Posted on 05/04/2006 9:23:45 PM PDT by Coleus
With the release of the Sony Pictures version of Dan Brown’s mega-selling “The Da Vinci Code” in two weeks, worries continue to mount among traditional Christians about both the book’s and the movie’s impact. Should non-Christians be concerned?
Yes, we should. Jews in particular need to be aware of the gift Brown has given, in all innocence, to anti-Semites.
As everyone knows by now, Brown uses a gripping suspense story set in the present to inform us that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and that he has descendants living in Europe today. Furthermore, the members of this surviving Jesus family have been protected for centuries by an altruistic secret organization, the Priory of Sion, which is locked in combat with a sinister, violent Catholic group, Opus Dei. The latter seeks to keep the secret of Jesus’ paternity from getting out. Behind Opus Dei stands the Catholic Church. For millennia, the church has perpetrated what the film calls “the biggest cover- up in human history.”
Opus Dei, the real-life Catholic lay order, asked Sony to place a disclaimer at the beginning of the movie admitting that the story is fictional — a request the studio has so far refused. Brown himself states at the outset of the novel that his tale is grounded in “fact”: “The Priory of Sion — a European secret society founded in 1099 — is a real organization,” and so on. Scholars have done a solid job of pointing out the fictions that interweave Brown’s “facts.” Notably, the “Priory of Sion” is real only in the sense that it really is the modern invention of Pierre Plantard, a Frenchman with royalist and anti-Semitic views. It dates to the year 1956, not 1099. Plantard’s hoax merely took the name of a medieval monastic order that had ceased to exist by the 14th century and which had nothing to do with legends about Jesus fathering children.
But why should a Jew care?
Consider that the alleged conspiracy underlying the “biggest cover-up in human history” bears a remarkable resemblance to another phony conspiracy: the famous hoax called “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.” Apparently authored by Russian monarchist and anti-Semite Mathieu Golovinski in 1898, “Protocols” tells of a secret society of Jewish elders that work to keep gentiles ignorant of a plot to rule the world through “Darwinism, Marxism and Nietzscheism.”
In both conspiracy theories, an ancient world religion turns out to be a massive fraud perpetrated to gain or maintain power. In Brown’s version, the “Priory of Sion” (“Sion” simply means “Zion” in French) members are the good guys. They’ve been waiting for the right moment to reveal the secret about Jesus having children and to introduce the world to the worship of the “Goddess,” a.k.a. Mary Magdalene.
Meanwhile the Catholic Church plots to suppress forever the truth about the “sacred feminine.” Opus Dei is willing to go to any lengths, including murder, to keep the male church hierarchy in power. Plantard (1920-2000), the French monarchist and anti-Semite who gave us the Priory of Sion, spent much of his life inventing minuscule esoteric organizations intended to “purify” France of the evil influences of modernity — and of Judaism. In 1940 he wrote of the “terrible Masonic and Jewish conspiracy” that threatened France.
The Priory of Sion was one group he started. The point of this occult order was to advance Plantard’s claim to be the surviving heir to the ancient Merovingian line of French kings, whose “holy blood” was guarded by the Priory. The idea that the Merovingians were the descendants of Jesus and Mary Magdalene was added on later. Besides highlighting the word “Zion” or “Sion,” the two conspiracy theories share an understanding of how to deal with ideas you disagree with. Rather than taking traditional Christian beliefs at face value and arguing against them (as I do in my current book, by the way), Brown portrays the religion itself as resting upon a conscious deception. That excuses him from having to make arguments at all.
Anti-Semites do the same thing. Rather than coming out honestly against Darwinism or Marxism or modernity in general, they concoct a story about Judaism as a lie and a conspiracy. “Protocols” remains a global phenomenon of staggering popularity, especially in the Arab world. I emphasize that Brown never intended to foment bigotry. Yet to the cause of conspiracy theorizing, he has done a wonderful favor, training his readers in the habits of paranoia and gullibility. For people committed to finding the truth through investigation and argumentation, that’s depressing.
As for Jews, we haven’t fared well when the culture we live in turns to entertaining fantasies and delusions at the expense of an unfashionable religion. The success of Brown’s book, now transformed into a movie blockbuster, is bad news indeed. David Klinghoffer (www.davidklinghoffer.com) is a senior fellow at the Discover Institute in Seattle and the author most recently of “Why the Jews Rejected Jesus: The Turning Point in Western History” (Doubleday)
>> I'll admit that I haven't read the book, but I still can't see what all the huff is about. It's a FICTION NOVEL!! <<
It's a fictional novel based on circumstances it alleges are facts.
