I know it's been a long while since the Da Vinci Code came out but i finally got down to reading it.
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As my opening to the is entry, author Richard Barber author of 'The Holy Grail: Imagination and Belief' says
"There is history and there is imagination, and imagination doesn't work like history and history doesn't work like imagination."
Fascinating is it not when we hear of a detail in the history line, or even an interesting speculation that seems to be like the truth. That the human kind, when exposed to particular reading material, will consider that source even though it is purely fictional for entertainment purposes, yet somehow looks to have a "hidden", if not applausable truth will naturally take that text as a source which is credible. Even worse, is when the human mind is able to conceive truths of its own, through some sort of interpretation which does not seem all that far fetched to the minds of those in the worldly sphere and claim that to be truth in history.
I personally feel that the point the book claims to be fictional is a controversy as much as his story of the "secret" of Jesus Christ is a controversy. At the beginning of the book, they always have a disclaimer stating how this book, is meant to be purely fictional and any relation to anything in the real world is purely coincidental. Then after that it moves on to a fact page, stating that the Priory of Sion is real, The Vatican is real and that all the secret socities and rituals are also real. If that is so then what is fictional in the book?
If what is stated in the book, really are facts, then Christianity has been nothing short of an illusion, created by those who are supposedly in "higher authority". Also after watching Instinct last night, it can be seen that we always see in this world is sometimes a facade....We only think we are in control, we only think that our actions are deemed higher, we only think we have authority.... but that's another story.
As I was saying, Da Vinci code, worries me with the fact that when people who are non-believers of the faith read it, they will actualyl take it as the truth which is plain well ridiculous. It is sad that the thing that makes the most money, the best-sellers, the things that attract are always that which are controversial and would love to do nothing more than to attack the Christian faith. The Da Vinci code, states that there is a hidden secret that is not knowned by the people, a secret if you ask me, is only made by humans. If really this was such an important part in history, then why not be placed in a doctrine. How can a secret as such be kept silent for years.
The point that there is a possibility that Jesus could have even be married and had a child with Mary Magdelene is preposterous and contradicts with any doctrine that has been passed down to us since the death of Jesus Almighty. The fact that we could have someone from the direct lineage is too much, is it applausable? No.
The book, itself, is not all that fantastic either. The only parts that intrigued me were the puzzles and questions that were trying to be worked out. The characters themselves were not all that fascinating, although i did find Sir Teabing to be amusing at times.
Point here is that, the book, is a controversy, and even Brown himself does not know how to differentiate between fact, myth, fiction and imagination.
I forgot to add....
It is ridiculous to me, how they also like to fuse paganism/new age/worship fo the goddess and so on so forth together with Christianity. The fictional stories people love to just twist our minds with. Take for example in Brown there was a aprt that states, Constantine wanted to bring paganism and christianity together...don't know how much o that is true.. but anyway, there was mention of how it just so happens that christians jsut so happen to worship God on the 7th day, which is a Sunday. and the term 'sun' actually is derived from worshipping the sun god.
Sigh this reminds me much of a movie i watched called 'Mists of Avalon', King Arthur fable of course together along with magic. When magic died according to that movie, the priestesses who worshipped the goddess was no more and neither was she.. but then it just so happens that the worshipping of the Virgin Mary is the one where everyone turns to...and their conclusion is that the goddess is still alive.. in the mother Mary.... ai ai...
oh well i'm done here.
The book, DVC, to me was a bedtime thriller. In fact, i remembered i kinda enjoyed turning the pages just to discover new information Brown was trying to sell as facts, which perhaps may be facts after all in some sense. But as for the literary quality, gimme Harry Potter anytime, Rowling had a more creative plot and better english..hehehehe...
I seriuosly think, Leonardo Da Vinci may after all draw the Last Supper scene with intentions Brown wanted us to believe. Being the eccentric person that he was, it is not suprising that Da Vinci may be some member of secret cult or embedded secret messages in his works. BUt so what if this is true? Does it nullify the bible? It only goes on to prove that Da Vinci held a particular view about the historical Jesus. So what if Da Vinci believed thus? Perhaps he was insane, or just bored with good ole Catholic Church...hohohohhoh...or he was stupid to believe some mumbo jumbo? anything can go to justify this belief other than that Jesus really married Mary Magdelene (difficult to pronounce these three words together). Of course, this too may be a possibility (now, pls go and quote me saying it was possible that Jesus married Mary M., but bfore that read what i think about Jesus here http://www.tblog.com/templates/index.php?bid=jacksaid&static=1969703650 ).
I really have no problem with all these secrets symbols and handshakes and wutsnot being passed down till to the hands of Dan Brown. So what? Weird ppl inherit weird things..okie, ad hominem, i know. How bout, poor research yield lousy results?
