married, I think it makes more sense than him being celibate like all the priests. Maybe if they endorsed marriage little boys wouldn't be fondled. OK, enough of my rant. But I'm seeing not because I'm a Christian, but because I read the book and am a huge fan of Ian McKellan. So there.
Great evaluation, great idea. I'll save the date for "Hedges".
For those who consider themselves "Christian" or "Catholic" and think the book of movie is intriguing or exciting, look at it this way:
If you love the Lord or your church, why would you want to see Him (or it) defamed? I wouldn't go see a movie where the main character had the same name and personal characteristics of my wife, claimed to be a true story, and portrayed her and her loved ones as liars, cheats, and murderers. EVEN IF it was reported to be a great movie, it would still anger and nauseate me, because it slanders one I love. So...why doesn't this bother you? Is your need for entertainment bigger than your love for the Lord your God?
(for more Musings of a Small Town Christian go to http://www.davidhardesty.blogspot.com)
I randomly came across this site, read the article and felt compelled to post something. I'm a 24 year old Christian. I have gone to Bible school and graduated from a Christian University. I go to Church. I probably fit all your criteria of what a Christian is. However, I am more concerned about learning more about Jesus and understanding where His heart is and allowing him to shape mine to be the same than being a perfect church goer. It is pretty clear in the Bible that it the state of our heart that matters to God and, yes, our actions should most certainly reflect this. I am more concerned about loving my neighbour and sharing God's word through word and deed - than arguing about how we can rise above the 'world'. I am not too good or too holy to associate with non-Christians and neither are any of you. And that's why all this discussion makes me sad - to get to my point. This is what is wrong with the Church today. We spend all this time and energy discussing how we are going to be 'better' and 'above' the trash this world is - our society is. Yet, the way we treat our peers, our coworkers, the marginalized does not articulate the love of our God. We spend all this time proving we are better than them. How very 'Pharisee' of us. We can argue all day about whether reading this book, seeing this movie is part of being 'in this world and not of it.' From what I hear it's a good book. Many of my Christian friends love it. I plan on reading it when I have the time. Shocking heathen!! What is this younger generation coming to?? Anyway, I'm not even going to argue that point but ask you to please stop worrying about that. Christians and non Christians are going to see this movie - regardless of your campaign. They will also continue to watch and consume products that encourage them to indulge in a 'sinful' lifestyle. Trying to stop Hollywood is a losing battle - at least to you. However, Jesus HAS defeated the enemy and that battle has been won. Let's live like we believe that. So get out there, love your neighbours, your children (honestly pay attention to them people), don't be quick to condemn but learn to love as Jesus loves. There is Truth and there is a higher standard but simply avoiding a sinful worldly lifestyle is not enough. I'm disappointed and frankly I very much understand my generation's disillusionment with your generation and your Christianity if this is a priority to you.
As someone mentioned earlier, it's important for Christians to realize that this is blasphemy, whether or not it's hiding behind the 'fiction' label. I don't know about you, but I have many friends who are completely taken up by it and actually believe it. Mixing fact with fiction is far more dangerous than straight-out fiction, you know. And if you don't know your faith well enough to distginguish fact from fiction, there's a good chance you may fall for the errors. Or if you have an underlying gripe against Christianity, it can cloud your critical reading skills as well. Implying that the apostles were liars, that we've been living a lie for 2000 years: that's not a small thing, you know. Unless we've become so 'open-minded' that our brains have fallen out, which could be possible.
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Christ was just a mortal man, that's it. He had human desires and needs just like each one of us have. He was probably a great teacher and humanitarian, which most of us are not, especially the latter. Also, he would probably be upset that so many people have been killed because of religion. Let people say what they want and believe what they want. Hey I have an idea, how about forcing our children to believe in Christ and the Christian Church at an early age so that they never have a chance to find enlightenment and spirituality on their own. Let's guide them to our beliefs, yeah that's it. Christians, always feel they are right and everyone else is wrong. I know. I was a Catholic for 30 years of my life. Then I finally took off the blinders and stop letting people tell me what to believe and now I am happier than ever. No one will ever dictate to me what is right and wrong. People need to open their eyes and stop being programmed by others and by the media or Church. Open your mind and truly see the world, nature, and humanity as it really is. Read a variety of books not just what the Church wants you to read. For once in your life make a choice for you not one influenced by others.
