DaVinci ReConsidered
Disclosure statement: On June 10 we will participate in a seminar titled, "The Da Vinci Code: Fact or Fiction?"
Additional disclosure statement: We wrote on this topic back in January.
Another additional disclosure statement: We are somewhere between offended and embarrassed by the way many Christians have responded to the book, the movie, and the hype.
A Google search on "Da Vinci Response" pulls in over 8 million hits. Most are Christian critiques in which The Da Vinci Code has been cracked, broken, debated, decoded, debunked, exposed, explored, examined, unlocked, unwrapped, or unraveled. With the movie arriving in theaters this weekend, there may be as many sermons about Da Vinci this Sunday as there were about resurrection on Easter.
Director Ron Howard argues that "The Da Vinci Code" should not be mistaken for a documentary. "This is a work of fiction that presents a set of characters that are affected by . . . conspiracy theories and ideas." Author Dan Brown used to say it was more than that, that the historical theories described in the book were in fact true. He has since backed off from such claims, stating on his website, "While it is my belief that some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations."
Fair enough. And I am glad that helpful and accurate resources are available for those who have serious questions after reading the book or seeing the film.
But how many people believe in the historical reconstructions presented in The Da Vinci Code? Perhaps no more than believe the moon landings were faked. Do they really need all the sermons, seminars, and books? And are they paying any attention? I heard one preacher, addressing an audience of senior adults, tell them they needed to know the truth about Mary Magdalene and the Nag Hammadi documents so they could answer their grandkids' questions. Is that really the best strategy? Do they really think the grandkids are going to ask about the Priory of Scion?
Years ago I invested a little over an hour in Bridges of Madison County. It was packaged like a true story, and many of us wondered if there really was a National Geographic photographer named Robert Kincaid. There was not, but it did not matter. The book was popular for other reasons. If it were discussed at a book club, one might spend a few minutes talking about covered bridges, but the conversation would quickly turn to romance and fantasy.
Likewise, a discussion of Da Vinci might briefly consider its pseudo-history, but more important questions might be:
1. If the Da Vinci story were true, what would you like about that? Why?
2. What would trouble you? Why?
3. Why might people not like the way Jesus has been presented by the church?
4. Why do they reject the church, but still want Jesus?
5. How do all the references to the Sacred Feminine relate to the subject of gender within Christianity?
Enjoy the movie. Have some conversation about what is really important. Roll your eyes at the rest of the hype.
Bob
Additional disclosure statement: We wrote on this topic back in January.
Another additional disclosure statement: We are somewhere between offended and embarrassed by the way many Christians have responded to the book, the movie, and the hype.
A Google search on "Da Vinci Response" pulls in over 8 million hits. Most are Christian critiques in which The Da Vinci Code has been cracked, broken, debated, decoded, debunked, exposed, explored, examined, unlocked, unwrapped, or unraveled. With the movie arriving in theaters this weekend, there may be as many sermons about Da Vinci this Sunday as there were about resurrection on Easter.
Director Ron Howard argues that "The Da Vinci Code" should not be mistaken for a documentary. "This is a work of fiction that presents a set of characters that are affected by . . . conspiracy theories and ideas." Author Dan Brown used to say it was more than that, that the historical theories described in the book were in fact true. He has since backed off from such claims, stating on his website, "While it is my belief that some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations."
Fair enough. And I am glad that helpful and accurate resources are available for those who have serious questions after reading the book or seeing the film.
But how many people believe in the historical reconstructions presented in The Da Vinci Code? Perhaps no more than believe the moon landings were faked. Do they really need all the sermons, seminars, and books? And are they paying any attention? I heard one preacher, addressing an audience of senior adults, tell them they needed to know the truth about Mary Magdalene and the Nag Hammadi documents so they could answer their grandkids' questions. Is that really the best strategy? Do they really think the grandkids are going to ask about the Priory of Scion?
Years ago I invested a little over an hour in Bridges of Madison County. It was packaged like a true story, and many of us wondered if there really was a National Geographic photographer named Robert Kincaid. There was not, but it did not matter. The book was popular for other reasons. If it were discussed at a book club, one might spend a few minutes talking about covered bridges, but the conversation would quickly turn to romance and fantasy.
Likewise, a discussion of Da Vinci might briefly consider its pseudo-history, but more important questions might be:
1. If the Da Vinci story were true, what would you like about that? Why?
2. What would trouble you? Why?
3. Why might people not like the way Jesus has been presented by the church?
4. Why do they reject the church, but still want Jesus?
5. How do all the references to the Sacred Feminine relate to the subject of gender within Christianity?
Enjoy the movie. Have some conversation about what is really important. Roll your eyes at the rest of the hype.
Bob
posted by Joni and Bob at 6:48 AM
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