Da Vinci Code and Catholics and Vatican.. oh my!!
 

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...davinci17.html

Catholics are advised to avoid 'Da Vinci Code'

Associated Press
Mar. 17, 2005 12:00 AM

VATICAN CITY - If you're not among the millions who have already read The Da Vinci Code, an Italian cardinal has a plea for you: Don't read it and don't buy it.

Genoa Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who previously was a high-ranking official of the Vatican's Office on Doctrinal Orthodoxy, told Vatican Radio on Tuesday that the runaway success of the Dan Brown novel is proof of "anti-Catholic" prejudice.

Allegations in the novel that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and has descendants have outraged many Christians and have been dismissed by historians and theologians.

"The distribution strategy has been absolutely exceptional marketing even at Catholic bookstores, and I've already complained about the Catholic bookshops which, for profit motives, have stacks of this book," said Bertone, who has been mentioned as a possible successor to Pope John Paul II.

"And then there's that strategy of persuasion, that one isn't an adult Christian if you don't read this book. Thus my appeal is: Don't read and don't buy (the book)."

Asked about commentary that the book's success is "only further proof of the fact that anti-Catholicism is the last acceptable prejudice," the cardinal exclaimed, "It's the truth!"

"There's a great anti-Catholic prejudice," Bertone said. "I ask myself if a similar book was written, full of lies about Buddha, Mohammed or even, for example, if a novel came out which manipulated all the history of the Holocaust or of the Shoah, what would have happened?"

In response, book publisher Doubleday said: "The ideas put forth in The Da Vinci Code have been circulating for centuries; this novel explores them in an accessible work of fiction. Doubleday certainly respects Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican and their desire to clarify any factual errors they feel may have been made in The Da Vinci Code."

The Da Vinci Code was published two years ago this month and is available in 44 languages. Booksellers expect the novel to remain a bestseller well into this year.

Da Vinci Code is an excellent book.. anyone who has read it MUST read Angels and Demons :thumbsup

its a great book but lets not forget this book is based on complete fiction.

Whenever someone says not to do something, it's only more enticing. I'm a recovering catholic (was brought up in a catholic family with all the religious dogma) and the fact that this idiot said not to read that book makes me want to do just the opposite.

not true at all...

you sure you read this book barbie? It has fictional characters but the story hits on a lot of historical references that might be construed as non-fiction.

I cant wait for the movie to come out

That book and Angel and Demons have to be one of the best books I have ever read. No lets get to the heart of the matter. ITS FICTION. He merely built a book around already proposed theories and ideas borrowed from others. One has to wonder if there isn't some ring of truth in it if the Vatican has to get worked up over FICTION.

These too - Deception Point, Digital Fortress. Also check out Steve Berry's The Amber Room and The Romanov Prophecy if you are Dan Brown fans. :thumbsup :thumbsup

not fiction...

Where would you go to buy this or check it out of a Library. In the FICTION section. Am I wrong? NO. Do those characters exist? NO. Does the book hit on historical facts and known theories? Yes. Does it make the book Non-Fiction? NO

No fiction book has ever been based on complete fiction. There is fact in all of them.

Exactly. The book is based on facts and theories but fiction all the same. :thumbsup

did you read the book? are you sure? the characters are fictional, but all the information within the story are facts collected, check the index and look at all the research that was put into the book :upsidedow

I read the book. Are you reading my posts? I agreed it was based on historical facts and theories. But that doesn't make the book Non-Fiction

oh... yeah.... true :)

After reading Da Vinci Code I also purchased "Holy Blood - Holy Grail" which is the book that Dan Brown got the idea and much of the info from to write the book.

I highly recommend that book to anyone who wants to find out more. It's full of facts and can be a difficult read, but it certainly poses some interesting questions and theories.

I think its good to read about various religions.

It was a fantastic book... can't wait to see the movie.

fascinating read but anyone who studied history that well would agree that its not all historically accurate

Are you talking about DaVinci Code, or The Bible??

The Vatican has so many issues. :1orglaugh

funny how they complain that the events in one fictional story dont match those in another

Isnt religion as well?? :2 cents: except their hokum is a lot more established :1orglaugh

i've read the book as well. fantastic book. :thumbsup i can't wait to see the movie. Sophie is going to be played by Audrey Tautou (the girl in Amelie).

Too late, im on my 3rd book (Deception Point) of D. Brown.
This guy is brilliant in conspiracy theories.

Angels & Demons is good. You should read it before the Da Vinci Code.

exactly.

Well...maybe some true but ya, mostly fiction. Getting a lot of people worked up!

I have yet to read the DaVinci code. I just haven't gotten around to picking it up. However, I did read Angels and Demons (book club auto selection). I was brought up as the child of a 32nd degree Mason and a grand master of the lodge. I didn't know much about it until my dad had "retired" from the lodge and was in his dying days and then he shared a lot of the info with me in hopes that I would join the female version the "Eastern Stars". The references they make to the Masons in the book are pretty accurate based on the historical information recorded by the lodge. I'm sure that a lot of the Vatican information is something of a whim or based on rumors since the security is so tight there wouldn't be much chance of anyone gaining that information. But, the think tank in Switzerland they refer to and the Masonic references are pretty dead on.....

jesus is homosexual.

Yup, this is the 1st adventure of Robert Langdon. I think Jhonny Deep portrays this role much better than Tom Hanks. Still, id watch the movie who ever takes the cast.

Wonderful book.. I'm scared to read the rest though becuase i'll forever question if my local fathers are Opis dei

I just finished The Da Vinci Code

pretty awesome and compelling. I couldn't stop reading it, finished it in less than 24hours :)

i'm going to watch the BBC documentary on it, looks pretty good.

i read it about a month ago. read it in a day... it was pretty good, if you're into the suspense driven type of novel. not exactly brilliant, but it does what it set out to do quite well.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

God is an Alien. He is not from our planet.
Plus he can perform "miracles" Seriously all those beams of light and shit in the bible - UFO's?

I read this book and it's interesting.

The truth is not to be found anywhere in writing, the Catholics have had 2,000 years to make sure of that. But logic is always there.

Jesus lived.
For most of his life he was a practicing Jew.
He did not start his ministry until he was 26 (I think I have the date right)
Nothing in the bible leads us to believe he was a bachelor.

All facts from the bible.

For a Jew in those times to be single is unusual at best.
Married people have sex and babies.
Jesus provided the wine at a wedding, under Jewish law this is the grooms job and an insult to the groom. Also there was the washing of the guests feet.
Jesus was a Rabbi, it would have been VERY strange if he were not married with a family and would of warranted a mention in the bible.

It was the Catholics who were keen on celibacy and priests cardinal and popes being single. Around the 11th Century to stop the priests giving away the churched wealth to the children.

Angels and Demons, and The Davinci Code are both poorly written..
and look at the plot similarities, character similarities between the two..

they're still entertaining though :)

started out strong but..
 

It started out strong, but the ending was all Hollywood and lost its punch..