Why I Will See The Da Vinci Code
I will stand in line to see The Da Vinci Code on May 19. Let me tell you why.
I read the book - along with approximately 40 million other people - and enjoyed it. It’s a page-turner. Hollywood usually fails to produce movies that equal the novels they are based upon, but I’m betting this one will deliver. Can you remember the last bad Tom Hanks movie? And Ron Howard directs the film. Backdraft, Apollo 13, Ransom, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man - all great flims directed by “Opie.” Da Vinci will be a home run also.
I know, I know. As a Christian I should boycott this blasphemous attack on the church. But how can I defend Christianity, the historical Jesus - or my faith in Him - if I am not familiar with all sides of the Da Vinci debate? This movie will not shake my beliefs - I can distinguish fact from fiction - it will challenge me. I did my homework. Unfortunately, Dan Brown didn’t. Da Vinci is riddled with inaccuracies, distortions, and falsehoods. I’ve read a few books refuting “facts” from the novel - and I’ve brushed up on answers to the major claims from it. Now I’m looking forward to seeing an exciting flick - and I’m ready to pick it apart.
Finally, I think some good will actually come from watching this movie. It seems that others share those sentiments.
A two-hour movie will not cause my faith in Jesus to crumble. But my faith is not blind. Nor does it disagree with history, with reason, with logic, with reality. I embrace the opportunity to sharpen my belief system.
“Faith is reason grown courageous.” - Sherwood Eddy
the Finnie's said:
Good for you planning to see the film. Personally I can’t believe that somany Christians are giving this book & filmso much credibility byboycotting it. Whilst the book is a light hearted action adventure novel, it has absolutely no impact upon christian belief or doctrine. OK, it denegrates aspects of Catholicism, but does little more than that. Ultimately this book is about older men justifying perverted sexual practices, nothing more.
Just like the Gospel of Judas, this book has no bearing on Christian belief, doctrine or values and offers nothing to the reader by way of serious evidence. The Da Vinci Code is pure fiction.
May I recommend Ben Witherington’s Blog as a helpful source: http://benwitherington.blogspot.com
I personally won’t bother with the film, purely because the book isn’t great and as you say, Hollywood never turns out a film as good as the book, also I don’t like Tom Hanks films, I find them tedious (Forrest Gump being a prime example).
Myrna said:
Nathan, you said “Can you remember the last bad Tom Hanks movie?” Yes, the movie Castaway was a stinker! And there was another one he was in, he lived in this boarding house and was a bank robber or something, bad movie!
Nathan said:
Thanks for the comment, Myrna! I actually liked Castaway, but Amber tells me that you’re right, “That movie is a stinker!” I didn’t see the other one you mentioned, but I take your word for it. I guess I have to retract my statement. and the initial reviews for The Da Vinci Code are lukewarm at best. Maybe Tom is in a slump!
aggrodude said:
As a Christian I was way more offended by Brown’s writing than any heresy contained in the Da Vinci Code. The ideas he seems to have convinced himself of are old, nearly as old as the story of Jesus itself. It does seem to be true that people are buying into it though. Using a fictitious novel as a base for your beliefs is scary. I did enjoy the book, but his use of cliffhangers at the end of every chapter (and his chapters are like 3 pages each) was insulting - but effective since I read the book in about 2 days.