You've reached me on this post ma friend. In a most heart felt way I can tell you about another work of fiction which bamboozled me into believn something that weren;t right.

I was most dissappointed to learn that Star Wars and SUperman are also fictional tales. I was all set up to become a jedi master, when I learnt that there aint no such thing as teh force. That George Lucas Sun0gun tricked me into believin there was a chance I could be a padawan.

Books be dangerous things you are correct sit. Maybe we should have a good book burnin.

Mark, calm down!
Da Vinci is just a movie meant to make huge money and attract a crowd.
Geez.............................................

Mark, the Protocols of the Elder Zion was a hoax, a document that was intended to ruse the public into thinking jews control the world, yada yada yada.

Da Vinci Code makes no such claims that it's story is truth. It's fiction and meant to be fiction.

That's a big difference and I think it's dishonest to make a comparison between the two without making that clear.

Also, Birth of a Nation reflect attitudes of the time. Like em or not, the Klan was extremely popular at that time. There are countless other films which reflect racist views of the time.

One good thing that came from the backlash of the Klan glorification in Birth of a Nation is that it inspired Griffith to make Intolerance, which is another truly great film.

I guess the really sad thing is that some people are idiots. They will believe anything they hear, no matter how inaccurate, as long as it's consistent with their own biases. The DaVinci Code, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and Birth of a Nation are particularly poignant examples, but it happens all the time. As long as there are people who think in an ideologically-based rather than a fact-based manner, it will continue to happen.

For example, another recent topic on this site had to do with Jimmy Carter agreeing with Bush's approach to immigration. The implication of the wording in that topic was that anything Carter agrees with has to be a bad thing. It doesn't matter how accurate his message was, Carter said it so it has to be wrong. How truly stupid.

Mark, isn't your anxiety misplaced? Why worry about a work of fiction when the church has had to deal with real scandals? Catholics did not leave the church en masse after it was discovered that priests had secretly sexually abused children, and that abuse had been covered up by its elders, even though it meant exposing new communities to the abusers.
If Christianity/Catholicism survived that, it will survive "The Da Vinci Code". Suppressing books that deal with controversial topics is censorship, and rightly isn't tolerated in a free society.

for entertainment purposes only, mark.

"Da Vinci Code makes no such claims that it's story is truth. It's fiction and meant to be fiction."

That's a bit of a straw man. Nobody is stating that the STORY of DVC is intended to be a factual account. However, the underlying "facts" of the story--much like the foundation of a house--ARE presented as facts. The very first page of the book states the existence of the Priory of Sion as described as "FACT." The rituals described in the book are presented as "FACT."

In a interview on the Today Show back in 2003, Matt Lauer asked the following question and got the following response:

Lauer: "How much of this is based on reality in terms of things that actually occurred?"

Brown: "Absolutely all of it. Obviously there are – Robert Langdon is fictional, but all of the art, architecture, secret rituals, and secret societies, all of that is historical fact."

Mark, the Jewish community had concerns about The Passion of The Christ. Nothing happened. I would hope that nothing will happen with this movie either. It does seem that most people view this movie as a work of fiction. I am reluctant to agree with Teenage, calm down. I am offended by this book/movie, but I am not letting myself get worked up about it. I view it as a anti-Christian work of fiction. Only the liberal left would dream this up. Hate seems to be a virtue that the left holds with pride. I see more hate filled bumper stickers on cars that are directed toward anything conservative with no shame or embarrassment about it. Yes I know that conservatives have their things that are stereotypically hated, but from what I have seen we don’t have hate filled bumper stickers plastered all over the back of our cars. This is what I see in “my neck of the woods”, so to speak. Any liberal that doesn’t like my observation, oh well, tuff.

Wait a sec, Star Wars isn't real?

I find it amusing that one who hasn't read the book jumps to such comparisons and conclusions. Its a work of fiction...simple as that.I love how the Code is getting so much hype and print because of peoples insecurities with their own faith and beliefs. weaklings!!

Pardon my ignorance, but what is so heinous about the Da Vinci Code such that it is compared to Birth of a Nation? I don't see the two films as even remotely similar in their aims and message.

Clearly, Da Vinci Code was meant to be fiction - but I am curious as to what specific parts of it has the Bushians in a tizzy. What lies will people carry "to the end of their days" by watching it? I am just trying to understand what's getting some people uptight about it.

