Thread: Your personal DVC counter-act Board: The Da Vinci Code / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on :
 
So, given that DVC is being inflicted on us not only in book form now, but also as a movie - what are you personally going to do counter this crap?

I've read on some blogs the sensible suggestion to go to the movies - and see a different film! Unholywood respects the mighty voice of the customer dollar.

Me, I have decided to buy and read Doubleday's new edition of "The Way : The Essential Classic of Opus Dei's Founder" by Josemaria Escriva. It would not have occured to me to do so without the DVC hype. And it's about the price of a movie ticket.

What are you going to do? I don't necessarily mean something that explicitly has to do with DVC or its topic. Anything that restores the spiritual balance of the universe, really... [Biased]
 
Posted by Poppy (# 2000) on :
 
Well, I gave a talk on the DVC at the informal family type service on Sunday and managed somehow, to so upset the Brownie and Cub leaders, that they won't be coming back to the service.

Go me.

In terms of restoring the spiritual balance of the universe that is pretty good in my world as I hate juggling flags and egos at a service of praise and worship.

I am available on speaking tours, get the talk, loose the uniformed organisation......
 
Posted by SteveTom (# 23) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by IngoB:
Me, I have decided to buy and read Doubleday's new edition of "The Way : The Essential Classic of Opus Dei's Founder" by Josemaria Escriva. It would not have occured to me to do so without the DVC hype.

Now there's a choice between two evils.
 
Posted by Izzybee (# 10931) on :
 
How about you just don't see the movie if you don't want to?

I don't see why people have a desire to "fight" a work of fiction - something that even the author claims is a work of fiction. Quite frankly, if people want to believe something that they bought off the fiction shelves of the bookstore, that's their lookout.

I don't remember people getting in this much of a tizzy when "Jurassic Park" was released, even with the spate of "could it ever happen?" TV shows and books it spawned.

[edit for spelling]

[ 12. May 2006, 23:52: Message edited by: Izzybee ]
 
Posted by Mousethief (# 953) on :
 
I'm going to not post on this thread.
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
FWIW:

If someone wants to do a private counter-action, have at it!

But if you want to do something public, think twice. The more people protest the DVC, the more other people will think that Christianity has something to hide. "The lady doth protest too much."
 
Posted by Louise (# 30) on :
 
It reminds me a bit of one of my favourite episodes in the comedy series 'Father Ted': The Passion of St Tibulus. Ted and Father Dougal are sent by Bishop Brennan to protest a blasphemous film which has just opened in Craggy island. Our boys go to see it and they are shocked. Shocked, I tell you!

Ted: I know for a fact St. Tibulus wore more clothes then that. He was from Norway or somewhere, he'd have frozen to death!
Dougal: And do you remember that bit when St. Tibulus tried to take that banana off the other lad?
Ted: That wasn't a banana, Dougal.

Unfortunately, when they turn up in their dog collars, waving their signs "Down with this sort of thing!" and "Careful Now!" they ensure that it's the biggest box office hit in the island's history. Everyone on the island goes to see it.

Life imitates art!

L.
 
Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 
As my DVC counter-act, I have decided to write a long bestselling book about how I've discovered strange and arcane geometry in the work of Piet Mondrian.

Shouldn't be too difficult....
 
Posted by Petaflop (# 9804) on :
 
I have a web page with a collection of pictures of effeminate St Johns, and more recently thanks to this forum, St Sebastians. It gets about 400 hits/month, which admittedly is only a drop in the ocean.

I think challenging the 'Last Supper' claim is easier than many of the others: It is very visual, doesn't involve making assertions about history, and it makes it immediately apparent that Brown is using people's ignorance against them.

Beyond that, I tell people to go and read wikipedia. IMO one reason DVC connects so well with people is that he doesn't give a picture of the Last Supper - readers have to go off and find one, and make the discovery for themselves. Using the same approach in rebutting it has milage.

If I had to do a talk on it, I guess I might also make a picture showing which documents Irenaeus quotes in the 2nd century AD against which got into the NT cannon.
 
Posted by mr_ricarno (# 6064) on :
 
This interesting article is a very effective counter-act to DVC. It unashamedly mocks the more ridiculous aspects of the book, and gives the phenomenon, IMHO, the treatment it deserves.
 
Posted by Qoheleth. (# 9265) on :
 
<tangent>

quote:
Originally posted by Adeodatus:
work of Piet Mondrian.

