Hiya Bookworms,

Anyone read this book yet? A worldwide bestseller with 36 million copies.

Right now I am reading another of Dan Brown's Books, Angels and Demons, and Next will be the Da Vinci Code.

As a Christan is it wrong to read this book, since its contents are Sacrilegious,or Blasphemous? Even if it's fiction - all of it, I know, is a Figment of Dan Brown's Imagination, his own theories concerning the Holy Grail.

Farriel Wrote:
"I'm sure that people understand that The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction, but it leaves me bemused when they attack it so fiercely and make scathing remarks that undermine the quality of such a stunning work of fiction.

"It is important to remember that a reader does not have to agree with every word in the novel. Just the same way you watch a highly emotional true life story played out nicely on TV, you accept most parts of the story but surely not everything. All the movie serves to do is provoke your senses and leaves you debating what's fictional from what's factual. I think you should view The Da Vinci Code in such ways and let others judge the book for themselves."
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-3236.32.html#msg186659

I dont think we christians should make so much fuss about the issue, nothing which is not of God will stand the test of time................i dont lose sleep over falsehood, though i keep my guard.

I have listened to a detailed dissection of the Da vinci code on the History channel and i consider it merely informative, and a calculated attempt to discredit the truth, so why fight it? you may search on history.com for any information of interest on the origin and the intent of the da vince code.

I've read it, it's a good, light read...

It's a work of fiction and shouldn't be taken as anything more than that...

exactly!!!

You made a good choice by starting with Angels and Demons, it's a better book that the Da Vinci Code and it sticks much closer to history (especially the role of Bernini). The Da Vinci Code is mostly fiction with a tad of history interwoven (not the Magdalena connection, but rather the role of the Knights Templar and the way Opus Dei is organised). You shouldn't take it too seriously and just enjoy the read.
Deception Point is his best work and Digital Fortress is sub-par, not worth buying.

and how is opus dei organised?

Read it - and as reviews note, it's a brainy thriller. Has enough potential to have you questioning your spiritual beleifs and ethos bla bla.The more you read, the more you want to read. I am a Brown fan! They're now turning it into a film, and apparently the Roman Catholic church (of which i am a member hehe) is going ballistic on one or more of what they deem 'irrational depictions of the catholic church'. There's always been controversies like these with epics like these (passion of the christ - remember?). But like Seun said, personally i think fiction is fiction, film or read - as long as when I close my book I drift back to reality, I'm happy!

The Wikipedia has a very ellaborate article on Opus Dei (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_Dei). At first sight it seems rather apologetical of Opus Dei, but informative nonetheless.

A more critical view on Opus Dei can be found here:
http://www.odan.org/index.htm

Nferyn, I agree with you that Deception Point is his best work. As a matter of fact, it's one of the most ingenious work of fictions I've ever read. Simply brilliant. Digital Fortress was also cool. I'm surprised you didn't enjoy it.

And to you all who understand that The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction and appreciate it in that light, I commend you on such objective perspectives.

is it true that "A woman's test is material. A man's test is a woman?"

hey guys, whats up , i have read all of dan brown's books, from davinci code to angels and demons to digital fortress to deception point, and i will like to think he is a darn good writer , he knows how to keep you glued and as it is the content is a bit , i dont have the right words but i would like to think that if it will affect your faith in any way then my advise is to stay clear, but i think i will recommend it ,

who has ever read o Toni morrison, that black chick that wrote 'beloved" , she is a writer i will recommend if you like books with depth

Farriel:

Nferyn, I agree with you that Deception Point is his best work. As a matter of fact, it's one of the most ingenious work of fictions I've ever read. Simply brilliant. Digital Fortress was also cool. I'm surprised you didn't enjoy it.

Don't get me wrong, Digital Fortress was OK, but he took the idea of inserting cliffhangers a little too far and the depth of the subject is not comparable to his other books. It's an OK thriller, but nothing more than that.