The Da Vinci Code is fiction, and bad fiction at that. And as anyone who knows anything about the book's subject will tell you, just about everything in the book is wrong. The myriad of books, documentaries, television specials, etc. that have been produced in the past few years about the book and the movie have worked to put that information in the public's mind, and I seriously doubt that many will take the Da Vinci Code as any sort of truth.

Beyond that, those who will are fluffbunnies who don't know much about history or religion and who also have no violent inclinations and are essentially harmless. Anyone else will recognize the book as a badly written pack of lies.

Hey, you can't worry about everyone. Let God deal with it. Stupid people believe in this book. Stupid people believe in the Democrat party too.

Let me start by saying that I haven't actually read the Dan Brown novel that the movie is based on, so you can rest assured that my criticism remains unbiased. That said, I understand, from news reports, the book's principal points of contention that have alarmed good Christians. Mr. Brown claims:

* That Mary Magdalene was Jesus's wife, and was pregnant with His child at the time of the L&S's death.
* That after Jesus's ascension, Mary Magdalene escaped to the South of France, where she gave birth to their daughter, Sarah.
* That the bloodline of Jesus survives to this day, guarded by a shadowy French secret society called the Priory of Sion.

Now, as I can attest from personal experience, there's nothing shocking about a married Rabbi preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If I can do it, I see no reason why the Good Lord shouldn't be allowed to. And as for Mary Magdalene being pregnant, that shouldn't be so surprising either. After all, it's only normal that the L&S take some comfort in His wife, especially after working His tail off all day trying to Save humanity.

But only a hare-brained, dim-witted, village idiot could believe that Jesus would pick the French, of all the people on Earth, to guard His bloodline. After all, it's not exactly the first country that springs to mind when you think of military prowess.

Yours in Yeshuan Fellowship.

Mark,

You are absolutely, 100% right!

I will not buy the book... I will not go see the movie in theaters... and, I will not watch it when it is released on DVDs or shown on television -- not because I think I would believe any part of it in any way -- but because I don't want anything of mine to contribute to the book sales, "audience share", ratings, profits, or anything else to do with the book or the movie.

I do not understand why Christian would buy the book, go the movie, or watch it on television. Why would I want to waste my time and money on trash like the "Code". After all, there more good movies than a person could watch in their lifetime, with more on the way. There are more historical, scientific, enlightening, and other educational, worthwhile, and entertaining television programs than I can watch as it is. Why do I need -- why would I or any Christian want -- to spend my time or money on a story that goes against the core of the Christian religion and beliefs?

It may be fiction, but many millions will and already do believe it as fact. It would be interesting to see a poll on that one -- how many people, extrapolated to millions, actually do believe it is true. And how many more millions will be influenced in some way by those people or their actions in the future?

And if this book and movie does so well, how about the sequel. At least I know my money and time didn't go to making the original such a big success that it generates sequels, spin-offs, and who knows what else. But... how many Christian dollars and time will have gone to foster and spread even more "fiction" that is contrary to their beliefs?

At least my dollars have not and will not contribute to it!

AAR

"It may be fiction, but many millions will and already do believe it as fact."

Talk about fiction writing...

This is a rare occurance, but I have to disagree with you Mark. Just because the movie does not agree with our personal beliefs DOES NOT mean the movie SHOULD NOT be made. I live in the United States, not a society without free speech. If we stop things from being produced because certain people are offended we are no better than we are playing into the hands of political correctness. Remember the cartoons that stirred up riots in the Muslim world? We continued to post them because we believe in free speech. How can we justify a boycott of The Davinci Code just because it may stir up a FEW Christians?

Da Vinci Code Errors: A Quick List

Tom,

Brown presents a lot of things in Code as fact - including such absurdities as the Priory of Sion (it never existed). While it ia an acknowledged fiction work, the false claims to fact coupled with the manner in which it is written will easily take in the un-schooled and the unwary.

It is a slander against Christianity in general and the Catholic Church in particular - it is a destructive lie.

You may participate in that lie if you wish, but I advise against it...because if you do, then you are participating in the same sort of known lie as it contained in Protocols and Birth of a Nation.

Christian,

Did I say we should stop it from being made?

No - I merely said it shouldn't be made...just as the next issue of Playboy or Madonna's next album should never see the light of say...what should happen and what will happen are very often two different things.

Christian has a very valid point; I won't contribute to this obscenity, but I won't prevent it either.
As a kid I read Quo Vadis, Barabas and Ben Hur. All fiction with connections to the life of Christ. Imagine what life would be without these tomes.
We've gotta take the good wigh the bad; Christian faith should be stronger than this.