Oy. Enough with the worry, David. We have way too much of that. Forget all this kakameyme stuff this about movies creating anti-Semites -- they don't. Now go do something useful like join JPFO.
LOL! Sales of the book are skyrocketing. The movie will probably do great...all because of the free advertising.
I wonder if the Da Vinci Code will spark the same worldwide anti-semitic rioting we experienced after the Passion of the Christ was released---over similar objections.
"alleges as facts" to whip up controversy, to push book and movie sales. I am a rather religious individual, and I honestly cannot see all the uproar over this is all about. Let them tell write all the fantasy stories the like; I am quite comfortable with which book *I* trust.
I have no interest in seeing it unless there's a scene where the swiss guard chase Tom Hanks around the Vatican swinging those long pikes.
This Klinghoffer guy is the least-Jewish most evangelical Christian "Jew" I've ever heard of. There's nothing wrong with being an evangelical Christian, but it's odd to be one while affecting Judaism.
It's portrayed as a fictional account of true facts. Most people I know who read the book talk about how, "well researched it is," and how they were shocked by learning the truth about history.
all because of the free advertising. >>
yea, like the 300 hits this thread on the FR will get will be responsible for the millions of books sold and millions that will be made by the movie. I bet you'll be the first in line.
It's 'fiction' that too many secular-gullibles thim is 8true ...
"Opus Dei, the real-life Catholic lay order, asked Sony to place a disclaimer at the beginning of the movie admitting that the story is fictional — a request the studio has so far refused."
Oh, please!! I have more pressing things to worry about than a piece of fiction..Piffle.
FR doesn't really have too much to do with it. It's the public condemnation coming from the Catholic Church (which was headline news) and now apparently a Jewish publication.
I read the book. Dan Brown is a good writer, but the main plot elements come together in one enormous pile of rubbish at the end. Some things that may make DC popular:
1. The book rails against Christianity in general, the traditional view of Jesus as divine, and against Roman Catholicism in particular.
2. The author is very hung up on fertility and sexual symbolism, so the book ends up being a back-handed introduction to Sophia Goddess Worship. (That's why Jesus died on the cross?)
3. Opus Dei is secretive, powerful, and does indulge in the whip and the leg thingy, so that makes a few plot elements hang together.
4. Some places are real, such as Roslyn Chapel, or easily interpreted various ways, such as The Last Supper.
I think the movie will be as embarrassing as Water World. I have no problem with apostates advertizing their complete lack of faith in anything but pudenda, but I do object to their cloaking their fertility cult nonsense in Christianity and in the name of Jesus.
I heard there's a scene where the swiss guard battle an army of Hasidic rebbes with light sabers in Mall of America.
I agree with the author. All the more reason to imbue our children in the faith of their ancestors before the secularists deconstruct western civilization
BTW, Klinghoffer's "Why the Jews Rejected Jesus" is one of the best books on the subject I've ever read.
This is a bit of a stretch.
I think the world's Jews have enough on their plate to worry about getting their knickers in a twist about that silly book.
It is FICTION. Forget the Jews, shouldn't the Catholic Church have more to worry about then a FICTION book? What about Tom and Katie?
Or for that matter political fantasies. It's ironic that the Jews would be blamed for modern politics when they have been the victims of its cultural dialectics several times. The search for 'Solutions' is really the psychotic search for problems, and leads down a road prone to conspiracies of all kinds.
>>"alleges as facts" to whip up controversy, to push book and movie sales. <<
OK, so it's ok to lead millions to Hell and wage perverse war against all that is good and holy so long as the ultimate motive is money. Riiiiigght.
>> I am a rather religious individual, and I honestly cannot see all the uproar over this is all about. <<
Somehow, I'm pretty sure the attitude of "Well, I'm going to Heaven, so f*** the rest of humanity" advances its own cause so well.
No S*it it's fiction. Once again I will spell it out to you, now read it carefully. Hint: many Christians who read the book actually believed it, remember when I mentioned casting doubt, end of hint, here it goes, I'll repeat it again.
"the book casts doubt in the minds of gullible Christians, many who are looking for an excuse to not believe and doubt the Church. The church has every right and a moral obligation to come out against the book and the movie. I'm surprised why so many freepers can't figure this out."
Lot's of shooting, explosions, fast driving and conflict between three religions and their view points. It takes place in Israel so no Swiss Guard with long pikes...but other angry people with weapons.