And aronil, no problem for ppl to read DVC. If they do believe in the historical Jesus, it is a first step to greater things perhaps? All you have to do is to show them if Jesus was such important figure that time, why the heck there was no record of his marriage? Peter had his opponents, they would dispute him. James, the Lord's half brother would not stand up for his sis-in-law? And how bout Mary, the mother of God? She would not defend her beloved son's wife? Peter, if he really did wanted to usurp the leadership of the church, would obediently "AMEN" if the "first family", many whom were alived at the formation of the early church, raised an "AHEM!". And wut for Peter want to be the chief of a bunch of despised presecuted poor and pitiful folks? Why not just let the former prostitute, Mary M., bear this unprofitable role? Dan Brown might tell us perhaps.
Look out though, for Dr. Ng Kam Weng's session on DVC this August (hopefully) by Agora.
Oh, happy reading all ye DVC readers. After this can order HP6
Anonymous said...
4:46 AM
Hi, anon yet known to me :P
I don't mind the facts being passed on down to Brown as such, what i just can't stand is when some people who are unfrotunately ignorant will then take it for real events.
There was an example by some researchers like historian Thomas Asbridge from Queen Mary (He's real), which i can believe can happen, there were some who took even Lord of The rings which was purely fictional as a book that was some part of history once. (As much as i tihnk that would be so interesting)So i'm just concernced for those.
Granted of course, this could open up new bridges to some and greater things could happen, if i tihnk about it in an optimistic manner. but i still find the book, ridiculous as Brown was so sure of how it was all true, when actualy he was just tricked into believing societis, like The Priory of Sion was real.
Linora 'Aronil' Low said...
6:48 AM
1) i agree with linora about the book being not that great. somehow, after studying communications for so long, and after months of andrew ng's lectures on paradigms and syntagms and what not, the story was immensely and easily predictable. plus err, writing wasn't that great la. like linora said, the characters weren't that exciting.
2) it's just a book. the sooner we realize it, the better. war of the worlds on radio in the early 20th century made the world believe martians were invading earth for real. Obviously we were invaded by closer neighbours from earth in the end, but my point is, if it is unreal (which it is, and which i will not bother trying to explain. you can get all the info u want off some website for sure), it will pass.
there is a reason why the bible has been the way the bible is since its first days. there is a reason why the stories told since the creation of man till now can be passed on for so long, and still be believed.
it's not a power relation, really. had the almost 30 to 40 pagan kings of judah and israel really was as powerful as what we believe emperors and kings to be in days of old, we would have lost all forms of biblical scripture, be it the ones we are reading now, or the alleged extra stuff. My point is, as much as we claim that there are powers that make religion the way it is for us to believe in a facade, there have been countless opportunities where the word of God has been, as it were, in place for complete destruction as well. (and that was even before the Bible was compiled, and "christians", of prophets and priests of God, were well, easier to kill off than today)
but hey, guess what?
BIble is still around, everything else isn't.
And somehow, I have a feeling that it is because we're not made to last eternally.
God's word is.
So, in time, Da Vinci's code will fade away.
Superratty@TMY said...
11:33 AM
My fellow brothers,
you are both right to tell me is pointless to be bothered by a matter such as this. Jesus who walked the earth once, is still alive and the Word of God is still around. Why should then there be the worry of deception and fictional tales that tends to contradict the Faith? When all these years the Word still remains strong up till now.
"Let God be true and every man a liar" - Romans 3:4
Linora 'Aronil' Low said...
12:48 PM
why must i be a brother?
can't I be a sister?
Ever wondered that maybe it's the feminine side of me that is the caring side of me?
Brother linora.
Superratty@TMY said...
10:34 PM
You don't need to be feminine to be considered to be caring. God gave you a heart, and that heart is independent of gender...or at least how i see it. :P
But ok have it your way for now, sister Ratty ^_^
Linora 'Aronil' Low said...
11:39 PM
i'm just saying that my caring attribute comes from the feminine side of me. my masculine side completely detests females, mock females, and err. so on and so forth.
hahahaha.
Superratty@TMY said...
1:22 AM
wow, thanks for the insight. i never knew or read previews on the contents of the book. i read about three pages and fall asleep. after a few rounds of falling asleep i gave up on the book.
didn't know it could sink so lame just to explain the god thing:
" ...worship God on the 7th day, which is a Sunday. and the term 'sun' actually is derived from worshipping the sun god."
the seventh day is a saturday isn't it? so perhaps he should create a new god- a sat god?
-hope this isn't lame enough to give you a headache ;)
i'm one of the few who haven't read through the book yet. i thought i never will. but after your post, who knows? :)
kakikopi said...
10:14 AM
Haha, well up to you if you want to read it. It's ok la, good for something new but i agree with Anon :P, give me Rowling anyday. And you and i need to catch up! ^_^
Linora 'Aronil' Low said...
11:18 AM
hmm...i suspect Constantine have very high political profits in mind when he call for the unity of the Christian faith and religion. But again, so what? Can God not work about a shrewd politician for his own glory? I believe he can, for he has shown even in Nebuchadnezzar his name shall be lifted high.
Anonymous said...
3:25 PM