Bane,

The gates of hell will not prevail against it...but I do believe I have a duty to point out the truth of the matter.

I presume all of you were just as upset over Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?

Mark,
I share your frustration with this kind of attack on the truth. I taught high school a few years back and was surprised at how many kids thought JFK was factual. More than a few people will believe parts of this, if not the whole thing.
I understand tour guides at some of the historical sites mentioned in the book are continually asked to see the secret door, or cryptic codes, or whatever it is that the book purports to be there.
Yes, people will believe this; some people want to believe the worst about Christians in general, and the Catholic Church specifically.

And The Right Reverend Rabbi Judah's post is hilarious, wtg!

A lot of people see the Da Vinci Code as fact.

"‘Da Vinci’ undermines faith, survey claims"
MSNBC News Services
“The Da Vinci Code” has undermined faith in the Roman Catholic Church and badly damaged its credibility, a survey of British readers revealed Tuesday...[..] “An alarming number of people take its spurious claims very seriously indeed,” said Austin Ivereigh, press secretary to Britain’s top Catholic prelate Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor. “Our poll shows that for many, many people “The Da Vinci Code” is not just entertainment.”[..]ORB interviewed more than 1,000 adults last weekend, finding that 60 percent believed Jesus had children by Mary Magdalene — a possibility raised by the book — compared with just 30 percent of those who had not read the book.

"One in four French believe Da Vinci Code based on fact: survey"
"Nearly a quarter of French adults believe that the novel The Da Vinci Code is based on facts surrounding the life of Jesus Christ, according to a survey published on Tuesday. Twenty-four percent of respondents said they believed the work was "inspired by real facts" and another seven percent said it was a mixture of inspiration from facts and of "esoteric" literary sources.

2006 WorldNetDaily.com
"Brown tells readers on the novel's first page that "all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals in this novel are accurate." Many take him at his word. One-third of Canadians who have read "The Da Vinci Code" (some 20 percent of the population) believe Brown's theories and think that descendants of Jesus are alive today, according to a 2005 National Geographic poll. A more recent poll, taken in April 2006 by IPSOS found that 13 percent of Americans and 17 percent of Canadians think Jesus was married and had a family.

Tom Shipley,

I base my statement on common sense, knowledge of people's behavior, the number of books sold, the number who have read the movies, and many different comments from many different news reports and talk shows. On what do you base your "knowledge and facts"? Your naive thinking?!!!

I'm sure we will learn more about the affects and impact of the book and movie as more facts are learned. I haven't had time to do much research, but did quickly find the following poll results from a British poll. I haven't had a chance to look up anything about the organization who did the poll. Perhaps you will have a better one.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/17/nvinci17.xml

Some extracts from the survey's findings...

"... the novel ... has seriously damaged people's faith in the Christian Church..."

"Two thirds of Britons who have read [the novel] ... believe that Jesus fathered a child ..."

"Seventeen per cent of readers are convinced that the lay group ... has ordered or carried out a murder, compared with four per cent of those who have not read the book."

"... The findings suggest that the book has significantly shifted attitudes towards traditional Christianity and will fuel fears that people increasingly prefer to believe in conspiracy theories ... rather than historical evidence."

"... more than one in five British adults has read the book ... and that a large proportion believe its central claims."

"Sixty per cent of the adults polled said after reading the book that they believed there was truth in the suggestion that Jesus had children ... compared with 30 per cent of those who have not read it."

"... 27 per cent, think that the Catholic Church is covering up the truth about Jesus ... rises to 36 per cent among those who have read Brown's novel."

"... the film's distributors have encouraged people to take it seriously while hiding behind the claim that it is fiction."

"... poll was conducted by Opinion Research Business ... sample of 1,005 adults between May 12 and 14."

I would expect to see similar results from the millions in other countries around the world who have read the "fictitious" novel and/or seen the "fictitious" movie!

All of you liberals underestimate the power of print, movies, and television. You think that because you wouldn't believe something, others wouldn't either. That's a false assumption on your part!

Try applying a little common sense!

AAR

To quote an archaic anachronym: ROTFLMAO!!!

Feeedom1 posts a link to Da Vinci errors that will enlighten you to the fictons and fallacies of Dan Brown's work in a combination book and DVD which "Together, they reveal The Da Vinci Code's multiple historical errors, show why the Gospels are reliable, why there is not "one scintilla" of evidence that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, and why believers from the Resurrection onward have acknowledged that Jesus Christ is God."