I'll repeat it...IT'S FICTION.
Ah for the good o'days when we used to put them on the Index.
Yes, I and many others know it's fiction and you know it's fiction. OK
I guess you still don't understand.
What makes this one any more different? >>>
Hint: 20 million bought this book, while the other "many books" as you say did NOT. This compelled the Catholic and other churches to come out against it, end of hint.
On Tuesday I was in a Borders and a Barnes and Nobles. Both have large displays of books all similar in theme and dimension as this; fiction and supposedly non-fiction.
If there had been no public debate Brown's book would simply be in "New Releases" and all those other books gathering dust on the Bargain shelves.
Hint: check and see how many people bought "The Joy of Sex" when it came out. End of hint.
I'd like to see dog fights in vintage bi-planes over Venice...and Tom Hanks doing some "wing-walking."
>> The movie will probably do great...all because of the free advertising. <<
The movie will do great because it stars the most bankable actor in Hollywood, features the most bankable director in Hollywood, and is based on the best-selling book since Harry Potter, if not since Lord of the Rings.
$200 million tops.
But I'm quite sure there isn't a God-forsaken soul on the planet who says to himself, "What's this about The DaVinci Code? It's a big controversy? Gee, I'm going to pay $9 to see it!"
Controversy does NOT sell.
Look at Madonna's album sales throughout the 1990s. The most famous pop performer since Elvis, who could write #1 singles at the drop of a hat couldn't get her albums to go teflon. She dropped the fetish shtick, and had three straight enormous hits... until she started up with it again.
For really pathetic, you should see how bad Brittney Spears last couple of albums have done...
The Last Temptation of Christ? Made less over its entire box office run than The Passion of the Christ made in fifteen minutes.
Sex, Lies and Videotape? Couldn't gross enough at the box office to cover the catering expenses.
Alexander? About as successful as Howard the Duck.
Full Frontal? Despite starring Julia Robers and Brad Pitt, made only a small fraction of what Gigli made.
You are right, but education only translates to power through the masses if the masses have authority to grant it. Once upon a time, the masses were irrelevant to legitimate authority... I repeat my last post, “Ahh for the good ol'days.” before it got all confus'n with ideology, and cultural purity, and classism, and demagoguery. Back when political debate was basically “What ho, we hath got the Crown! And will kill any whore's son who tries to take it from us!”
Brown is laughing all the way to the bank for the millions of dollars in free advertising the Catholic Church has given him. Antonio Bandaras is probably watching this wondering why the Catholic Church hadn't going after his movie, The Body, in the same way. Then it wouldn't have been an obscure work of fiction that didn't do well at the box office.
>> I was given a copy (hard back) by a counselor from Lourdes College...fine Catholic institution that it is. <<
Satan LOVES getting himself into Catholic institutions: he's trying to strike deep into his enemy's territory. I'm sure if you asked the counselor where you could find a nice seven-year old boy for a night of romance, he'd probably have a raft of contacts for you.
Chicken and the egg. As you said, there are many other books with anti-Christian themes in them, why this book so particularly? Well you can't have it both ways now.
Go to Barnes and Nobles and/or Borders and ask them (and look around the store) about sales. They will tell you that they have increased in proportion to the scandle.
I seriously doubt that.
See what happens when people incorporate religion into pop culture? It never works out, even with the best intentions. It's like complimenting your boss on how good his wife is in bed. The end result is never pleasant.
>> Go to Barnes and Nobles and/or Borders and ask them (and look around the store) about sales. They will tell you that they have increased in proportion to the scandle. <<
Gosh, you don't think it could have anything to do with a TWO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN, do you?
Very graciously contributed to by a Church that doesn't trust the intelligence of it's own parishioners.
Okay, how about the movie "Hudson Hawk"? Di Vinci, secret tunnels under the Vatican, people singing while using grenade launchers...
By that logic the Church doesn't need to teach at all.
Hudson Hawk -- man, that was a bad movie. Good title, lousy movie. (Trivia: Hudson Hawk is actually a real word/slang in old time NYC. The "hawk" was the wind that comes off the river in the winter).
It should stick to teaching it's particular faith and not trying to censor the recreational reading of it's parishioners...or questioning their intelligence.
Even gratuitous violence -- even gratuitous violence of an extraordinary nature -- cannot save a bad movie. And for the record, neither can sex nor a cameo appearance by Carrot Top.
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