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The Da Vinci Code.....

So the book makes the idealogical Christianity much more acceptable than the real/current Christianity.
 
One big point that stood out to me that I don't think Mr. Brown researched was that the Christian sabbath was borrowed from pagan beliefs. Yes, that is a theory, but far from fact. It is actually one of those theories that most Chritian scholars roll their eyes at. The general consensus is that it was moved for more of a fuck you to judiaism. Anyway, not a bad read.
 
David said:
I guess I'll let you off with that one then. Only once though, I'm going to hold you to an impossibly harder to reach standard, because I like you.:p
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this is just so paradoxically wrong sounding.
weirdo
8(
 
If anyone is interest ABC did a special report on this:

http://www.abcnewsstore.com/store/i...e=&product_code=S031103 01&category_code=HOME
ABC NEWS SPECIAL: JESUS, MARY AND DA VINCI:

Price: $29.95
Description: The best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code has sparked a vigorous debate by raising a number of provocative questions -- most notably, was the historical Jesus really a married man? Could he have even been a father? Do his direct descendants still survive today? In this hour-long ABC News special, "Jesus, Mary and da Vinci," Elizabeth Vargas explores these and other controversial theories about the lives of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, who some scholars believe was not a prostitute, as she is often portrayed, but rather Jesus' wife -- and perhaps even the mother of his child. The Da Vinci Code, a mystery novel that claims to be based in part on historical fact, contains claims that Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife, that she fled Jerusalem following his crucifixion carrying their child - and that she was perhaps the legendary Holy Grail herself. In France, Jesus' descendants married into French royalty. This story, it is said, was long protected and perpetuated by a secret society of some of the most famous men in history, including Leonardo da Vinci and Sir Isaac Newton. Vargas travels to the Holy Land, Italy, Scotland, France and other locations around the world to investigate what evidence exists to support some of these extraordinary claims in an effort to separate fact from legend. Among those she speaks with are religion and art history scholars, as well as a Scottish aristocrat who says he thinks his family married into Jesus' bloodline in the 12th century -- though he assures Vargas that, if true, the blood line, "by the time it gets to me...will be very, very, very diluted."
 
Actually i was gonna get my parents to watch that but i dont think it ever aired......IT never came on when it was supposed to:\ That was last week actually
 
nowonmai said:
yeah, I read that a few years ago... it's a good read alright. Read "Foucalt's Pendulum" afterwards :)
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Yes! (it's by Umberto Eco)

And "Head of God" - can't remeber the author, sorry
 
Left to Right said:
Finally found time to read The Da Vinci Code and found it vaguely entertaining enough to finish. The theory posed was interesting and I found all the references to paganism and the sacrid femenine really pretty.
The writing, on the other hand, was lackluster to say the least. It seems that Dan Browns only method of creating suspense is to keep the reader in the dark about revelations that are either major influences in the characters themselves or their decisions throughout the book. I found this to be a pissweak technique as it present the reader with what appears to be a puzzle, but then on closer inspection, finds pieces are missing. It also alienate the reader from the main characters because it's hard to empathise with a character's repeated emotional reaction to something (an object or memory) without knowing what it is. The worst example of this is Sofie's reoccuring memory of a traumatic childhod experience. She moans about it for many chapters before revealing it. The time it took to finally be revealed makes it slightly worse than Sauniere's final poetic clue, which is pathetically revealed to the reader one line at a time, each seperated by many pages.
If you aren't familier with this theory, like I wasn't, then this book is worth a look. Then again, I'm sure there are many better places to learn about it.
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I'm currently half-way through and I agree with your sentiments 100% Left to Right.

Although the story and plot is undoubtedly intriguing, I keep having the feeling I could have written it with more finesse. The writing reminds me of a bad beach mystery you buy at airports. Obviously Dan Brown is a better researcher and thinker than he is a word craftsman.

And the drip-feed of vital elements in the plot isn't striking me as clever; rather annoying. I am having to restrain myself from flipping forward to find out what the fuck Sophie saw her grandpa do in "that room" because frankly, the references to it are pissing me off.

I knew a lot of the things about the sacred feminine, having studied paganism myself.... glad *somebody's* debunking the "evil pentagram" myth. ;) But the math stuff isn't doing much for me.

Despite that, I'm enjoying it, and haven't put it down yet, so.... :D
 
Finished DVC about 3 weeks ago...like SLM and LTR, I thought the underlying concepts were interesting and well-researched, but the writing was a bit pedestrian.

