Brian McLaren on the Da Vinci code
Sojourners has an interview with Brian McLaren about the Da Vinci Code. To see the whole thing, free sign up here. Whilst saying that the book is fiction, he seems to say that it is revealing of a yearning for a new image of Jesus:
I think a lot of people have read the book, not just as a popular page-turner but also as an experience in shared frustration with status-quo, male-dominated, power-oriented, cover-up-prone organized Christian religion. We need to ask ourselves why the vision of Jesus hinted at in Dan Brown’s book is more interesting, attractive, and intriguing to these people than the standard vision of Jesus they hear about in church. Why would so many people be disappointed to find that Brown’s version of Jesus has been largely discredited as fanciful and inaccurate, leaving only the church’s conventional version? Is it possible that, even though Brown’s fictional version misleads in many ways, it at least serves to open up the possibility that the church’s conventional version of Jesus may not do him justice?
I appreciate the idea of using some of this Da Vinci Code stuff to tap into an interest about Jesus Christ. One of our members commented that McLaren’s new book “The Secret Message of Jesus” was using some of the Da Vinci Code image as marketing material.
My problem with all of this is I am not at all sure that the reaction to the Da Vinci Code represents a yearning for Jesus, but a rationalisation for an avoidance of faith. In society I see a lot of secular gnosticism, which I think this book and others taps into. When I led a youth group for young people in their last years of High School many years ago, I adopted the approach that I would accept if someone made a decision not to pursue their faith, but I would not accept people who allowed themselves to drift away without making a decision.
This is not at all attempting to be judgemental, but in an individualistic and consumeristic society such as our own, I feel that many people don’t prioritise an engagement with the “spirit” (however you might define that). But most people don’t rule it out. This is why we have a situation were 80% of Australians believe in God but less than a quarter are actively involved in and identified with an expression of faith.
I wonder whether the Da Vinci Code is just another reason to incorporate in a self talk justification for why people are not doing something to connect with the God that deep down they believe in.
McLaren in the article suggests that there is nothing more harmful about the theology in the Da Vinci Code than there is about the theology in the Left Behind series. Which may be true but hardly a good thing when the theology in the Left Behind series (now with video game available) is incredibly damaging.
I can’t claim to be an expert though, because I have been unable to read the book because it is so atrociously written so as to make me want to vomit. If you are interested in contributing to the discussion, our Tangent congregation is planning to see the movie together with subsequent discussion of same recorded and possibly available for download on the podcast network (because the people who go to our congregation are like experts and stuff). Stay tuned for more when (and if) this develops.
May 10th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
I don’t think that the book actually presented much about Jesus. It was more about later gnosticism’s revision onto the historical Jesus. Where McLaren’s comments make sense to me in on the stressing of the humanity of Jesus- a real person- and not what many churches present as ’super Jesus’ who any skeptic will see through. But that wasn’t in the book.
May 10th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
g’day.
i only finished the da-vinci code last saturday, and my feelings to its popularity are pretty well in line with yours.
i have also read the complete Left Behind series, and agree that its theology is not what i have come to believe. Seeing as though this series is aimed at Christian Youth, who may not have studied the Bible in regards to End Times like i have may, it may very well be a bad series for them to read.
Though I found the writing simplistic, I still found the ’story’ enjoyable enough, except for a few books in the middle of the series which just went nowhere.
Again though the theology was not what i’d expect, the descriptive writing of Jesus’ actual appearance at the end of the series was enjoyable, and really painted a picture of what will happen, and peoples reactions to His Second Coming.
So I think any fiction - be it secular or ‘christian’ - is something to never take easily when basing on theology.
May 10th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
Obviously I’m very low-brow… great literature it ain’t, but I quite enjoyed the Da Vinci code as a distracting page-turner. Although I’ve read enough church history to get annoyed every time it veered onto its own bizarre version of this. Someone else I’ve spoken to recently was annoyed at the characters’ failure to need sleep, food, water or visits to the toilet for what appears to be days on end… one can only suspend disbelief to a point.
