The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (2003, Hardcover)

I received Dan Brown's book as a Christmas present -- ironic, when you think about it. Here is a book of fiction that delves into Christ's life, loves and death, given away as gifts of love to thousands of people on the anniversary of Christ's birth -- and yet, it is debunked by many in the Catholic Church as false, false, untruths and lies. Humphf.

I thought that WAS the definition of fiction. Somebody in the Church is very nervous when dealing with this book .... makes you wonder.

The movie "The Passion of Christ" was based on writings completed hundreds of years after Christ died, yet the Bishops and Cardinals lauded it. There is no way to know exactly what happened, in what way it happened, or the details of what happened. Yet the story of the crucifixion is recounted in the Bible, in detail, and the movie follows it to excruciating accuracy (in Aramaic, the language of the place and time) following the Roman Catholic Church's teachings and version. The Church loved it, and allowed it to be shown on their properties! Talk about endorsement ...

Dan Brown's work will have to look elsewhere for endorsement, as if that is what he needs or wants. What fun is there in having the Catholic Church say how right you are, when saying how wrong you are jacks up the sales ten-fold! I don't hear any great arguments coming forth ....

I had eleven years of training as a Catholic school teacher, which is required to be endorsed as a Religious Education teacher for the Church, and I not-so-happily came to an understanding of the meanings of 'catholic' versus 'Catholic'. There is a great difference between being accepting of all, and being a member of the Roman Catholic Church. In other words, Catholics are not necessarily catholic, especially about church doctrine.

Believe me, I know. I see the irony in their teachings, and the humor. Watching the "Passion of the Christ" is the Catholic thing to do. Reading Dan Brown's book is the catholic thing to do.

I recommend not reading it on Church property, though.

Cheerfully yours, Valery