The thing I like about we Christians is that we are so liberal to the point of putting our Money to support a Book that Insults, Destroys and make all kind of wild allegations about the foundations of our faith….  There is nothing under the sun that has not been said about Jesus Christ and we Christians mostly support it directly or indirectly. Yes Dan Brown said his book is a fiction, but also said most of the things inside are facts… I watched a documentary where they researched and tried to find out if the content of the book were true… They even got to the supposedly surviving blood- relative of Jesus,  The guy laughed it all as a huge joke…,  They even showed the man who really started this story and It is from his own book that Dan Brown copied some of his stuff. The guy denied the Dan Brown theory flat. , And the documentary proved that Dan Brown lied to come to his conclusion. But guess what??,   Two out of every four Christians that read that book has their faith shaken… Non Christians are happy about the book because to them it is true… And Christians themselves push the book to the Number One Best Seller…. A Book that Says the Biblical Jesus is not what the Bible says he is,   A book contesting Biblical facts that has be researched for ages. Now we have many Christians waiting in anticipation for the release of the film to put their money and support it….  If Christians don’t stand up for what they believe in, who will  Oopss!! I forgot it’s just a mare Novel!,  Not so long ago a Woman in America posed naked as the Crucified Christ,  I am not here to judge anybody or impose my Morals, but as a human if you don’t stand for anything, you would fall for everything. I personally think Christ Suffered an agonizing Death on the cross to be ridiculed and Insulted by Dan Brown and my fellow Christians…,

PS: (Food for thought)
I didn’t watch or support Bruce Willis “Tears of the Sun: (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314353/)… it was supposed to be a fiction, but they said Present Day NIGERIA… and showed this savage WAR…. When there was no WAR in Nigeria…of cause people didn’t see the Damaging effects of these…. Lots of Westerners who don’t know anything about Nigeria actually believed they were watching PRESENT DAY NIGERIA in that movie,  Some Nigerians in the US tried to protest this, but others laughed and supported it with their money,  But they are the same ones who would be called Monkeys-Savages by people who saw the movie…,

@ KHAMILEON
You have to realise that there is absolutely no evidence for the existence of the historical Jesus. It's very true that The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction, but as far as historical research is concerned, so it the new testament. The only fundamental difference is that the new testament has got centuries of tradition behind it, whereas for the Da Vinci Code, it is quite obvious that it is fiction.

So if you believe in the historical Jesus, please do so, but realise that your only foundation for that belief is your faith. There is no historical evidence for his existence, let alone for the truthfulness of the stories in the new testament.

Topic Summary
Posted on: Yesterday at 10:22:56 AMPosted by: nferyn 
Insert Quote
@ KHAMILEON
You have to realise that there is absolutely no evidence for the existence of the historical Jesus. It's very true that The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction, but as far as historical research is concerned, so it the new testament. The only fundamental difference is that the new testament has got centuries of tradition behind it, whereas for the Da Vinci Code, it is quite obvious that it is fiction.

So if you believe in the historical Jesus, please do so, but realise that your only foundation for that belief is your faith. There is no historical evidence for his existence, let alone for the truthfulness of the stories in the new testament.


@NEFERYN Have you read the HISTORY OF THE JEWS by FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS?? ,  A Jewish Historian who lived around (AD 37 - circa 100 AD),  if you have not please do before saying that. Because he Mentioned JESUS and talked a bit about him and how Pilate crucified him,   There are also Historians of old who are not Christians who wrote too

KHAMILEON:

@NEFERYN Have you read the HISTORY OF THE JEWS by FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS?? , A Jewish Historian who lived around (AD 37 - circa 100 AD), if you have not please do before saying that. Because he Mentioned JESUS and talked a bit about him and how Pilate crucified him, There are also Historians of old who are not Christians who wrote too