I agree with the sentiments about faith avoidance though… someone I know who is into this seems to latch on uncritically to any and every “alternative” view of Jesus. He was fascinated with Barbara Theiring’s book (probably the silliest thesis ever written)… now he’s into this Dan Brown rubbish about church conspiracies. Scared of God in my opinion.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
Most totally outside Church people I engage with at all on matters of faith, when I ask them if they beleive in God, usually screw their noses up and say, “dunno” its probably the minority that rule it out. but very few I think are prepared to engage with it because in Janets words, they are scared of God.
As dan or Phil are saying, deep down they do believe.. Just like I did for the years I was so hostile and antagonistic.
Ive read neither Brian McClaren nor Da Vinci code.
May 10th, 2006 at 10:39 pm
The Da Vinci Code was an interesting and entertaining read.
I felt compelled afterwards to conduct some research of my own in regards to some of the specific historical facts that it based itself on.
Such as the Knights Templar. I think George Lucas borrowed heavily from the history of the Knights Templar (Jedi Knights) in the way the two groups had a similar demise. If you’re a Star Wars Geek like me you’ll see the similarities between King Philip IV of France and Emperor Palpatine (wikipedia source). But that’s a little off-topic, sorry for the fanboy outburst there
The painting of the Last Supper still has me… intrigued. I trust that everyone who read the Dan Brown novel went and done a Google Image Search to see for themselves
I found Brown’s Angels & Demons a far more fulfilling read though. If you enjoyed The Da Vinci Code then have a read of it.
May 11th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
Nothing but the dribblings of a discredited French fascist dressed up as a novel. Get that, people? A novel.
May 11th, 2006 at 2:02 pm
Gee Dan, Brown a vomit maker!,guess thats why no one has asked you to review his books.
Agree with you re Tim LaHaye,now there s a vomit maker. He knows what he’s doing - distorting theology and making a quid.I enjoyed Dan Browns books - all a good read;he knows what he’s doing - writing novels and making a quid.LaHaye wants to frighten hell out of people,Brown wants people to spend their cash buying is books.
I think the church is going overboard on a novel;remember its the church thats stoking up the issue - Brown must be laughing all the way to the bank.
Wonder why when the Lahaye crap is selling millions of copies(launched by George WWWWW himself and read by half his cabinet) and making millions for LaHaye, the church hasnt launched a campaign against laHaye for leadig people astray.
May 11th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
” the church hasnt launched a campaign against laHaye for leadig people astray”
Well depends what you mean by the ‘church’ and ‘campaign’. I have certainly opposed it and seen and heard others in the church do the same. Aren’t we doing that right here right now?
May 11th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
Link to a review of Mclaren’s “a generous orthodoxy”. http://www.bpnews.net/bpcolumn.asp?ID=1756
May 16th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
Dan, I think there’s a strong element of what you suggest: “… My problem with all of this is I am not at all sure that the reaction to the Da Vinci Code represents a yearning for Jesus, but a rationalisation for an avoidance of faith…” Appreciate your reflection.
May 18th, 2006 at 2:43 am
The thing that McLaren is missing about this whole thing is inside the front cover of Dan Brown’s book. He says that all the art, documents, secret society, everything that relates to this plotline is truth. While there is the actual society and pieces of art, Dan Brown purpotes all this to be factual evidence to his story and that is the problem. McLaren’s acceptance of the book and his bashing of the Evangelical church is getting old.
The DaVinci Code should be stood up against becuase it a heresy being woven into a novel, in an attempt to subvert the American populace into thinking its okay. McLaren is only fueling the propogation of the Gnostic heresies in this book by saying that we should be open to it and accepting of it. NO, we need to stand up and proclaim the truth that this book is from the pit of hell.
But then again when McLaren doesnt believe in hell and doesnt believe in sin as what it truely is, and wants the church to be ecumenical in nature with all religions, I guess he would support this book, so chocked full of heresy.
Get a backbone McLaren and stand up for the name of Jesus Christ for the truth and stop cowering behind the skirt tails of tolerance and ecumenicalism, you wimp! We are called to proclaim truth to a dying and lost world, not make everyone feel comfortable and happy in there lost state. We can proclaim truth in love but I will not stand by another “christian” who lets heresy invade the body of Christ. I do not stand by McLaren and his false teachings.