I had already read a good bit on Gnosticism so I was generally familiar with the "hijacking" of Christianity by the Constantinians at Nicea. I think a decent argument could be made that some hijacking occurred even before then, under Paul's tenure.

I haven't read any of Brown's other works, but it's my understanding that the Langdon protagonist appears in several other of his novels...that kind of turns me off too. I sorta feel like I just read the latest Mickey Spillane installment.

Eco's "The Name of the Rose" parallels DVC in plot device and is a much better read, imo.
 
duneonthemoon said:
This whole topic is awfully ridiculous, noone can prove anything no matter how hard they try.
Sorry for the pessimistic attitude but this a discussion for old men with nothing better to do, surely we can direct our thoughts to more meaningful ideas. :D
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how are the ideas represented in this book not meaningful? i think there are some very potent topics covered, ones which should be discussed. we owe it to ourselves in this day and age to talk about things that were previously almost illegal to talk about. had dan brown writen this book 150 years earlier, the reaction to it would have been swift and violent.

my personal thoughts on the book: fantastic piece of literature. i dont read all that often (university had soured me on reading a bit....i never stoped reading text books). this book had me literally entranced, i read it in just over 4 hours. i wouldnt have put it down if the house was on fire.

I loved the combination of fiction, and extremely well researched facts. Brown is especially adept at weaving little bits of trivia into the story such as it seems perfectly natural. Several of these trivia shocked me completely, such as the origins of several words and the hidden meaning in some of our pop culture even today (especially the disney movies).

I think this piece also bears alot of light on some issues that catholics would rather not talk about. and yet, with coverups and scandal in the vatican going on even today, i believe it is crucial that people face these issues head on. Doing so, organized religion may actually finally learn something from its previous blunders. without this constructive criticism, its my opinion that the world will continue to move away from the church.

The idea of a world without organized religion is not something i necessarily oppose; but the concept of it does bring about some rather troubling possibilities that humanity has never faced before. i' love to hear what others have to say on this aspect that the book really does bring to light...the idea that there is no one coduit to god, that we can all find him in our own way and dont need the church as they claim.
 
I just thought it was funny how the creator of this post put it in so many different forums at first. Also, I want to fight whoever wrote this "Da Vinci Code" bullcrap. That is all.
 
Two weeks ago I read the first 3/4 in a day. I found it to be interesting but annoying to a point that I haven't found the motivation to pick it up again. Someone mentioned that the suspense tactics were indeed annoying and weak and I wholeheartedly agree. The secret Sophie had of her Grandfather was dragged out so long I lost the desire to find out about it. Naturally once I did, I was let down (sex, who could have guessed?)

I plan on picking it up again tonight, I hope the end was worth it :)

I must say though, that I found the five star pattern of venus around the sun every 8 years was interesting as well as other pieces of information.

The author's writing left me wanting more. More character development, more of everything.
 
Xherrus said:
I just thought it was funny how the creator of this post put it in so many different forums at first. Also, I want to fight whoever wrote this "Da Vinci Code" bullcrap. That is all.
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HAhaha....Did i???? If so.....Why does it matter? It just shows how much i liked the book

And why is it Bullcrap? The premise of the book was not meant to be a taken as irrifutible facts. But just to raise some questions...

It doesnt trash Jesus or his message but shows how humanity can twist and transfrom it to something totally different
 
nearly finished reading it!!... loved everybit of it so far.
its very rare that i read fiction!

anyone in the UK.. channel 4 this thursday (3rd feb) 9pm-11.10pm

" Documentary on the fact and fiction surrounding Dan Brown's international bestseller, The Da Vinci Code. Brown insists that although the work is fiction, much of the book is based on fact. But is the Catholic Church involved in an elaborate conspiracy? Is the Holy Grail held by a sinister society? Is the truth about the grail hidden in Leonardo's Last Supper? Tony Robinson tries to track down the truth."
 
^^^I think there may have been some dubious acts, simply with the way the church acts in public, and the amount of topics they tend to ignore, IE Hitler. I can't say much more on this, other than they are not completely open with everything, as is seen by their private libraries.
 
Anyone else feel that the classroom scenes were ludicrous beyond even cartoon levels? The 0.3 dimensional students show stupendous enthusiasm in their lessons and instant understanding (with audible gasps) to each.

A teacher's wet dream of a class.
 
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