I really liked your info. Mind blowing. Have an awesome week.
I am a college student and just wrote a huge paper on TDC and Im perplexed with the story and with the outrage it has caused. As a up and coming writer, I respect what Brown has done and appricate his point of view. As a Christian, I think that perhaps this theory that was elaborated upon was taken a little farther than what it needed to be but we are all forgetting one thing. We are all getting mad at this writer and in turn it isn't him we should be angry at. He is not the one who came up with the theory. He has simply taken the idea and made it into a fictional story. I have spent many many many hours trying to get to the conclusion of this whole mess and I for one have already requested to have May 19th off so that way I can sleep since I will have been in line the previous night to see it. I'm really looking forward to this film. It will be a great way for me to analyze everything and take in the whole picture. My church did something similar that you all are proposing with Passion of the Christ. We went to the movie theatres here and after the film was over, gave an opportunity for those to ask questions. I think perhaps this would be another one of those opportunities if one so choses to do so.
Something scares me with you churchies. You believe in something so strong when it is all fiction anyway.
How can you believe in something that has never been proven. You believe in a story that has been passed along the generations for 2000 years. The bible is just like a giant chinese whisper.
What if Jesus was gay? or Black? or female? would you still believe in them.
Your religions are one of the biggest money makers in the world. Your pastors and priests use mind control techniques to get you to give them money to pay their wage, buy their food.
Shit I should just become a priest so I can live off you "do gooders".
In the beginning their was dust, space, and matter. It EVOLVED over time into mostly thoughtless do-gooders who follow anything
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I believe in the Bible. It is the ultimate filter that I base every belief in my life on. I will probably see the movie, but that doesn't mean it can change the truth. It is so well documented already about all of the mistakes, inaccuracies, and outright lies in the book. It's not really that hard to tell the truth from fiction. I watch movies and read books all the time with stories where there is fictional government conspiracies, and I still want to live here and pay my taxes.
I have no doubt that this movie will catch people off guard and confuse many, but how would my ignorance help that? The only thing I am disappointed in is the rediculous statement in a fictional novel to claim accuracy on so many historical fronts that are so easily disproved. To me, that was pretty pathetic.
Sony, Ron Howard, and Dan Brown should thank you all for the free publicity.
I think that the church needs to calm down about this and veiw it for what it really is, FICTION. It is a good story that keeps people entertained. Yes it deals with the church, but it is nothing more than a story. I am a catholic and I loved the book because I accepted it as the ficticious story that it truly is. It in no way altered my belief in Jesus or God. Accept it as a STORY and move on!
I love movies. I hope this movie makes tons of money, and it will, and it breaks your hearts. So many of you take things way too seriously. Look outside the box. I will definitely see this movie at some point, looks interesting and thought provoking.
Q. What's the difference between a fundamentalist Christian and a terrorist?
A. You can negotiate with a terrorist.
exactly. some people are just too stuck up in their I'm-holier-than-thou mindset to actually think about what's going up their arses.
well, I am a strong believer of the idea that if you want to critisize something, yu must know it first. Otherwise it's just an empty argument. If you do want to critisize DVC, you must see the movie or read the book first. The athor of this article said that he have read the script. That means he, by any means have read something about it, and he is qualified to critisize it. Others who haven't read it or see the movie, but only "heard it from somewhere" do not qualified to citisize.
my name is rachael im 18 and a catholic, i absolutly love leonardo da vinci i have studied his work since i 1st started high school.when i read the da vinci code some parts of the book made me very upset! can i just state the so called women sitting next to jesus at the last supper is actually JUDAS! Remember da vinci was a genious he was also a scientis but isnt if funny that later in his life this man became a CATHOLIC! obviously he had complete faith in jesus and the catholic beliefs.NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THIS GREAT BOOK IS FICTION.
the truth lies within ones self trust what you feel is the truth.
