Friday, May 19, 2006

OK, I watched it

Well, I had to go see what all the hype was about. I have heard so much about the book, that I had to see it. I've had so many conversations about the book (and I anticipate many more), that I had to find out what it was all about.

Tonight, around a dozen of us went to see the Da Vinci Code together. Then we went out for dinner and discussion. I had high expectations for the movie, and maybe they were a little too high. It wasn't a bad movie, but it wasn't exactly a blockbuster either. I'm sure it will do well at the box office, in spite of reviews. People love conspiracy and secret society type stuff.

I'd have to say the thing I most enjoyed about the movie is the opportunity it presents for conversation and education. There are a lot of unorthodox and untrue ideas that are put forth in the story, and yet there is no really new idea being presented by the story, just a lot of em all at once. If you do go see the movie, I recommend going to see it with friends, and to go somewhere for discussion afterward. There are tons of succinct resources available for scrutinizing the fiction that presents itself as fact.

The real question one has to ask is--what's the allure of the fiction? Why do people want to spend more time trying to dig into the conspiracy than examining the claims of Jesus as they have been handed down from the first century?

I think it might just be because folks are waiting to see it lived out. People are wanting to get in discussions about the book, and about Jesus. Are you equipped? And are you living a life that let's others see the beauty of a life that follows Messiah?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

In this post, my old friend asks, "what's the allure of the fiction" presented in the Da Vinci Code? I submit that another, perhaps related, question is more important to ask: Why was this fiction created? Remarkably, the author of the book, Dan Brown, has stated in an interview that, although the story of the Da Vinci Code is fictional, the historical "facts" asserted in the story are true. And most of those same "facts" not only are demonstrably false but also undermine the very core of the Christian faith by refuting Christ's divinity.

Thus, insofar as it contains professed "facts" about Christian history and theology, the Da Vinci Code is an intentional work of heresy. Logically, then, the movie reflect this same purpose, at least in part. (After all, it is reasonable to assume that money is primarily driving Sony's production of the film.) This is why I urge Christians to boycott the film.

Before you viscerally reject boycotting the film, consider this analogy: Imagine they made a clever, mystery-thriller movie with a renowned director and some of the best actors of our generation. The plot of the movie is simple enough: one of the most extraordinary events of human history was actually a fictional story used to obtain and protect political power. Now imagine that the "fictional story" is the Holocaust. Would you pay money to see this movie? Would you expect Jews to do so in order to use it as a "teaching tool" for disbelievers? (Keep in mind that there are many people, remarkably, who believe that the Holocaust did not occur.)

We need not provide financial support to heresy in order to combat that heresy or share the love (and truth) of Christ.