Flavius Josephus is the [b]only [/b]historian that lived during the time of Jesus' supposed life that makes a mention about him. It is highly disputed that the passage where Josephus mentions Jesus is authentic. The very least we can say about is is that it has been spiced up, but there is also sufficient evidence to support the position that it is a later day insertion into the original text.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephus_on_Jesus

So if you believe in the historical Jesus, please do so, but realise that your only foundation for that belief is your faith. There is no historical evidence for his existence, let alone for the truthfulness of the stories in the new testament.
[quote][/quote]


@NFERYN, your faithlessness in the Divine, is not only the issue, you are insensitive and over zealous in pursuing your own emptiness, because making a statement, where you call Christ Jesus, Historical Jesus, is but the least insulting and intolerant of the Christians faith. Its statement or acts like these, that sparked the death splash we now see in many countries including my Dear country Nigeria, because of a cartoonist depiction of Prophet Mohammad,

@ NFERYN If you dare say this same statement about The Gods or Prophet of islam, Be sure you will have passed a death wish on your self, the day you ever visit the Middle East or northern Nigeria.

Dan Brown. Should do one of Mohammed too and say its fiction and then lest see what happens to him.

wills:

@NFERYN, your faithlessness in the Divine, is not only the issue, you are insensitive and over zealous in pursuing your own emptiness, because making a statement, where you call Christ Jesus, Historical Jesus, is but the least insulting and intolerant of the Christians faith. Its statement or acts like these, that sparked the death splash we now see in many countries including my Dear country Nigeria, because of a cartoonist depiction of Prophet Mohammad,

The only emptiness I have is the imaginary one you see in me. Jesus Christ, Joshua the annointed one, or whatever his name may be, either is or is not a real person that lived on this earth. I'm not denying the possibility that he did live, but there is not sufficient historical evidence that he actually did live. Are you advocating self-censure? Do you think that some things, such as ther veracity of the gospel story cannot be researched because that would be insulting? Sometimes I wonder if we're inabiting the same planet. Respect for religion is just a cloak for censorship and closed-mindedness.

wills:

@ NFERYN If you dare say this same statement about The Gods or Prophet of islam, Be sure you will have passed a death wish on your self, the day you ever visit the Middle East or northern Nigeria.

There is one significant difference. There is sufficient evidence that the historical Muhammed existed. The same cannot be said about the historical Jesus.
Anyway, do you think its is justified that I would have to fear for my life only because of my philosophical stance? Are you advocating that Christians return to their old ways of intolerance on a level that would even make the most hardened Muslim suicide bomber shudder?

PS: talking about the God[b]s[/b] of Islam is highly insultive to Muslims as well. Do you demand respect for your religion while you're not willing to offer it yourself for other religions

nferyn:

PS: talking about the God[b]s[/b] of Islam is highly insultive to Muslims as well. Do you demand respect for your religion while you're not willing to offer it yourself for other religions

Having Lived in Kebbi North Nigerian State, interacted and worked with many Muslim, I think I can say, that I am Most tolerant of Islam as a religion and their beliefs, trying to paint me as being highly insultive to Muslims, because of a simply typographical error, of adding the letter “s” to the word God,… is very lame.

Historical facts , Figures, what ever…… It’s a Pity you searched so hard to find one about Jesus The Christ, but cant get any, and thus came up with your own philosophical stance.

If, You say, I am advocating that Christians return to their old ways of intolerance, it simply means that you my beloved friend and brother (nferyn) agree that as at now Christians are at least a bit tolerant, compared to the past, wouldn’t you say thats a positive thing in Christendom, or was it a mistake?

wills:

Having Lived in Kebbi North Nigerian State, interacted and worked with many Muslim, I think I can say, that I am Most tolerant of Islam as a religion and their beliefs, trying to paint me as being highly insultive to Muslims, because of a simply typographical error, of adding the letter “s” to the word God,… is very lame.

My appologies. I didn't know it was a typographical error. On of the things Muslims reproach Christians for is the trinity. That's why I thought it wasn't a typographical error. Once more, my appologies.

wills:

Historical facts , Figures, what ever…… It’s a Pity you searched so hard to find one about Jesus The Christ, but can't get any, and thus came up with your own philosophical stance.

