Da Vinci Code

[Dream]

Is it sinful to read the Da Vinci Code?

Why or why not?

 

[Gwendolyn]

I don't think so, as long as you realise that it is pop-culture fiction and not an accurate representation of the Catholic Church. I read it, and I was laughing out loud in some parts because the claims it made were utterly ridiculous... there were also little things that clued me in to the fact that the author clearly isn't familiar with the intricacies of Catholic doctrine, and I figure that if he is going to produce a novel that makes such strong claims, he ought to at least understand what it is he is speaking against.

The thing is, though, he's a very persuasive author and if you're on the fence, it's very easy to believe him. You just have to make sure that you have a solid foundation in your faith, and that you know where you stand.

 

[Markh]

I would think that it is not sinful to read the book in itself,

however it would be morally questionnable over whether you should purchase a copy of the book yourself and in doing so provide an incentive for other authors to write equally as much trash.

I have heard It reads like a kids book.

If you are after a decent read, I recommend A Canticle For Lebowitz It is a really funny Catholic sci fi novel.

 

[Letalis]

I don't think it's sinful.

Why anyone would want to read that book is another question altogether.

 

[faerieevaH]

I liked the book. And as said: it's just popular culture fiction. Perhaps it's easier to get the picture if you read more of Dan Browns' oeuvre. Like Dumas, he just combines legend and myth into an entertaining story. The problem is that some people do not READ it like an entertaining story. He sets it out clearly in the beginning that there are only two facts, and that all the rest is myth, legend, and storyweaving.

Though for his storyweaving he goes against teachings of the church, it is remarkable how positive he speaks of people within the church. Priests, Bishops, popes are all put down as very positive figures who truely believe in what they say and do and try the best for people.
Is this a 'Catholic book'... certainly not. But I also wouldn't put it down as an attack on the Church. The fact that so many people perceive 'truth' in what is just very well and persuasively written fiction, is more worrying about the state of the educational system than that I would atribute it to the writer.

 

[Truth and Reconciliation]

It's not sinful, but there are a lot of junk you'll need to filter out though...

 

[Filia Mariae]

Is it sinful to read the Da Vinci Code?

Why or why not?

In and of itself, no.

If, however, you know that your faith is weak or your knowledge of history is spotty and you have reason to believe that this book will cause you to doubt, then it could be considered the occasion of sin, IMO.

 

[Paul S]

He sets it out clearly in the beginning that there are only two facts, and that all the rest is myth, legend, and storyweaving.

At the beginning of the book, he states that all documentation and such is true, although the story is fictional. This is false, as some of the documentation he relies on has been admitted to be false, especially some of the stuff about the Templars and their survival into modern-day France.

Though for his storyweaving he goes against teachings of the church, it is remarkable how positive he speaks of people within the church. Priests, Bishops, popes are all put down as very positive figures who truely believe in what they say and do and try the best for people.

Except he claims the Church herself is a liar. We know popes and bishops and priests can sin, but the Church is perfect, and her teachings are true.

 

[faerieevaH]

The claims about the church are in the storyweaving.

And the documentation in the archives, which is the only one he makes a claim about, exists. He claims those documents to exist, he doesn't speak about the truth of their contents. All the rest of the claims I believe are made by the character. Unless he has made statements outside the books. He sells a story that 'could be true' in the sense that you 'can imagine it happening that way'.