www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News DA VINCI CODE NOVEL IS FOUGHT BY CHURCH

LatinTrad, It's a SACRILEGE...very simply put. It is the type of thing that know serious Christian should buy or read. It is on a very real level demonic. Imagine the author of such a book appearing before the Judgment Seat of Christ and having to answer for his work?! God help us and our world that has so stooped to such a level! And we wonder why Our Blessed Lord had to undergo such a passion and such suffering???

With profound sadness,
+Fr. Gregory

I am in no way defending that book, nor have I read it. I have read enough reviews to know what's in it. Either Discovery or the History Channel recently did a program on the holy grail, and they outlined the story that's in the Da Vinci Code. But something to think about here - if our priests and bishops had done a better job of proclaiming the truth, perhaps so many people would not believe this work of fiction - they would know better.

Dear Paul,

With all due respect to your opinion, I have met both Orthodox and Catholics who think that it is true, and does that not lead their souls astray somewhat if they are left with that?

Humbly in Christ,
Alice

The Da Vinci Code is one book I have no desire to read. Just like the move, "The Last Temptation of Christ" I was going to see it, then I was told it showed the actors portraying Christ and Mary Magdalene engaging in intercourse. Well, I do know that when the director died, the Greek Orthodox Church would not bury him in the church. The Church must take a stand on those who "pervert" the truth in my opinion for financial gain and we must protect our young people who can be influenced by books such as these that are mis-leading.

I have read the book. As a piece of entertainment, it is OK.

However, do I equate it to the Ladder of Divine Ascent or the Sayings of the Desert Fathers? Of course not!

Why? Becasue I have a brain!

And, guess what? The "young people" referred to in the previous post also have brains.

Why create a forbidden fruit? I makes it seem as if one is hiding something.

Why not allow them to read it but then talk to them and say that Mr. Brown was writing fiction and that indeed that is not what the Church has taught and here's why the Church believes what it believes.

After a trip to Salt Lake City, I picked up and read a bit of the Book of Mormon - more out of curiosity than anything else. Did it chance my belief in orthodox-catholic teachings. Nope!

By allowing young people to know what others say about our Faith and explaining the errors in their thinking, we can only strengthen the Faith of our Youth.

Yours,

hal

Dear Halychanyn,

I respect your opinion, but as a parent I do not agree with you.

You are most informed, educated, catechised, and interested in faith and religion. May young people are not.

Many consider themselves 'liberal thinkers', and are easily indoctrinated by heretical ideas of their schools, teachers, televison, and books. They often think that these ideas are 'cool and open minded'.

In certain parts of the U.S. like mine, marginally Catholic kids even consider themselves atheist. I know this because my daughter went to a Catholic girl's high school AND a private Catholic college. In her required 'world religion' class (that is another story--my trying to dispute that all paths are NOT *quite* equal to God), she was the ONLY person who professed to believe in God!!! I asked what religion most of her classmates were. They were Catholic.

(this is not meant to pick on my beloved Roman Catholic brethren...many Greek Orthodox are NO better in matters of belief)

Parents, in genral, of all faith traditions, have abdicated their roles as teachers of faith, spirituality, and religion. Faith, religion and its practice simply don't matter to them, because, atleast in these parts (her college classmates were on the most part local from the CT/NY/NJ tri-state area), success and materialism reign as gods. Religion doesn't really seem to matter to our society on a whole either.

Do you really think that the 'Da Vinci Code' would be harmless fiction for those kids?

In Christ,
Alice, a staunch advocate for traditionalism in both lungs of the Church

like Hal, I read the book. It's a novel filled with all kinds of wild conspiracy theories mingled with non-fiction elements. Having overheard conversations regarding The Da Vinci Code during the after liturgy coffee hour, I read it so that I could intelligently talk about the content and underscore that this is fiction. (if you really want to know what the faithful "believe", you must sit at every table during the coffee social.)

My eldest daughter, a senior in high school, had also asked if she could read it, so I told her I would read it first, and then decide if I would allow her to read it. I did, and we discussed the conspiracy theories. As a parent, I saw this as a relevant teaching moment.

AFAIC, this novel is "meat sacrificed to idols". As such I would take into consideration what St Paul's counsel was in this situation.

