The DaVinci Code and the religious right....

[Frank the Tank]

Well I just finished the book. I started it over a year ago, but when our son was born I suddenly lost all of my free time I had to read. Recently, now that he is on a good schedule, the wife and I have some time together again so I picked it up, re-read it from the beginning and finished it in about a week.

All I can say is wow. Really. Wow. What a great book. So hard to put down, so all-consuming when you are reading it.

Now my problem is with the religous right. What is the big deal. Seriously. Its a work of fiction. Very very well written fiction. I've heard it called anti-religious which I find laughable. All it does is question our perception of religion and give us other possibilities as to how things happened. Sure it uses real places ad some real facts and organizations, but if you are dumb enough to take what it says as fact, then, well, I don't kow what.

I realize that my cut and dry atheist views have offended some people in the past and I do honestly believe that the bible is a work of fiction as well, but come on, to get all worked up over the DaVinci Code? Isn't there something better to do?

If all it takes to rattle your faith is this book, then you should really question how strong your faith is in the first place. And the other problem I have is these religious types spouting off without having read it. Read the damn book, then comment. If your faith is strong enough, reading the book will do you no harm.

Again, all it does is present an alternative. And a really cool alternative at that.

[RougeUnderoos]

I think one of the beefs is that so many people aren't reading it as fiction. Technically it's fiction but right at the start doesn't he say "everything in this book is true" or something along those lines? A lot of people believe it. I've seen on the television that there are tours to the historical sites in the book and people are looking for actual things like the pew-leg and the candle stick.

If I was a religious person, a Catholic in particular, I'd probably be offended as well. The book pretty much says everything they believe in is completely wrong. If someone wrote a book, fiction or not, that said all my beliefs are wrong and based on a bunch of lies and millions of people bought it, I wouldn't be too happy.

Luckily though that will never happen because everything I believe is unassailably correct.

[Frank the Tank]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos@Aug 3 2005, 01:03 PM
I think one of the beefs is that so many people aren't reading it as fiction. Technically it's fiction but right at the start doesn't he say "everything in this book is true" or something along those lines? A lot of people believe it. I've seen on the television that there are tours to the historical sites in the book and people are looking for actual things like the pew-leg and the candle stick.

If I was a religious person, a Catholic in particular, I'd probably be offended as well. The book pretty much says everything they believe in is completely wrong. If someone wrote a book, fiction or not, that said all my beliefs are wrong and based on a bunch of lies and millions of people bought it, I wouldn't be too happy.

Luckily though that will never happen because everything I believe is unassailably correct.

Well at the biginning it just tells you things like "Opus Dei is a real organization headquartered in New York", stuff like that. It doesn't say anything close to "Everything you are about to read is true". Not even close.

I mean, Michael Moore didn't write it.....

[Cheese]

ANYTHING that "might" be a smite on the worlds biggest lie is usually taken to task because the churches dont want to lose more power.

[Neeper]

I read Dan Brown's other book called Angels and Demons. It was incredible. I was hooked like a Hasting's resident on heroin. I haven't had a chance to read Davinci Code yet. In the book I read, he states "All locations are factual". Something along those lines. But nothing to even suggest it's non-fiction.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'll be honest, I couldn't read the whole book (not much of a fiction reader anyways). but I really hated his writing style, and thought that it was substandard as far as character development and descriptors.

I'm probably missing out, and its a great premise, but it was really crippled by the narrative.

So I'm saying I don't get the whole thing.

Just me

[Looger]

Originally posted by Neeper@Aug 3 2005, 06:40 PM
I read Dan Brown's other book called Angels and Demons. It was incredible. I was hooked like a Hasting's resident on heroin. I haven't had a chance to read Davinci Code yet. In the book I read, he states "All locations are factual". Something along those lines. But nothing to even suggest it's non-fiction.

me too, was kinda surprised how the events of one day could be strung out to hundreds of pages, no time for character development, too much action!

the da vinci code i have not read but saw a debunker program on history channel, who knows.

i mean the bible as we know it has been subjected to some purges, for proof pick up a masonic one.

[kermitology]

Originally posted by CaptainCrunch@Aug 3 2005, 12:42 PM
I'll be honest, I couldn't read the whole book (not much of a fiction reader anyways). but I really hated his writing style, and thought that it was substandard as far as character development and descriptors.

I'm probably missing out, and its a great premise, but it was really crippled by the narrative.

So I'm saying I don't get the whole thing.

Just me

Agreed.. I read the book on a Wednesday and my mother (English PhD) and myself couldn't get over how terribly written the book was. Interesting to discuss but to say the book itself was well written is a stretch, and a big one at that.

Anything that questions the motives or the history of the church will be fought; how is that not a suprise? There are some people who are very easily swayed by stuff like this. They don't see it as a work of fiction but as complete truth. The best thing the book does is breeds the ability to question religion. That might be different for a Catholic, but myself, as an agnostic, find it nice to see that there might be others who question.

[Winsor_Pilates]

The reality is that alot of religous people are easily offended by anything that questions what they believe in. I found the same effect in religious studies courses. Some students would seem really stressed and upset by any discussion or observation that didn't back up what they already believed.

[FireFly]

Originally posted by Winsor_Pilates@Aug 3 2005, 07:24 PM
The reality is that alot of religous people are easily offended by anything that questions what they believe in. I found the same effect in religious studies courses. Some students would seem really stressed and upset by any discussion or observation that didn't back up what they already believed.

And yet some use such studies to reinforce their beliefs... a person needs to know WHY they believe what the believe. Those who don't understand the why, often find questions about what they believe to be offensive.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally posted by Cheese@Aug 3 2005, 06:21 PM
ANYTHING that "might" be a smite on the worlds biggest lie is usually taken to task because the churches dont want to lose more power.

