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The Da Vinci Code (2 Viewers)

= Jennifer =

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i am a practicising christian and i think people should not really get offended by this book, people must keep in mind it IS FICTION and is only meant to be read for enjoyment and not be taken seriously and if you want to believe than go ahead but what i am saying is he is not forcing you to believe what he is saying
 
G

Gavvvvvin

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david88 said:
tHIS BOOK is quite controversal. It talks about bullshit and twists the facts of god around.it would be a waste of your maoney and time. Dan Brown is a dickhead.
Hence the reasopn why it falls under the category of 'fiction' :rolleyes:
 

Sasky

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timrie6 said:
I bought it the other day and I am up to chapter 3. good so far, but I don't want to get my expectations up too high in case I am then disappointed.

I want to buy the hard cover with pictures. I tried to but they only had the little soft cover.
So expensive thou... :eek:
 

jumb

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I just read Digital fortress. It was a little predictable but still a very good read.
 

leetom

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The book wasn't designed to offend or bash Christianity. There's nothing wrong with pondering the origins of a faith, though I can understand the fear held by more ardent christians, their entire lives revolving around what could well be a set of falsifications.

Before reading this book, it never occured to me why women were viewed and treated as lessers since Jesus's time, though now I know. 2000 years of Rome-championed destruction of the image of the Sacred Feminine.

The following is a transcript from an interview I took directly from Dan Brown's site

www.danbrown.com




HOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS TRUE?
The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction. While the book's characters and their actions are obviously not real, the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in this novel all exist (for example, Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings, the Gnostic Gospels, Hieros Gamos, etc.). These real elements are interpretted and debated by fictional characters. While it is my belief that some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations. My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history.

BUT DOESN'T THE NOVEL'S "FACT" PAGE CLAIM THAT EVERY SINGLE WORD IN THIS NOVEL IS HISTORICAL FACT?
If you read the "FACT" page, you will see it clearly states that the documents, rituals, organization, artwork, and architecture in the novel all exist. The "FACT" page makes no statement whatsoever about any of the ancient theories discussed by fictional characters. Interpreting those ideas is left to the reader.

IS THIS BOOK ANTI-CHRISTIAN?
No. This book is not anti-anything. It's a novel. I wrote this story in an effort to explore certain aspects of Christian history that interest me. The vast majority of devout Christians understand this fact and consider The Da Vinci Code an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate. Even so, a small but vocal group of individuals has proclaimed the story dangerous, heretical, and anti-Christian. While I regret having offended those individuals, I should mention that priests, nuns, and clergy contact me all the time to thank me for writing the novel. Many church officials are celebrating The Da Vinci Code because it has sparked renewed interest in important topics of faith and Christian history. It is important to remember that a reader does not have to agree with every word in the novel to use the book as a positive catalyst for introspection and exploration of our faith.

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?
Yes. Interestingly, if you ask three people what it means to be Christian, you will get three different answers. Some feel being baptized is sufficient. Others feel you must accept the Bible as immutable historical fact. Still others require a belief that all those who do not accept Christ as their personal savior are doomed to hell. Faith is a continuum, and we each fall on that line where we may. By attempting to rigidly classify ethereal concepts like faith, we end up debating semantics to the point where we entirely miss the obvious--that is, that we are all trying to decipher life's big mysteries, and we're each following our own paths of enlightenment. I consider myself a student of many religions. The more I learn, the more questions I have. For me, the spiritual quest will be a life-long work in progress.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CLERICAL SCHOLARS ATTEMPTING TO "DISPROVE" THE DA VINCI CODE?
The dialogue is wonderful. These authors and I obviously disagree, but the debate that is being generated is a positive powerful force. The more vigorously we debate these topics, the better our understanding of our own spirituality. Controversy and dialogue are healthy for religion as a whole. Religion has only one true enemy--apathy--and passionate debate is a superb antidote.

PARTS OF THE DA VINCI CODE DESCRIBE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE RELIGIOUS GROUP OPUS DEI. HOW DOES OPUS DEI FEEL ABOUT YOUR NOVEL?
I worked very hard to create a fair and balanced depiction of Opus Dei. Even so, there may be those who are offended by the portrayal. While Opus Dei is a very positive force in the lives of many people, for others, affiliation with Opus Dei has been a profoundly negative experience. Their portrayal in the novel is based on more than a dozen books written about Opus Dei as well as on my own personal interviews with current and former members.

SOME OF THE HISTORY IN THIS NOVEL CONTRADICTS WHAT I LEARNED IN SCHOOL. WHAT SHOULD I BELIEVE?
Since the beginning of recorded time, history has been written by the "winners" (those societies and belief systems that conquered and survived). Despite an obvious bias in this accounting method, we still measure the "historical accuracy" of a given concept by examining how well it concurs with our existing historical record. Many historians now believe (as do I) that in gauging the historical accuracy of a given concept, we should first ask ourselves a far deeper question: How historically accurate is history itself?

