Today, I'd like to address The Da Vinci Code, a fictional book written by American author Dan Brown. This book has sold over sixty million copies, been translated into over 40 languages, and sparked the making of an anticipated Blockbuster movie (coming to theaters this Friday). The information in this novel is presented in such a way that it really doesn't seem like a novel at all. While I commend Brown for his excellent writing skills, I still have a great concern for the reputation of the Bible and the truths it holds. The novel puts out a theory that Jesus faked his crucifixion and lived out the rest of His life with His wife, Mary Magdalene (the Holy Grail), and their child. Apparently, Da Vinci has given us the hidden codes and signs that point to this theory through his paintings and mathematical codes that go along with them. For Christians and non Christians alike, it is important that we do not let straight out lies and unrealistic theories turn into accepted truths simply because of an author's excellent writing skills and manipulation techniques.
The theory that the Da Vinci Code propagates about Jesus having a daughter did not gain popularity until Pierre Plantard, a criminally convicted con man, decided to start an organization in efforts to restore the French monarchy and convince the French government that he was a pretender to the French throne. Plantard and the Priory of Sion strategically placed falsified documents of the bloodline of Jesus Christ in the 1960s in France (this is not disputed among scholars, these documents were quite obviously false). He also claimed that the Priory of Sion was an offshoot of the Abbey of Sion, a medieval monastic order from the crusade times (which has also been disproved by scholars). There are many other reasons as to why this theory cannot be possible as well, but for times sake, I won't get into them. Look them up you lazy bums! The point being... Da Vinci really had nothing to do with this theory. Sure, it is possible that he purposefully painted Mary Magdalene in the Last Supper to resemble the Holy Grail, but how is this in itself evidence? How does it even interest people without the real evidence to back it?
After doing some research on the theories in the Da Vinci Code, and viewing a few documentaries presenting other's research, I have took it upon myself to encourage the boycotting of this movie and book. I'm not discouraging people from actually watching the movie or reading the book, nor do I think that this movie shouldn't be allowed to be played or the book not to be sold, but ask yourself this - do you really want to hand money to people for publishing lies and tainting the minds of average Americans, thus contributing to the rise in popularity of this type of conspiracy media? I want to encourage Christians to take this movie as a witnessing opportunity and do as much research on the Da Vinci Code theories as possible. If you really want to see the real thing, go to your local library or bookstore and read a copy or download a bootleg of the movie online*; but please, don't make any contributions to the popularity and monetary gains of the Da Vinci Code!
Michelle Moses is a Christian, a Libertarian, and an incoming sophmore at her local community college. She likes to talk to homeless people. She can be reached at michellepm@comcast.net.
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* "Perspectives" does not commend the illegal downloading or attainment of films or any other kind of media online or otherwise.
9 Comments:
You know something is wrong when the Cannes Film Festival critics are bashing it good.
Good take Michelle. Even the author believes it to an extent, calling it a "very important work that will open a lot of minds".
It does seem a little crazy that people would alter their beliefs because of this book/movie, but it's happening. And I don't think a widespread boycott would do anything but lower the popularity of the book and movie. I'm not talking about protests and rallies here, that's ridiculous... I just don't think we should be endorsing the Da Vinci Code. This is not an ordinary fictional book, it's not even comparable to Harry Potter really. It mixes truths in with lies to make a believable theory. There's absolutely nothing wrong with people questioning their beliefs, but I don'think it should be because of fictional books based off of wack theories.
If people are swayed by a movie or a novel, than they are already lost.
I agree with Brando. The only proper thing Christians could do for these pour saps is enlighten them with classes, documentaries and ourselves being educated to shoot down the theory. Just like the things that after the war researched. If they won't listen to logic, then we can't help them because they're too stupid.
Besides, boycotting/bashing, calling it blasphemy--giving it all this attention in my opinion is just helping it in its promotion.
Well... even the author seems to think that his work is "important" to help "open eyes"... so that says something.
Yeah, I wouldn't see the movie though.
I might give the novel a read but I won't waste my money on the movie.
A friend talked me into going to the movie. IT SUCKED. Not because the story itself by Dan Brown contradicts itself-- nah, it just SUCKED.
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