Hey! That's the cover of Old "Patterns for Worship"

But credited to one Julian Smith

[Smile]

</tangent>

Q.
 
Posted by da_musicman (# 1018) on :
 
I'm going to go and see Jerry Springer: The Opera. Counter productive? Still going as its a riot.
 
Posted by Barnabas62 (# 9110) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by mr_ricarno:
This interesting article is a very effective counter-act to DVC. It unashamedly mocks the more ridiculous aspects of the book, and gives the phenomenon, IMHO, the treatment it deserves.

Thanks mr_ricarno. Great job. Did you catch "Have I got news for you?" this week? (Ian Hislop in top demolition form.) Humour works every time.
 
Posted by craigb (# 11318) on :
 
While perhaps not quite on topic, I think the DVC has done the church a favor as it is now fashionable to talk about Christian issues and a lot of Chrismdom is learning the truth about many of these issues, whereas before much of the church were ignorant and many held to these type of views any way.
 
Posted by mr_ricarno (# 6064) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Barnabas62:
quote:
Originally posted by mr_ricarno:
This interesting article is a very effective counter-act to DVC. It unashamedly mocks the more ridiculous aspects of the book, and gives the phenomenon, IMHO, the treatment it deserves.

Thanks mr_ricarno. Great job. Did you catch "Have I got news for you?" this week? (Ian Hislop in top demolition form.) Humour works every time.
'Fraid I didn't catch it, no. I don't have a TV in my college room [Frown]
 
Posted by Amazing Grace (# 95) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by mr_ricarno:
This interesting article is a very effective counter-act to DVC. It unashamedly mocks the more ridiculous aspects of the book, and gives the phenomenon, IMHO, the treatment it deserves.

Yeah, that guy rocks!

My deacon reported that there were a number of Christians at the showing she saw of TDVC (her daughter talked her into it) and there was MUCH laughter at places that weren't intended to be funny.

Charlotte
 
Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on :
 
I'm glad to see my thread getting a new lease of life, but can I gently point to the OP as for its preferred topic? [Biased]

da_musicman is at least following the thread topic, in spite of throwing in his lot with the dark side... [Big Grin]
 
Posted by da_musicman (# 1018) on :
 
Indeed with the dark side. Come and join us. Off to get my tickets now.
 
Posted by Primarks and Spencer (# 10968) on :
 
quote:
Humour works every time.
Call me thick but I didn't find The Da Vinci Code to be nearly the page-turner that some are making it out to be. It's supposed to be "fast moving" storyline? I agree that it's all supposed to happen within 24 hours, but a book of that size? Come on now.

But I can recommend A.R.R.R. Roberts The Va Dinci Cod. Both compelling and hilarious. I've embarrassed myself several times by trying to stifle laughter while reading it in public.

At first I thought that it might help me understand the plot of the Da Vinci Code. But I'm still none the wiser.
 
Posted by The Royal Spaniel (# 40) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Mousethief:
I'm going to not post on this thread.

Split infinitive...
Is outrage!! [Two face]
 
Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
I'm going to yawn. [Snore]
 
Posted by musician (# 4873) on :
 
You can't dent Dan Brown's a brilliant planner of a money spinner.
Every time there's a nother Outbreak of Outrage, up go the sales!

Bingo, I think you're response is waaaaaaaaaaay too much - like Steve Tom said [Razz]

I'm off to lend @Angels and Demons" to a pal!
 
Posted by musician (# 4873) on :
 
[Hot and Hormonal] ...and learn to type
 
Posted by jlg (# 98) on :
 
My personal counter-actions to date:

1. Refused to buy the book. Finally read it when Miss Amanda kindly sent me her paperback copy.

2. Will refuse to see the movie (unless and until I stumble across someone with a DVD copy they're willing to share).

(While willing to see first-hand what all the fuss is about, I'm not going to add to the financial gain of the interested parties.)

3. Shake my head in sadness over the stupidity of the Roman Catholic Church for providing so much free publicity via its sudden spurt of Informative Talks aimed at the general public with as much advertising blitz as the local folks are able to muster.

4. Given #3, I try to point out to those people I know who are jumping on the RCC bandwagon and getting all upset, that it's simply a work of fiction and the Official Indignant Response from the RCC is probably only causing those who think DVC might have some truth in it to wonder "Why are they being so defensive if they have nothing to hide?".