THE TOPIC OF THIS NOVEL MIGHT BE CONSIDERED CONTROVERSIAL. DO YOU FEAR REPERCUSSIONS?
I can't imagine why. The ideas in this novel have been around for centuries; they are not my own. Admittedly, this may be the first time these ideas have been written about within the context of a popular thriller, but the information is anything but new. My hope for The Da Vinci Code was, in addition to entertaining people, that it might serve as an open door for readers to begin their own explorations and rekindle their interest in topics of faith.

HAS ANYONE IN ORGANIZED RELIGION COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF YOUR NOVEL?
Yes, many people in organized religion have come out in support of this novel, and, of course, many have come out in opposition as well. The opposition generally comes from the strictest Christian thinkers who feel the idea of a "married Jesus" serves to undermine His divinity. While I don't agree with this interpretation, this is immaterial because the dialogue itself is a deeply empowering and positive force for everyone involved. Suddenly, enormous numbers of people are passionately debating important philosophical topics, and regardless of the personal conclusions that each of us draws, the debate can only help to strengthen our understanding of our own faith. Much of the positive response I get from within organized religion comes from nuns (who write to thank me for pointing out that they have sacrificed their entire lives to the Church and are still considered "unfit" to serve behind the altar). I have also heard from hundreds of enthusiastic priests. While many of them disagree with some of the ideas in the novel, they are thrilled that their parishioners are eager to discuss religion. Father John Sewell of St. John's Episcopal Church in Memphis stated it particularly eloquently in the press recently, saying: "This [novel] is not a threat. This is an opportunity. We are called to creatively engage the culture and this is what I want to do. I think Dan Brown has done me a favor. He's letting me talk about things that matter."

ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THE BOOK'S SUCCESS?
Stunned. I worked very hard on this novel, and I certainly expected people would enjoy it, but I never imagined so many people would be enjoying it this much. I wrote this book essentially as a group of fictional characters exploring ideas that I found personally intriguing. These same themes obviously resonate with a great many people.

THIS NOVEL IS VERY EMPOWERING TO WOMEN. CAN YOU COMMENT?
Two thousand years ago, we lived in a world of Gods and Goddesses. Today, we live in a world solely of Gods. Women in most cultures have been stripped of their spiritual power. The novel touches on questions of how and why this shift occurred…and on what lessons we might learn from it regarding our future.

THE COVER OF YOUR BOOK MENTIONS "THE GREATEST CONSPIRACY OF THE PAST 2000 YEARS." WHAT IS THIS CONSPIRACY?
Revealing that secret would rob readers of all the fun, but I will say that it relates to one of the most famous histories of all time…a legend familiar to all of us. Rumors of this conspiracy have been whispered for centuries in countless languages, including the languages of art, music, and literature. Some of the most dramatic evidence can be found in the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci, which seem to overflow with mystifying symbolism, anomalies, and codes. Art historians agree that Da Vinci's paintings contain hidden levels of meaning that go well beneath the surface of the paint. Many scholars believe his work intentionally provides clues to a powerful secret…a secret that remains protected to this day by a clandestine brotherhood of which Da Vinci was a member.


WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR THE DA VINCI CODE?
This particular story kept knocking on my door until I answered. I first learned of the mysteries hidden in Da Vinci's paintings while I was studying art history at the University of Seville in Spain. Years later, while researching Angels & Demons and the Vatican Secret Archives, I encountered the Da Vinci enigma yet again. I arranged a trip to the Louvre Museum where I was fortunate enough to view the originals of some of Da Vinci's most famous works as well as discuss them with an art historian who helped me better understand the mystery behind their surprising anomalies. From then on, I was captivated. I spent a year doing research before writing The Da Vinci Code.

HOW DID YOU GET ALL THE INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THIS BOOK?
Most of the information is not as "inside" as it seems. The secret described in the novel has been chronicled for centuries, so there are thousands of sources to draw from. In addition, I was surprised how eager historians were to share their expertise with me. One academic told me her enthusiasm for The Da Vinci Code was based in part on her hope that "this ancient mystery would be unveiled to a wider audience."

YOU SEEM TO HAVE A FASCINATION WITH SECRET SOCIETIES? CAN YOU COMMENT?
My interest in secret societies is the product of many experiences, some I can discuss, others I cannot. Certainly my research of organizations like NSA, the Vatican, NRO, and Opus Dei continues to fuel my intrigue. At a more fundamental level, though, my interest sparks from growing up in New England, surrounded by the clandestine clubs of Ivy League universities, the Masonic lodges of our Founding Fathers, and the hidden hallways of early government power. New England has a long tradition of elite private clubs, fraternities, and secrecy. On that theme, the next Robert Langdon novel (already in progress) is set deep within the oldest fraternity in history…the enigmatic brotherhood of the Masons.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A CONSPIRACY THEORIST?
Hardly. I'm quite the opposite, in fact--more of a skeptic. I see no truth whatsoever in stories of extraterrestrial visitors, crop circles, the Bermuda Triangle, or many of the other "mysteries" that permeate pop culture. However, the secret behind The Da Vinci Code was too well documented and significant for me to dismiss.