Dear Deacon Lance,

Please understand that I didn't mean the conspiracy theories of the book as much as how quick some young people are to accept marriages of our Lord and such other blasphemy. (Ofcourse the conspiracy theories do nothing to elevate the Catholic Church)

Do you think the young Catholic people I described above, who declare themselves atheist, are as religiously and spiritually astute as your daughter or mine, or have parents that care about their faith to discuss it with them?

I have even met highly educated ADULT Catholics who think that everything in the book is gospel!

Although I am Orthodox, I have had to defend YOUR church on more than one occasion because of this book. It is just my humble opinion, but I think that the Catholic Church has been the object of too much gossip, negativity and criticism in the past few years, and this only serves to further scandalize those whose faith is on the fence.

I admit that I haven't read it, but I also admit that I won't. I refuse to give the author one nickel of my money any more than I would give the Greek who wrote the 'Last Temptation of Christ' a penny. (Thank God that my Church ex-communicated him because of his blasphemy!)

I think that we should all be giving our money and support to books and movies that are orthodox in doctrine and that will help to inspire people and lead them to fullness of faith and salvation in Christ's Church.

Forgive me if I have offended.
Respectfully,
In Christ's love,
Alice

P.S. Try to keep in context the fact that New York is a very different universe as far as living one's faith-- ANY faith-- than the rest of the country! LOL!.... ( 'laughing out loud', so I won't cry! *wink*)

I saw a brochure debunking the Da Vinci Code in the back of my church, but I admit that it was totally meaningless to me since I had not read the book and do not really intend to read it.

Sadly, if there are so many Catholics and Christians who are reading a work of fiction and believing it, as I have seen alleged, then we are all falling short in our need to help our brothers and sisters. I do not throw all responsibility back on priests and bishops. They are the shepherds, but we all have a duty to help each other as well.

Too many Christians live their lives one hour per week on Sunday and then forget everything they have learned the rest of the time. Face it, Christianity is not an easy religion. There's a lot of history, there's a lot of complex concepts, and you have to work to comprehend it, particularly if you are one who is more of the St. Thomas sort and who likes to ask pointed questions and see what "proof" you can see. The people with simple faith are the blessed ones. Many people do not accept Christianity that easily. I know I went through a phase of agnosticism when I was younger - but the great thing about Our Lord is that He's always waiting for you to find Him again like prodigal sons and daughters.

I honestly know only one person who has read this Da Vinci book through - a highly intelligent but troubled friend who is shakey in his Anglican faith, who is on meds for depression, and who seems to have a marked tendency to look for conspiracies and connections which may be related to his troubles. Of course, he loved the book, but totally understood it to be fiction. The only other person I know who started to read it put it down in disgust - this person is a devout orthodox Jew who said he saw no value in reading something he saw as heretical and offensive to his closest Christian friends. He was asking a bunch of us about it and we could offer no information, because we hadn't read it. His advice: don't bother to read it, it's got no merit at all.

I read The Da Vinci Code over Christmas break in about a day and a half.

From the very onset I understood it was only a work of fiction, and thus was able to appreciate the style of writing (well, it was only mediocre) and the plot element of the book while not having to worry whether my faith would be threatened.

Honestly, I don't know how such a book could possibly threaten one's faith.

I did not purchase the book since I would feel amiss in supporting Dan Brown or his agenda through monetary means; I borrowed if from a friend to read so as to fully understand what everyone else was talking about and to be able to defend the Truth when people called it into question on account of this fictional novel.

Logos Teen

Dear Alice,

I am John...

If people of faith are believing this drivel as gospel truth, then I think it important to set them straight in a manner hal has described.

"But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh." Matthew 18:6-7


Christians must concider all of their actions and words before they apply it.
A great sin is to kill thy brother when you bring him darkness.

Dear Deacon JOHN,

I am SO sorry!

(That's what happens when I post in the morning! )

In Christ,
Alice

"I am in no way defending that book, nor have I read it. I have read enough reviews to know what's in it. Either Discovery or the History Channel recently did a program on the holy grail,"

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The History and Discovery Channel never cease to amaze me. The people interviewed present a facade of intellectualism, yet take an unchristian stance about almost everything they present... Terribly one sided.

I sometimes watch it, hoping that I will pick up some new information about the Bible or the Church. But I never do. Well, it's obvious what side of the religious spectrum they fall on.

Zenovia

Actually, the History Channel program ended with the conclusion that there never was a holy grail. That it was a legend originating with medieval poets.