Sun
May
14
2006
The DaVinci Movie hits town
There’s a lot of hype surrounding the release this week of the movie of Dan Brown’s book ‘The DaVinci Code’.
But for once, it’s not all the normal froth and bubble of the media publicity machines.
In today’s Sydney Morning Herald there’s a nice piece revealing how many churches – including ours – have made bulk bookings of cinemas in the early days of the film.
It shows an important point: We Christians should not be afraid of the film or the book. In fact I see it as a God-given opportunity to talk about the truth of the Bible and the biblical Jesus to people. Topics that would otherwise be hard to raise in conversation.
It is a work of fiction, and there is nothing to fear from it, and I believe some Catholic leader’s demand for Christians to boycott the film are just silly and isolationist.
The evidence is clear: already many thousands of people have been exposed to the true gospel through seminars and special events put on by evangelical churches since the book took off. That is not a bad thing.
The Sydney Anglican Church as put together a special website for anyone interested in comparing the gospel of Dan Brown with the real thing: http://www.challengingdavinci.com
Comment
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If you’re looking for a non Christian site to back you up, then 60 Minutes America did a really good story on the Da Vinci Code – I saw it yesterday. Unfortunately, I have to get my bus to Oslo so I can’t find the site for you :S
— Jane · May 14, 04:28 PM · #
Thanks Jane, I’ll have a dig around…
— NeilA · May 15, 02:50 AM · #
... and it’s not even a very good book. Fast paced, but I’ve rarely read anything as implausible. Even if you ignore all the Jesus/Mary stuff and just consider the 20th century goings on, you will be stretching the bounds of believability.
On my bedised table right now: Birds without wings by Louis de Bernieres (author of the wonderful ‘Captain Corelli’s mandolin’—which was absolutely massacred in the film version…).
— Richard · May 15, 02:31 PM · #
No argument about the quality of the writing and the plausibility. But that doesn’t bother me much, as I enjoy reading Tom Clancy, and Clive Cussler, and the plausibility factors there are pretty thin!
— NeilA · May 15, 02:37 PM · #
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/27/60minutes/main1552009.shtml
Found it
— Jane · May 16, 02:13 PM · #
I think that it is unfortunate for the director to have done this movie. I don’t know his opinion on Jesus Christ but if he isn’t saved that is unfortunate. At times I may sound kind of off the wall with my thinking but I believe that people have to be careful even when they don’t profess to know Jesus Christ. I have theories which I usually share within my own family but look at something… An actor (won’t say his name unless you ask:-O) was married to a woman…she was a little chunky. Well he does a hit movie. He begins an affair with the co star and leaves his wife. Well they had a family now it is over. His career immediately plummetted. He and the other woman. Well he never got his career back. I believe God may have dealt out a penalty for his bad behavior. It rains on the jsut and the unjust but God rules in the affairs of men..so I believe that part of his punishment was his career not receiving all it could have.
There are some that get away with bad behavior (for now). But others that don’t.
I believe that a movie director got sick and died right after he did a movie that exploited a husband and wife and was very sacriligious…spelling ? Point is somethings people just shouldn’t do. What do you think about that kind of stuff>?
— EDEN · May 31, 04:05 AM · #
See my comment here for some thoughts on punishment, judgement and when/how that happens under God.
As for the DaVinci Code – the book and the movie are just another piece of fiction. Lots of fiction pokes fun at Christ and his followers. I don’t see it as any better or worse than other books and movies of it’s type.
Here in Sydney, lots and lots of church’s have taken the opportunity that the movie has bought to put Jesus back into everyday conversations.
Churches have booked out cinemas and have their members invite non-Christian friends to see it with them, then talk about it after. Our denomination put together a website: http://www.challengingdavinci.com/ that was advertised in all major cinemas during the first two weeks of the film’s release.
Our church had a block booking for a similar purpose.
It’s a great opportunity to take a piece of popular culture that already exists and turn it around as a tool for the gospel.
I know anecdotally of around 6 people becoming Christians as a result of a church or individual Christian engaging with them about the book/movie. I’m certain there are many more.
— NeilA · May 31, 07:44 AM · #