HOW DO YOU WEAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION INTO YOUR STORIES AND YET KEEP THEM SO FAST-PACED?
Writing an informative yet compact thriller is a lot like making maple sugar candy. You have to tap hundreds of trees…boil vats and vats of raw sap…evaporate the water…and keep boiling until you've distilled a tiny nugget that encapsulates the essence. Of course, this requires liberal use of the DELETE key. In many ways, editing yourself is the most important part of being a novelist…carving away superfluous text until your story stands crystal clear before your reader. For every page in The Da Vinci Code, I wrote ten that ended up in the trash.
 

sladehk

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its good enough to read over again 3 times to get every morsel of of it
 

jumb

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I also did the code at the back of DF. Wasn't too hard. Also, I was pretty unispired by it.
 

malayz_angel

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Well I'm a Christian but I thought "The Da Vinci Code" was a really interesting read! I straight away went and bought "Angels and Demons" and I liked that too. Today I bought "Digital Fortress" and "Deception Point" and I can't wait to read them. In fact, why am I posting...I could be reading....later! :D
 

**DeEjAY_EjAy**

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I just bought this book 2 days ago, because i was bored... i had nothin to do than work b4 i start jumping back in2 education... i bought it because my mates say its a good read, and now that ive finished it(in 2 days! i never even thought id read a book so fast), i reckon its THE best read ive had since the "tomorrow" series! as a pretty religious catholic/christian, i didnt seem offended reading the book, it actually makes me more open to discuss religion in its entirety....

i cannot look at da vincis work the same way again :p

oh oh did u know that TOM HANKS is playing Robert Langdon in the Movie thats comin next year.... how crap, i loathe him..... i always imagined Landon to be a David Duchovny type of person...

now im gonna buy the rest of browns novels!
 

Butterfly Kissz

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i just started reading it a couple days ago cuz my dad and my brother took it off me one after another and its only now that ive finally been given the chance to read it in peace...

there is just so much hype and controversy about this book that i thought- i must read this book and see for myself..

in one night i read 40 chapters! i just couldnt put this novel down! it was soo good, with so many twists and turns and mysterious happenings that i consider this book to be the pinnacle of pure intellect. there's just so much that ive learnt from this book and there is just so much intrigue and controversy involved with the da vinci code! that it inspires you and captivates you to continuing reading it!

it an awesome book! :D

i love it!

and angels and demons is another book which i cant wait to start reading.. illuminati... :uhhuh:
 

Sasky

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**DeEjAY_EjAy** said:
I just bought this book 2 days ago, because i was bored... i had nothin to do than work b4 i start jumping back in2 education...

i reckon its THE best read ive had since the "tomorrow" series!
um.. yeah, that says a lot
 

choco

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thought the endin was too predictable though..sort of a let down..
 

lil_miz_gigglez

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i loved da da vinci code although i 2 fink dat da ending was way too predictable however it is one big rollercoaster ride.
i loved it all
 

Darth Figgy

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The Bible is largely fictitious anyway, I don't see how 'The Da Vinci Code' can be seen as offensive.
 

absolution*

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The bible isnt strictly fictitious. It is a faith, a moral and ethical code, based on analogies, myth and deep symbolism.

I only just started reading this. I didnt want to because i hate hyped books, especially ones which stupid people endorse, but my dad has the picture hard copy one. Need a day or two to finish it off. Seems interesting so far though.
 

jumb

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Darth Figgy said:
The Bible is largely fictitious anyway, I don't see how 'The Da Vinci Code' can be seen as offensive.
Where's your proof?

However I agree with you.
 

Darth Figgy

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Yeah well, I know there is a lot of historical fact in the Bible - I mean we used it as a source in Ancient History.

It's more just an elaborate saga than anything else.

Lol, I think my faith in the Catholic Church was pushed over the edge when a visiting priest to our school said "we all know that Heaven isn't full of cherubs and fluffy white clouds" - you know this do you? Who says it isn't? How can you prove that the Bible is true while disproving the contents of Heaven?
 

behemuf

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The Dan Brown books are the best reads ive had in a long time, All the Facts mixed with the fiction is amazing and very enjoyable. If you are looking for a more suspenseful one read digital fortress (His First Book) the characters are much more interesting and enjoyable. He is writing another Robert Langdom book which should be interesting.
 

capsicum

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Loved the Da Vinci Code! I couldn't put the book down once I got into it (very early into the book). Yeah, the ending was kind of a let down, but everything else about it was excellent! Recommended! I heard it's gonna hit the screens; filming begins this year june/july! doubt the film will be as good though. i mean, how are they gonna all those details in max 120 mins?
 

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