FOR ONLY A MANDATORY $35.00 "DONATION", plus $5.00 shipping and handling, and a solicitation for even more "donations"!!! That's more than the paperback and a movie ticket to Da Vinci Code combined! Even funnier, how is it a "donation" when you can't get through the shopping cart without paying for it?!?!

Ah, yes. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free... for just $35.00.

If you, dear reader, don't know why this is so funny, READ THIS.

Looks like the Coral Ridge Ministries has 39 years left. Max.

But we don't really have evidence that any of the stories told about Jesus in the Bible are fact (it's all a matter of faith) - so why all the fuss about this story? To me, a person of faithless reason, the gospel of Brown has just as much validity (or lack of validity) as the Gospel of John, a second-hand account estimated to have been written some 90 years after Jesus' death.

In any case, I still don't know what it is exactly about DVC that has you people so bent out of shape. Is it that Jesus may have had a wife that is so disturbing to contemplate? It's all pure speculation anyway, since Jesus lived more than 2,000 years ago, but would have been very very odd in that part of the world in those times for a man of Jesus' age to NOT have been married.

Well, at least you all aren't burning embassies over it - I give you that.

AAR -

"All of you liberals underestimate the power of print, movies, and television. You think that because you wouldn't believe something, others wouldn't either. That's a false assumption on your part!"

Quite the contrary, AAR - we liberals don't underestimate the power of the mass media to make people believe falsehoods. If it weren't for Fox News, for example, 70% of Americans wouldn't have believed Saddam was behind 9/11. ;)

Aarontime,

RE: "In any case, I still don't know..."

Well, it looks like we agree on that!

AAR

How does the humanization of Christ make Him less perfect? Doesn't it make him more perfect, because it indicates that you too can be enlightened. And when that happens you won't require a male dominated hierarchy to show you what to believe and how to act, because you'll already know. "You'd better free your mind instead". Peace

Congressive, just click the link and then click on "Errors" on the top left of the page. Then you will get the information for FREE.

AAR said: "All of you liberals underestimate the power of print, movies, and television. You think that because you wouldn't believe something, others wouldn't either. That's a false assumption on your part! ... Try applying a little common sense!"

Ummm, wait a minute... haven't you on several occasions accused the libbies of being in control of all those industries? And now you accuse them of underestimating?! What's wrong with THAT picture?

For a good 25 years or so we've heard how the print, film, and TV industries are hopelessly liberal. And not only are they supposedly hopelessly liberal, they are also incredibly powerful. If everything we've heard on this site is true, they can cause massive amounts of Christians to question their faith, cause numerous conservative congressmen to be indicted, and cause Bush's poll numbers to free-fall (among many other things). So I ask you... if all that is true, doesn't that imply not only a pervasive, but a chronic lack of wisdom on the part of the conservative cause? Something doesn't compute. One way or another there's a supreme lack of common sense involved here.

Steve,

You quote a pop singer as something on par with the teachings of the Church? No wonder you want whirled peas so much...

djp,

That movie offered no insult to Christianity. It isn't a fictionalised story set in some sort of Christian setting that is the problem - the problem is the deliberate propagation of known lies.

Ricorun,

I think AAR gets it a little wrong - you liberals know precisely how powerful simplistic imagery is, and that is why you use it almost exclusively in the propagation of your ideas. Liberal ideas cannot withstand intellectual discussion - but a sound bite backed up by a bit of video is hard to beat.

Mark, don't be such an elitist, even a common man can accomplish extraordinary things. Take for example Jesus of Nazareth, later known as the Christ. Peace

Deleted - un-necessarily vulgar

Mark said: "Liberal ideas cannot withstand intellectual discussion - but a sound bite backed up by a bit of video is hard to beat."

Doesn't your argument simply beg the question? If what you say is true, why is it that conservatives have conceded the print, film and TV industries to the libbies for the last 25 years? You're a smart guy, capable of intellectual discussion. Does that make any sense to you? If it does, please explain it to me. Maybe I'm missing something really obvious (which I doubt), but as it stands there seems to me something glaringly wrong with the logic of your argument.

Ricorun,

You picked up on that?

I thought the same thing shortly after I hit post, but by then it was too late. In this instance, I was referring only to the topic of this thread, but my comment did not reflect that.

I should have rewritten the statement before I posted it, or probably, left it out entirely. I was getting a little heated at the time, however, over the "apparent" lack of understanding by so many people (not just liberals) about just how much impact a "work of fiction" like this can have on the opinions and possibly actions of millions of people around the world, and on what they believe to be facts.