No I didn't come up with my philosophical stance. I was born an atheist and even though I asked many believers, none of their answers convinced me in the least and it was not of a lack of trying.

wills:

If, You say, I am advocating that Christians return to their old ways of intolerance, it simply means that you my beloved friend and brother (nferyn) agree that as at now Christians are at least a bit tolerant, compared to the past, wouldn’t you say thats a positive thing in Christendom, or was it a mistake?

Oh absolutely. Especially the Catholic church and some liberal Baptist churches have moved a great deal in the direction of tolerance and common sense. Some other churches though show a level of intolerance that is reminiscent of the old days of the [i]Holy [/i]Inquisition.

And what churches are those, Nferyn?

Farriel:

And what churches are those, Nferyn?

You can find some of them here:
http://www.uwosh.edu/colleges/cols/rel_evol_sun.htm

i got the audio version of the da vinci code on my mac but i havent been able listen to the whole of it. dang i never knew listening to audio books could be so borin. Maybe i'll appreciate the story better by readin the hard copy so if anybody could lend me theirs for couple of days i'll be glad

I don't have the hard copy of it myself. Bought a hard copy of any of my favourite author last in 1999. Been enjoying the digital versions ever since. EBOOKS.

I could send a digital copy of The Da Vince Code (a .lit version) if you wouldn't mind.

ghanaboy:

i got the audio version of the da vinci code on my mac but i havent been able listen to the whole of it. dang i never knew listening to audio books could be so borin. Maybe i'll appreciate the story better by readin the hard copy so if anybody could lend me theirs for couple of days i'll be glad

I do have a copy, of the Book, but now a colleague at work is reading it, I can lend you when she is through with it, but how do I get it to you and get it back. I am in Ph, where are U?

well i cant believe that davinci codehas generated so much controversies, well , i guess with a book like that , who can say, well i just tink that davinci code or not , if you havent experience the beauty that comes with knowing God ie jesus , its really a shame , i aint talking about just talking religon, trust me what i have learnt by simply resting in God, i dont think any book or evidence or even lack of it can take that away , have experienced a beauty that can only come from having not just knowing jesus but actually experiencing him , its like being in love thrice over !!!!!!

i read the book some time back, enjoyed it!!!!!!!!!!!!!.some hell of a fiction novel?!?.

I've read the book, nice story. I must have skipped the part or page where Mr. Brown said it was not the work of fiction! Why are people screaming for his head? what is it they are not saying?

wills:

I do have a copy, of the Book, but now a colleague at work is reading it, I can lend you when she is through with it, but how do I get it to you and get it back. I am in Ph, where are U?

Wills man dat will be really cool. i'm always on the move cos of my job but i visit okrika atleast twice a month so i guess i can pick it up n return it in a couple weeks.

ghanaboy:

Wills man that will be really cool. i'm always on the move because of my job but i visit okrika atleast twice a month so i guess i can pick it up n return it in a couple weeks.

Ghanaboy No problemoo!!, Just Let me Know when next you will be coming to Okrika, and i will try and make The Book avaliable by Then,

The Da Vinci Code is a fast-paced action-packed thriller that leaves a lot of questions unanswered. For example, is the disciple seating to the right of Jesus in Da Vinci's painting of The Last Supper really a woman? And if a woman, was she married to Jesus? I have had the opportunity of subjecting this painting to a close-up scrutiny, and although I lack the insight of an expert, I think the disciple does really look like a woman. Just like a couple of other figures in the painting.This is a great work of fiction, and inspite of the controversy it has generated, it remains still a fiction with perhaps just a modicum of non-fictional reality. For your information, the film will be hitting the cinemas next month, and for those of you who are really interested in digging up some hard facts, I will recommend you to read Secrets of The Code, edited by Dan Burstein