Is The Da Vinci Code a great adventure story created from a great imagination or is Dan Brown’s account of history true?
The Da Vinci Code Discussed
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March 23rd, 2006 at 4:10 pm
That’s a great question to ask Leah! And exactly what we need to ask.
When I first read the book, I read it thru the filter of, “this a great adventure story created from a great imagination”. I enjoyed his other books and it was a thriller that made a long trip go by faster. At the end I laughed about how ridiculous some of his assumptions about Jesus and Mary Magdalene were, and put it on the shelf.
It wasn’t until later when I began to read all the press about the book that I realized that there was a problem with this book. Instead of being read as fiction, people are forming their theology on it and taking it as the truth about Jesus, the church and the Bible itself. Having said that, the movie will certainly give us lots of opportunities to look at what the Bible does say, and what the truth is about who Jesus really is.
March 23rd, 2006 at 11:44 pm
Well, it’s certainly not history but I also have a hard time saying it’s an interesting novel. I tried reading it and was only able to make it up to the point where they figure our what the dead man had written. If I was dying and had something to write with, I’d be telling the police who did it; not some cryptic nonsense about a mystery.
I kept hearing that this was such a fantastic novel that, when I got to this point, I felt I was wasting my time and went on to something else.
March 24th, 2006 at 4:40 am
Gary, that’s the exact point I’m at in the book too! I’ve been thinking the same thing. I think I’ll keep on though.
March 24th, 2006 at 11:06 am
It’s a bit hard to get into but definitely is a thriller as you read on….will be interested in hearing what you think when you finish reading it rob…
March 24th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
I found the novel to be quite a page turner, and I am looking forward to seeing the film when it opens. I think it is a great opportunity to generate discussions between Christians and non-Christians about the truth of Scripture, the person of Jesus Christ, and discerning truth from error. I am an evangelical Presbyterian seminary student, and will be attending the film with a group from my church, to follow up with a discussion afterwards led by church elders. I am disappointed that some Christians have expressed hostile feelings about Dan Brown and the book. I would hope that we can demonstrate the love and graciousness of Jesus Christ to others so that the film becomes a forum to draw people to a relationship with Christ, not reinforce attitudes that Christians are angry and critical people who condemn others instead of treating them with love and respect. I think it is preferable to do a little research on the errors of the book and graciously correct false doctrine rather than attack the author and encourage Christians to boycott both the book and the movie. I am thankful that God is giving us this opportunity to interact with popular culture and share the truth of the Gospel by correcting the inaccurate representations of the book.
March 25th, 2006 at 7:05 am
>> I would hope that we can demonstrate the love and graciousness of Jesus Christ to others so that the film becomes a forum to draw people to a relationship with Christ, not reinforce attitudes that Christians are angry and critical people who condemn others instead of treating them with love and respect. I think it is preferable to do a little research on the errors of the book and graciously correct false doctrine rather than attack the author and encourage Christians to boycott both the book and the movie.
March 25th, 2006 at 9:10 am
I agree with bulapebelle wholeheartedy, and would like to add one point, I believe God allows these things (for one reason at least) is to let his kids know that they don’t know His word well enough. Books/movies and other forms of communication that challenge our faith, force us to examine God’s word more intensely and in the process help build our faith, in that we then realize that our faith is built on a solid foundation. What good is a faith that is not tested? I liken Dan’s book to the Raiders of the Lost Ark. A compelling story with little fact. The only difference, as I see it, is that no one will base their spiritual beliefs on Raiders of the Lost Ark. With the overall lack of knowledge of the Bible today, I wish I could say the same for the Da Vinci Code.
March 25th, 2006 at 9:40 am
>> I liken Dan?s book to the Raiders of the Lost Ark. A compelling story with little fact. The only difference, as I see it, is that no one will base their spiritual beliefs on Raiders of the Lost Ark. > What good is a faith that is not tested?
March 25th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
What is your point Gary?
March 26th, 2006 at 9:50 pm
I would say that it is an adventure novel.Pity people are taking it as truth.Jesus Christ said”I am the Way I am the Truth I am the Life”.If you are seeking truth it is found in Jesus Christ and His Holy Word the Bible.
March 26th, 2006 at 10:33 pm
Being new to this format of discussion I didn’t realize that you couldn’t put a blank line in there without garbling the text. Sorry about the nonsense post.
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I don’t see much in common between RotLA and TDVC. Raiders never claimed to be true, historic, Code does. Raiders, although it touched on religious themes, didn’t try to destroy the world’s dominant faith by telling lies about it.
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I also don’t see boycotting the movie as avoiding having our faith tested. It’s an economic decision. Do I want to financially support the people involved? Not a chance. I wouldn’t recommend marching around the theater protesting it either. That just makes people want to go see it.
March 27th, 2006 at 4:19 am
Gary: “no one will base their spiritual beliefs on Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
What? You mean the arc isn’t in a warehouse somewhere right now? ;-)
March 27th, 2006 at 9:51 pm
Top people are working on it.
March 29th, 2006 at 2:36 am
Hi Everyone,
I picked up the paperback verison yesterday and I’ve read about 160 some-odd pages. I find the book to be a well written adventure-mystery but that’s about a far as it goes.
I decided to read the book to find out what all the fuss was about and I haven’t been disappointed as far as a “novel” goes. I don’t find I have any doubts about my faith and I think the biggest factor missing here is common sense with the backing of the Word.
Bottom line here, this book does stir peoples emotions, he makes you think and giving the guy credit he’s making millions but it’s not the gospel.
God Bless
April 3rd, 2006 at 4:47 pm
I can understand why a few people would take this book, “The Da Vinci Code” as gospel. After all millions take stories in the “Bible” as literal historical truths.
This hapens alot, people are still trying to find flying saucers and big foot.
April 3rd, 2006 at 7:13 pm
“millions take stories in the ?Bible? as literal historical truths” because they are.
April 3rd, 2006 at 7:52 pm
Jay, I take it that you don’t take stories in the Bible as literal truth. Are there stories in there that you do believe are true?
BTW, I’m not a fan of flying saucers, but I would love to see Big Foot…and the Loch Ness Monster. I’m a big fan of those two. UFO’s freak me out.