Why cant people just let it be, as long as you believe in something good! why try to hard to determine fiction from fact.
All i know is that i enjoy believing in an after life,that i have gardian angels watching over me,its far better to believe in something good then nothing at all.
i leave you all with my all time favorite quote "the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didnt exsits!"
god bless
I don't know how many of you have seen the Davinci Code movie, but I watched and enjoyed it. It wasn’t the greatest movie I’ve ever seen, but it was far from the worst. As to the wild response from many Christians, it is definately not a threat to anyone - as it is very very obviously completely fiction, and could not possibly cause all the problems people seem to think it will. (Not to mention, God is more powerful than any movie or book, right?) I don't know why people are so worried about it having some kind of deceptive effect. Have you ever seen the movie "National Treasure"? They used all kinds of "real" stuff mixed into fiction. It was an interesting conspiracy theory totally based in fiction but set up with various mysterious legends and artifacts from history - the same with The DaVinci Code. Just fiction, and that's it. Now I did think that some of the dialogue in the movie was very compelling, and it would be good if many church-goers were to watch it. (i.e. Langdon's lecture early in the movie on misconceptions of symbols & history, and the conversation between Langdon & Neveu outside of the Rosslyn Chapel near the end of the movie) While I don't believe it is necessary, I do believe it would benefit Christians to know more about the history (good & bad) of the church as a whole. I’ve yet to find anyone who believes the ideas presented in the DaVinci Code book or movie. I don’t see any point in boycotting, "othercotting", any of it. It’s just another movie, and that’s all it is. I went to see it, because the trailer looked pretty good. Also, I had not read the book, and I wanted to know what had the church (and I don’t just mean the Catholics - the evangelicals are going nuts) up in arms, and I left shaking my head thinking that if all these people who want to boycott Sony and make such a big deal over it would go see it, they’d probably just shut up. Either that or be compelled to do a little history reading of their own. I also watched a special on the history channel called "Beyond the Davinci Code." Maybe some of you saw it, too. It referred to other books that have been around awhile that have some of the same theories. One in particular, "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" is a non-fiction perspective of a few of the ideas also found in the Davinci Code. Some of the people, documents, items, etc. referred to are real, and even some of the ideas presented in these books could very well be true. It is no secret that the church was an oppressive force during the time known as the dark ages. What I really liked about the history channel program was that it made it clear what is known to be historical fact and what is nothing more than speculation. It brought out the parts of the Davinci Code that merit consideration while dismissing the others. One more thought on the "worried attitude" of the church: I can see how this movie has the capacity to be used in a much greater sense than the Passion of the Christ. Think about it. The Passion was so promoted by the church - I'm sure a lot of people steered away from it that wouldn't be interested in anything of the church. However, the Davinci Code may draw people who would not have gone to see the Passion, and having seen the movie, they mostly likely will not be "deceived", but rather will, if anything, be compelled to find out the truth for themselves. It's funny how the church will heavily support a movie that fits "in the box", but is vehemently opposed to one that is outside of it. God's not in the box...
PRAISE BE TO SATAN!!!
Why is this movie so troublesome? Unless I'm horribly mistaken, this book is fiction and is portrayed as such. It tells an intriguing story with a lot of plot twists, thus it is enticing. Thoughts of it being a "danger" to the Christian, namely Catholic is absurd. Christians should have solid enough belief in Jesus that reading/watching The Da Vinci Code won't change anything. I would actually advise all Christians to read the novel for a few reasons:
1. It's a great story overall.
2. The ability to view a new perception of Jesus and come away with your faith intact will only strengthen your faith.
Basically, if you truly believe and have faith in God, isn't that enough? If you have your own, solid views, then you can see the movie as and act of complete fiction, not as one of blasphemy. I'm not saying that some people won't "see the light" and form a "Cult of Dan Brown," but for the majority of faithful Christians, the film shouldn't be viewed as a threat.
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