Comments like: "Why worry about a work of fiction -- entertainment purposes only -- just a movie meant to make huge money and attract a crowd -- most people view this movie as a work of fiction -- a work of fiction...simple as that --getting so much hype and print because of peoples insecurities with their own faith and beliefs -- what lies will people carry "to the end of their days" by watching -- just trying to understand what's getting some people uptight about it -- fluffbunnies who don't know much about history or religion and who also have no violent inclinations and are essentially harmless -- will recognize the book as a badly written pack of lies."

To me, the impact of this book and movie on people's opinions and views are similar to the effects of the negative, anti-Bush, anti-American comments on America's image throughout the world -- people do believe what they see and hear from the media -- not all, but far too many. Some people know quite well the effects of those comments, while the majority probably do not understand it at all. ...It's very frustrating!

I haven't changed my opinion on how liberals are much more effective at using the power of the media. I just wish Republicans and Conservatives would get better at it. Why don't they? I don't know. Maybe they need more training in how to do it and how important it is. Considering that the media itself is liberal, they are working uphill. Maybe they do use it effectively, but I expect more and just can't see it. ...It's very frustrating!

I don't know if that explains it any better. I'm not the world's best at effective writing. I get by, but it's not one of my strengths.

Mark... thanks for the help!

AAR

If someone truly believed in the bible as written, then they would not be so easily swayed by something like the Code. Frankly, if watching a self admitted fiction movie makes you question your faith that much, then you didn't believe it strongly in the first place, and if you aren't going to see it because it "threatens your values/beliefs," then you probably are afraid that it will make you question yourself, and would probably put you in that first category I mentioned.

Ricorun,

We haven't conceded them, we're still battling to be allowed in...the gates of nearly broken down, but the liberals are rhetorically dying in the last ditch to defend their MSM bastion...but it is going to absurd lengths these days...like Rather's "fake but accurate" report.

Georgia,

The question to ask is this:

What purpose does this book/movie have?

It doesn't illuminate Christianity as it is based upon lies about same.

It doesn't build bridges between non-Christians and Christians because it insults Christianity.

It isn't silly slapstick designed for a harmless laugh.

It isn't silly action/adventure designed for a harmless thrill.

It doesn't have any good purpose - and thus it must have a bad purpose, even if the author didn't intend it that way...though given his expressed beliefs, I think he is doing precisely what he intended to do.

As I've said here and elsewhere: a great deal of foolishness will happen and not only can we not stop it, but in most cases we shouldn't even seek to stop it. To be anything truly good, there must be the ability to clearly reject what is bad. That said, it is a question that needs to be answered - why is a book like this written? And once that question is answered, you'll need to answer this - should wise people have anything to do with it?

Steve,

The problem is that I, and about two billion other people, consider Jesus to be something much more than a man - you don't have to believe this, but simple good manners should prevent you from doing anything which would cause grief to people who sincerely believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and the Saviour of all mankind.

Got that?

Mark,

I will be participating in this "lie" this weekend by attending the film (though, I have comp passes, so I don't know if that makes Jesus less pissed or not).

Probably not, as you point out this is an equivalent act as promoting the Protocols of the Elder Zion as truth.

But, I will be keeping an open mind. You never know, maybe I'll be burning pictures of Opie by next Tuesday.

Mark, have you even seen the movie?
If you haven't, then grab $8.00, drive to your nearest multiplex, see the damn movie and them form your own opinion.
If you don't plan to see 'Da Vinci' then don't bitch about how anti-Christian it is. Otherwise, you'lll be talking out of your ass(which you mormally do).

It doesn't have any good purpose - and thus it must have a bad purpose,

You know, I thought it would be impossible for any kool-aid drinking sheep to be this blind and stupid, but I was proven wrong. You must realize Mark that nothing--I repeat--nothing is ever just simply black and white. This book was made to stir people up and make them question religion.................what's the mater with that? Is it considered a sin to question whether or not Christ was a man or really divine? Did it ever cross your mind that Christ could have been an ordinary man but still be able to turn water into wine or walk on water?

Like I said, if you're not going to see the damn movie, then don't bitch about how bad it is.

"Christ was a man or really divine? Did it ever cross your mind that Christ could have been an ordinary man but still be able to turn water into wine or walk on water?"

Christ was an ordinary man, he was also the son of God. He man and divine, part of the mystery of the trinity.

That's one thing that's so interesting about Christ's story, it's filled with contradictions that hold true... the paradox of the cross being another example. Power through weakness and all that.