Thank you!
May 18th, 2006 at 6:32 am
A True Evangelical Believer, “McLaren is only fueling the propogation of the Gnostic heresies in this book ”
Have you read any of McLarens other works? Seethe with gnostic undertones IMO.
“Get a backbone McLaren and stand up for the name of Jesus Christ for the truth and stop cowering behind the skirt tails of tolerance and ecumenicalism, you wimp! We are called to proclaim truth to a dying and lost world, not make everyone feel comfortable and happy in there lost state. We can proclaim truth in love but I will not stand by another “christian” who lets heresy invade the body of Christ. I do not stand by McLaren and his false teachings.”
Could not agree with you more. But i would add; let us be tolerant of those that have been deceived and so overtaken by sin. The Lord may yet grant repentance.
But such a good post!
May 18th, 2006 at 6:44 pm
Hmmmm….I didn’t get the message that BMcL accepts the bookas anything oter than fictino. He is quite rightly saying that the preoccupation is indicative of a deeper yearnign in peopoles hearts for a faith that doesn’t require a brainectomy to hold on to.
As fo BMcL being a heretic and a wimp…well bring on the wimpy heretic sign up sheet…I’m in!
May 18th, 2006 at 6:55 pm
I wonder if “A True Evangelical Believer” lived under a theocracy, would he have the “The DaVinci Code” destroyed? Would he burn McLaren’s books too?
May 19th, 2006 at 12:26 am
Have you read the da vinci code, Duck? I havnt, but would be interested in your critique if you have.
May 19th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
My daughter gave me a summary of the Da Vinci code. It didn’t sound very interesting, and so I have not read it. Sorry, I can’t remember what she said.
May 19th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
Fair enough, doesnt do much for me either.
May 19th, 2006 at 4:00 pm
Good call Greg….. I think I will have to join you and McClaren in the wimpy heretic club, cowering behind the skirt tails of such foolish virtues as tolerance, understanding & empathy.
May 19th, 2006 at 9:19 pm
Yeah I’ll put my hand up for that club if it means I’m not all hateful and judgemental, cos they seem to be the only options…
May 22nd, 2006 at 10:17 am
Over at My True Self
Jennifer has posted about The Davinci Code and quotes some interesting points by Bishop NT Wright (who is quoted elsewhere on this blog)
Last year I got to hear N.T. Wright (the Anglican Bishop of Durham) speak on the DaVinci Code (He was such a delight to listen to - he’s funny and charming and speaks with that great British accent). One of things he said that stayed with me was that blaming Hollywood for the DaVinci Code is really a misplaced attack. We, The Church, shouldn’t be bemoaning secular society for creating such a thing, we should be taking a long hard look in the mirror and asking why a book about scandal in the church would prosper so much. read the rest of the post here
May 22nd, 2006 at 11:10 pm
ATEB(11#)
Heresy has been invading the body of Christ for 2000 years buddy.
What do you say about all the “heresy” the body of Christ has committed against Gods world? Genocide, Oppression of the poor, payment of indulgences for spiritual merit… the list goes on brother. Or are these “heresies” conveniently explained as being committed by those who are not part of the “true body of Christ” like your good self. This is Gods world, mate. As are all the people and things in it. So give the fire breathing crusade a rest will yer.. Its not the fifteenth century any more..
May 27th, 2006 at 6:04 am
Greg, Thanks a lot for pointing to Jennifer’s log! - a good look in the mirror is seriously overdue. It’s time we stop blaming non-believers for not believing, and start asking ourselves and God how we are being “beside the point”. One thing comes to mind: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their words (I suppose that includes us) that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE that You sent Me”
What would it take for that to happen? I mean, how do we comply with that? What does it look like?
May 27th, 2006 at 9:22 pm
Dan Brown is catering for a willing market. The purveyors of “religion’ have failed dismally throughout the ages. often placing immeasurable burdens on the common folk, for the their own benefit. It is sad to think that those who are disenchanted, and are seeking answers from other sources , may be caught up in this crap.
August 16th, 2006 at 8:59 am
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