November 22, 2006

  • DA VINCI
    CODE

    Recently watch the Da Vinci Code (the movie). I enjoyed it as a Indiana Jones adventure piece. Very interesting how Dan Brown, the author, weaved the fact, myth and fiction to this story. I believe that Dan Brown gets a bad wrap. I am not an author, but if I was writing a novel I obviously would have different characters in my book with different beliefs and thoughts other than mine. If you know anything about Dan Brown he's been pretty quiet when they as him if he believes what he wrote. I believe it's because he wants the book to sell, but more importantly he wants you, the reader/viewer, to wrestle with what you belief and how willing you are to persue the truth. FYI - he attends a church in New England and sings in the choir.

    The church has basically related to it's popularity in two ways:
    1. It's just a novel/movie or story
    2. It's heretical and people will fall away if they don't hear the truth

    I was firmly in the 1st camp in which I've been re-thinking. I should of been a little more engaging on why this story is so interesting. Hindsight - 20/20

    However what I think is interesting about the Novel is that what I believe the main issue that Dan was trying to address in the book totally got overlooked. What is it you ask? Women equality and what great length the church as gone to say that women are less valuable. One thing that Dan Brown did do with amazing historical accuracy (minus the wife of Jesus and mother of his child) is the injustice of Mary Magdalene that the church has let go on for so long. The truth is that their is no recorded record anywhere that would lean towards Mary being a prostitute. Instead what the bible shows that she was a disciple of Jesus which would show how radical Jesus' teachings were. No other Jewish Rabbi discipled women (women where able to study in the synagoge, but never follow a rabbi). Jesus radically included women in his ministry and saw them as equals... Here is another interesting bible quiz for you - who found Jesus at the tomb? Women! During the time of Jesus' death guess who could not testify in court as an eye witness? You got it, women! Injustice of women has gone on for so long I can not wait until we put some of our dirty past behind us. The bible (specifically Jesus) speaks directly against injustice.

    I recently listened to a couple speakers who spoke at Mars Hill Church - Seattle on the Da Vinci Code. It was excellent. If you want to listen to it click here. They wrote a book called The DaVinci Code Adventure.

    (After
    thought - however I don't want to see injustice go the other way either
    and I see many extreme feminist who would gladly see that happen)

Comments (3)

  • Hi! Thanks for your subscription and for your comments - glad you enjoyed my photos! I find your blog engaging and thoughtful - I think you are dead-on about the main issue The DaVinci Code was addressing. I found the book engrossing (read it all in one night) and look forward to seeing the movie soon.

  • Hello! :) yes i am alive....barely, but i am!! :) my thanksgiving was good...i loved being around my family!! how have you been? its been awhile since ive talked to you! i hope things are going good!!

  • RYC: Great comments! Sorry it took me so long to respond.

    I appreciate your challenging thoughts. I always like it when someone doesn't throw a blanket agreement out there. I enjoy specific thoughts and ideas!

    I can see how personal my remarks were regarding the church. I had grown up in the Methodist church (some traditional, some contemporary) and for a few years had sort of left the Church. Not in anger as much as indifference. My needs were met elsewhere, you might say. But, in the last year, I have felt a real yearning to recconnect with Christian community. I am still working out what that means, hence my blogging.:)

     I don't mean to come off as emotional in my posts as I do. The truth is that I have encountered some of the most wonderful authentic people I know in the last church I was a part of. Having moved recently, I am in that "shopping" mode of looking for a new place to worship. I think it tends to bring out some of these ideas.

    I do feel that I will be taking a huge step forward in the church that I have been attending so far. It is a small church plant that is a couple of years old. It is in a huge place of transition (the pastor and worship leader have both left to pursue calls elsewhere) and I have some new friendships there that I am willing to work to grow. I genuinely love discovering what people are about and what their "story" is. I also think service is a big part of who I am and I want to learn to love these people and go from there, I guess.

    Great questions! I am not sure I answered them all. But, this is too long for now, so I'll look forward to the next leg of our conversation.

    Blessings.

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