That's why I'm so drawn to Catholicism. It's a very non-black and white religion, in my opinion.

Mark, the Son of the "Living(was,is now & always will be)God", would be mighty upset if common folk refused to think for themselves, but rather put their faith entirely in Gog and Magog. The point is that each of us can reach the place that Christ was only if you believe in the Prince of Peace and buy into His message of war being the anti-Christ. Otherwise you become part of the problem. Peace

teen,

From one of your previous posts...

"FYI--I happen to be a Christian, I just don't swallow the radical facist view of Christianity that the demagouges like Robertson and Dobson spew, and I sure as hell want my religion to be used to spread intolerance and hatred of anyone who doesn't fit into their twisted sense of what is normal."
"BTW: i'm sixteen, not four."

A Christian? By who's definition?

Call yourself what you like, but that does not make it so.

Your words speak for themselves.

You do make the case for school vouchers though!

AAR

Teenaged,

25 years ago I thought as you do today...just give it a bit of time, and you'll (hopefully) wise up a bit...eventually you'll learn that it is un-necessary to view pornography in order to condemn it.

Steve,

I don't recall Christ ever saying that War is the Anti-Christ...you must have a different version of the Bible than I have...

Tom,

I hope you'll change your mind - of what benefit is the movie to you? These days, I do at least make a stab at only doing things that have some value to them...I fail often, but I do try...

Aarontime posted:
"But we don't really have evidence that any of the stories told about Jesus in the Bible are fact (it's all a matter of faith) - so why all the fuss about this story?"

There is more evidence that Jesus existed and that the biblical stories of Christ in the New Testament are accurate than any other historical account of any historical figure in the history of the world.

Proving Christ existence is easier than say proving Hitler, JFK, Alexander the Great, or Napoleon... existed. the New Testament is exactly that, testimony. It’s testimony from men, whom lived and were disciples of Jesus or those whom were disciples of those who were. That’s the definition of an Apostle. You had to be there or you had to be mentored by someone who was. You can’t be an apostle, nor can I. We were born too far removed from Christ time and works.

All the Apostles died for their testimony except John, (Jesus’ friend) who was boiled in oil. Ninety-five percent of the Gospels -all four of them- can be replicated through letters sent between first generation Christians and Churches. The miracles of Christ, including the raising of the dead, was testified to by Roman historians, during the time Christians were being sent to their deaths in the coliseum for their belief in Jesus as Lord. I don’t have the time to scratch the surface of all the evidence that exists, for someone willing to take the time to find it, in this post. However, saying we don’t really have any evidence concerning the stories of Jesus, is one of the most incorrect and ignorant statements anyone could ever make.

It's been said, "the cross is an anvil that has wore out many hammers." This book and movie will not prove exceptions to this rule. The idea Mary and Jesus were married is not new, in fact, it’s been around for centuries. The Gnostic gospels, “The Bloodline of the Holy Grail,” and those who point to the church of Mary Magdalene in France as evidence of a child born to Jesus, just to name a few, are unsubstantiated now as when they were first made many years ago.

By definition the “Di Vinci Code” is Blasphemy not merely fiction. Unfortunately, blasphemy is quite vogue these days.

No, not going to change my mind, Mark. Going with my mom. she wants to see it as she liked the book.

But, maybe I'll sit her down beforehand and explain to her how her actions are on par with those who perpetrated the Elder's of the Zion hoax.

Come to think of it, we'd definitely not go then as she'd probably immediately have me committed.

Same Bible man, I've read mine rather then having had someone read it to me and tell me what it means. If Christ is Peace , then what is the opposite of Peace---War. Here's one for all the "believers" out there: What is the result of dividing 144,000, by 6, the result by 6 , and that result by 6 again? Peace

Tom,

It is too bad that you don't seem to understand what truth and falsehood are, and what you should do about them...

Steve,

Christ is God - his opposite is anti-God; war is not necessarily so.

Mark, I think you might want to read the Sermon on the Mount again (Matthew, Ch 5 - 7). Jesus ended His sermon thusly...

7:22. Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name?
7:23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

Though there are numerous passages in the New Testament to indicate that Christ was against violent confrontation, He never specifically said "Don't do war." However, IMHO, the verses I cited above state quite clearly... "if you go casting out devils, DON'T DO IT IN THE NAME OF THE LORD."

If Christians spent as much time reading and believing the Bible as they do reading works of fiction, they would not react with anger, fear etc. Unfortunately, most Christians operate from ignorance and therefore are unstable in their beliefs. Jesus will remain under attack until His triumphant return.