The Da Vinci Code ruckus
Michael Hidalgo has a interesting article over at the ooze about the ruckus in the reaction to Dan Brown’s book the Da Vinci code. He poses an interesting question….
“Many people are agitated by the “facts” contained in The Da Vinci Code. Maybe there is something more important than whether or not all the facts are correct … maybe we are missing the point. There have been countless hours dedicated toward Brown’s claims in his fictitious work that claim among other things that Jesus was married, that Constantine and the Church manipulated history to convince people of Jesus’ Deity, and that Da Vinci was in fact a woman (okay the last one I made up, he did say that Da Vinci was the Grand Master of the Priory of Sion though). As professors, scholars and average citizens have wrestled over the contents of this novel there is one thing that has confused me. Why if this is not true do people get so irate when proving that it is not true? Why are some so dogmatically opposed to this book? (wait … it’s fiction right?)”
He then goes on to say that God doesn’t defend so why should we…
“I guess I ask this question more of the Christian community because we serve a God who doesn’t defend himself. As a matter of fact, he doesn’t even try to prove that he exists. He was no time in the Bible telling us simply that he is, “In the beginning God …” In the ancient world in which that was written all creation myths began with the cosmic battle and birth of the gods. The God of the Bible just was, and he never seeks to defend himself. The Bible also never lays out its own “proof texts” claiming to be all that it says it is. It just is. Yet we spend a lot of time attacking those who say that what we believe is not real.”
Read the full article here
June 17th, 2006 at 11:31 am
I’m glad someone’s raised this issue, it’s something that’s been bothering me for a while, not just about da Vinci of course, but everything. Why do Christians feel so threatened all the time? Sure, there’s a place for apologetics, but the church seems to be paranoid these days. do we really think our arguments and angst are needed by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s purposes. I can’t recall Jesus getting whiny when people didn’t believe in Him, or having to drown them in dot point arguments. He’d just make some pointed remark that had the potential to redemptively strip away one of their defences if they’d let it. When he got really angry with people, it was because they were oppressing others. If we were really secure in our own faith, wouldn’t we be a lot more relaxed about it, and give people more room to make their journeys towards God at His speed, not ours?
June 17th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
Hi bestpickle,
Why do Christians feel so threatened? I guess it’s because, in our hope to maintain and enlarge the “flock” the church (in its various guises) has sought to find a common ground in morals, ideals and ethics and, in doing so, has gradually eroded the credibility of the scripture. There seem to be many excuses for this ie anti discrimination, political correctiveness etc,.
BUT, the word of God is just, it stands alone and, if we all abided by it, our problems would be solved. Unfortunately, we are a pretty hopeless lot and that’s why God sent his Son to bail us out.
Believe me Bestpickle, I can sympathize with you. I’ve been navel gazing about how weak our human nature is and how rigid the “church” is, in defining itself in terms of “showing the way” to society and even dealing with its own people.
Keep asking questions, keep seeking, you’ll be better off in the end. I Pray God will point you in the right direction.
June 18th, 2006 at 1:29 am
Sorry about that Bestpickle, I sound worse than John Howard.
June 18th, 2006 at 7:59 am
LOL! It’s not our fault if politicians so abuse the language that a person can’t say ordinary things without sounding like they’re loading in all that garbage. I’m a pickle, not a prickle
I don’t offend that easily.
June 18th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
I think for many… our God is too small. It’s up to us to save society, to save the world, to maintain the credibility of the faith and the church so that people will find Jesus. That God is powerful, sovereign, well able to reveal Himself, and that our only job is to obey Him and leave all else in His hands (if you’ll pardon my sexist language) undermines our own sense of self importance.
June 26th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
you have all got to be kidding
we are obliged to give a reason for the faith that we hold (an apologetic) and this includes exposing and refuting heresy and lies when we see it… if this were not true we should not say anything about Gnosticism and just let every one get sucked in.. or the prosperity heresy false arguements for tithing, the supremacy of Grace etc … I would hate to have you guys on my side in a fight… Of course God doesnt need us to fight his fights for him but standing up for the truth is what he has commanded us to do!
God doesnt ‘try’ to prove he exists.. he does it so that we can all see plain as day and with pure logic. Christians don’t have to have faith that God exists.. this is not Christianity, we know God exists but we have faith that he is willing and able to rescue us through his son. I know the brakes on my car exist but i have faith that they will stop the car when i am coming up to the traffic lights.
there are good and bad arguements against the Da Vinci Code but Jesus calls us to turn the other cheek not to stick our head in the sand
June 28th, 2006 at 10:43 pm
hey. i was trying to provoke you guys.. maybe i should resort to swearing like lance
June 29th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Blessed are you who believe and yet have not seen…isn;t that what Jesus said? Of course you ahve to have faith that God exists - a being that is whithout beginning or end? Not need faith - you’re kidding right? A being that we can;t see, feel, smell or imagine? Not need faith? You’re joking me!
June 29th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
can you believe and not have faith?
i believe in John howard (i don’t ‘hope’ or have faith that he exists) yet do i have faith in him to have all australians best interests at heart?
i believe you can logically prove that ‘a God’ of some sort exists and no faith for that is required, but i have faith that he is described acuratley in the Bible and that he will do what the Bible says he will do…
I have faith in Christ yet cannot logically prove his existence.. (there is of course evidence of a documentary basis which is could be argued provides proof beyond a reasonable doubt but this is different)
June 29th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
belief in and faith in are different animals
June 29th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
Yes that ius true - lot’s of people believe that God exists but don;t plavce their faith in him - so I guess all I can say is…I was trying to provoke you …!
June 29th, 2006 at 8:54 pm
oooooooooooo yeah i love being provoked!
i was thinking that because you can’t prove the non existence of God …therefore… non belief in God is an exercise of faith - not the other way around