5. Throwing up my hands and sighing a lot.
 
Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by jlg:

3. Shake my head in sadness over the stupidity of the Roman Catholic Church for providing so much free publicity via its sudden spurt of Informative Talks aimed at the general public with as much advertising blitz as the local folks are able to muster.

4. Given #3, I try to point out to those people I know who are jumping on the RCC bandwagon and getting all upset, that it's simply a work of fiction and the Official Indignant Response from the RCC is probably only causing those who think DVC might have some truth in it to wonder "Why are they being so defensive if they have nothing to hide?".

5. Throwing up my hands and sighing a lot.

Yes. While I love the RCC in many ways...these are same folks who, years ago, had a day-long festival in Rome focusing on Satan--showing "The Exorcist", etc. What, like he needs more attention???
[Eek!] [Roll Eyes]
 
Posted by croshtique (# 4721) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by jlg:
2. Will refuse to see the movie (unless and until I stumble across someone with a DVD copy they're willing to share).

(While willing to see first-hand what all the fuss is about, I'm not going to add to the financial gain of the interested parties.)

Why not pirate a few copies and sell them instead - taking away from their financial gain and make a small profit out of it... [Devil]

(I am not advocating the cool crime of video piracy)
 
Posted by Primarks and Spencer (# 10968) on :
 
quote:
Call me thick but I didn't find The Da Vinci Code to be nearly the page-turner that some are making it out to be. It's supposed to be "fast moving" storyline? I agree that it's all supposed to happen within 24 hours, but a book of that size? Come on now.
I have now changed my mind - and have read The Da Vinci Code all the way through! [Big Grin]

The plot doesn't really start to move until Chapter 9, when you start to realise that Robert Langdon has been caught in a trap, and needs to escape. But from then onwards, it's an absolutely gripping page-turner that you just can't put down.

Unfortunately, on my first attempt to read The Da Vinci Code, it had lost my interest by chapter 3. Nevertheless, I had read enough of it to appreciate the humour in its parody, The Va Dinci Cod. And my curiosity to compare the plot of the parody to the original was enough to drive me from chapter 3 to chapter 9. From chapter 9 onwards, The Da Vinci Code captured my interest on its own merit.

So I'm now starting to read the rebuttals. I have two so far - "The Da Vinci Code - Fact or Fiction?" by Hank Hanegraaff & Paul L Maier - and "Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code" by Bart D Ehrman.

I'm not impressed by Hanegraaff and Maier. Their book starts off with a load of bollocks about how it's "politically incorrect" to satirise or lampoon other religions religions such as Buddhism and Islam, whereas Christianity is apparently fair game. I mean, even if this was true - so what? The fact that it's fashionable to criticise something, does not mean that the thing being criticised is true! It doesn't mean it's worthy of society's esteem either. But Hanegraaff and Maier seem to have a "reality bypass" on that point. Instead, they just bleat on in an air of hysterical self-righteousness. Honestly, I believe that Hanegraaff and Maier's book poses far more threat to Christianity's public image and its evangelistic missions than any book that Dan Brown has written.

By contrast, Ehrman's work is much more sober and scholarly. He starts off by dealing with the role of Constantine in early Christianity. Now I haven't read it yet - but the idea that Emperor Constantine was single-handedly responsible for removing any notion of "sacred feminine" from all ancient religion seems a bit far-fetched to me. I'll post again when I've read a bit more.

quote:
3. Shake my head in sadness over the stupidity of the Roman Catholic Church for providing so much free publicity via its sudden spurt of Informative Talks aimed at the general public with as much advertising blitz as the local folks are able to muster.
I've noticed that round where I live, the RC church isn't giving nearly as much publicity to the Da Vinci Code as other traditions.

However, perhaps the Protestant tradition is more flexible about how it defines "church" than the RC tradition, and is perhaps not quite so threatened. Indeed, the Protestant Revolution is more likely to benefit from the Da Vinci Code, if we're clever and we play our cards right.
 
Posted by Herbertus (# 4481) on :
 
If only people would listen to passive protest!

There seems to be a lot of debate about is it true, is it not. I don't really care. What interests me with this and most other conspiracy theories is that if it ignites passion in people there must be a grain of truth in it. I think that grain in this instance is the subjugation of not only women in the Catholic church but lay people in general. If we could have a debate about that and link that to some sort of blood line of what the early church believed the role of the people to be then that would be a great outcome of DVC. Of course, we could have that debate without DB and the DVC but since they have happened lets use it as an excuse to get something happening.

[brick wall]
 


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