There is nothing wrong with believing a 'lie' if it helps the people who believe it. You're almost militant in your attacks on religion. Why does it bother you so much? Or is it more that you look down on the inferiority of those who are stupid enough to embrace religion? Just curious, not trying to be a jerk.

[FireFly]

Originally posted by Cheese@Aug 3 2005, 12:21 PM
ANYTHING that "might" be a smite on the worlds biggest lie is usually taken to task because the churches dont want to lose more power.

Besides, what if that lie turns out to be the truth...?

[Cheese]

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan+Aug 3 2005, 09:47 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Displaced Flames fan @ Aug 3 2005, 09:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cheese@Aug 3 2005, 06:21 PM
ANYTHING that "might" be a smite on the worlds biggest lie is usually taken to task because the churches dont want to lose more power.

There is nothing wrong with believing a 'lie' if it helps the people who believe it. You're almost militant in your attacks on religion. Why does it bother you so much? Or is it more that you look down on the inferiority of those who are stupid enough to embrace religion? Just curious, not trying to be a jerk. [/b][/quote]
I am militant...I guess you could say I am as militant against any organized religion as they are for it. I really think that most non-believers need to be more militant AGAINST religion as religous zealots are for it.
Its really as simple as that Dis....nothing against the people...its the belief in ghosts, lies and the fact they teach children that fairy tales are reality is what really POs me...there is so much wrong with that.
People have the ability to be good people without organized religion telling their children they will go to hell...or any other number of places if they do wrong.
So much else...so little time....

hope this helps a bit.

[Frank the Tank]

Originally posted by FireFly+Aug 3 2005, 08:51 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (FireFly @ Aug 3 2005, 08:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cheese@Aug 3 2005, 12:21 PM
ANYTHING that "might" be a smite on the worlds biggest lie is usually taken to task because the churches dont want to lose more power.

Besides, what if that lie turns out to be the truth...? [/b][/quote]
Ah but what if its not? Guess we'll never know for sure will we!?!

[Displaced Flames fan]

Well, you're right in that religious zealots are militant. That's something I don't understand either.

I was brought up going to church and believing in all the Christian principles, though it wasn't a zealous upbringing at all. In fact, neither of my parents attend churches at this time. I lost my faith a long time ago, but I am not convinced that there is no possibility that a higher power of some kind is at work. There is just too much stuff that is beyond comprehension for me to write off that possibility. I guess I just have a hard time understanding those who are perfectly willing to do just that. I don't know the answers, so I can't say that some are definitely false. That's where I'm coming from.

Nothing gets under my skin more than people who define themselves by their religion though. Everything they do is for God and they sit in judgement of everyone else. That, is the inherent fault in churches. Churches are a hotbed for self-righteousness and prejudice. 2 qualities that are supposed to be anti-Christian.

I'm rambling now.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally posted by Frank the Tank@Aug 4 2005, 02:14 AM

Ah but what if its not? Guess we'll never know for sure will we!?!

Well, if you believe that you're more than chemistry and have a conciousness that doesn't die with your body (this does not require any religious beliefs IMO) then at some point you probably will find answers to some of the questions that our race has struggled with for 10000 years.

[Frank the Tank]

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan+Aug 3 2005, 09:17 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Displaced Flames fan @ Aug 3 2005, 09:17 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Frank the Tank@Aug 4 2005, 02:14 AM

Ah but what if its not? Guess we'll never know for sure will we!?!

Well, if you believe that you're more than chemistry and have a conciousness that doesn't die with your body (this does not require any religious beliefs IMO) then at some point you probably will find answers to some of the questions that our race has struggled with for 10000 years. [/b][/quote]
Well I guess I am out then, cause I believe once you are gone, youz gone.

[CaramonLS]

People can beleive what they beleive, but I think anyone outraged by this book on the right should just take a friggen pill. Its a work of fiction, nothing more.

I can't remember exactly what it says at the front of the book, but it does use certain documents to back up the proof about a secret society guarding the holy grail. And I think thats about the extent of it.

If you really think about it, its exactly what the religions are doing!

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan@Aug 3 2005, 07:15 PM
There is just too much stuff that is beyond comprehension for me to write off that possibility. I guess I just have a hard time understanding those who are perfectly willing to do just that. I don't know the answers, so I can't say that some are definitely false.

I feel the exact same way, but have a completely different reaction to it.
IMO, religion serves as easy answers to that which we don't know and is beyond our comprehension.
For the same reasons you can't write off religion, I can't accept it.
I have a hard time understanding people who are so afraid of any uncertainty, they accept a religious version of the truth without any evidence.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally posted by Winsor_Pilates+Aug 4 2005, 04:44 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Winsor_Pilates @ Aug 4 2005, 04:44 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Displaced Flames fan@Aug 3 2005, 07:15 PM
There is just too much stuff that is beyond comprehension for me to write off that possibility. I guess I just have a hard time understanding those who are perfectly willing to do just that. I don't know the answers, so I can't say that some are definitely false.

I feel the exact same way, but have a completely different reaction to it.
IMO, religion serves as easy answers to that which we don't know and is beyond our comprehension.
For the same reasons you can't write off religion, I can't accept it.
I have a hard time understanding people who are so afraid of any uncertainty, they accept a religious version of the truth without any evidence. [/b][/quote]
Well, I didn't say I can't right off religion. What I did say is that can't write off the possibility that their is a higher power at work. That doesn't necessarily translate to the traditional Judeo-Christian God.