Davinci code, can your children read or watch?

salsa · May 23, 2006

Are you letting your older children/teens read the Davinci code or watch the movie? just curious

Carri20 · May 23, 2006

My kids aren't reading yet but even if they were I wouldn't let them touch that Da Vinci code garbage until they were at least 16 and had a good head on their shoulders.

wanderingone · May 24, 2006

My 13 year old saw davinci code with me, she wasn't particularly interested in the book (nor was I, it just wasn't that good)

The Jesus was married stuff is nothing my kids haven't been exposed to, we've read all kinds of "historical" novels that included theories like Jesus had siblings, was married etc.. so a fictional romp through history with some theory that some people believe to be true is not particularly offensive to me, and by the time they were 8 or 9 my kids knew to "look it up" want to know if it's true, follow the information trail.

The idea that a group of people (church or not) might keep a secret from their followers is not at all odd to me, it makes for a decent if not all that original storyline and I don't take it as an attack on my faith... if my faith was so easily attacked and swayed I'd steer clear of a LOT of things.

The only thing in the movie that I might have preferred her not see was the self flagellation stuff that I don't recall being in the book, (it might be there, but I read it a long time ago and it was a "bus book" something to pass the time during a commute) she's seen things about people during passion week who pierce themselves and try to suffer as Christ did, but I wasn't prepared for it in the movie.

Leanna · May 24, 2006

I agree with wanderingone that the book just wasn't that good. Really. Bad quality and since the guy didn't research his history well enough he ends up looking like an idiot, to me at least.

Carrie, have you even read the book? I find the people most "worked up" haven't even read it.... funny

bliz · May 24, 2006

If they want to. I don't care one way or another.

Athene · May 24, 2006

They can when they're older, it's not an issue for me at the mo considering my oldest is 8 - she's still into Felicity Wishes and that kind of genre.

Carri20 · May 24, 2006

Carrie, have you even read the book? I find the people most "worked up" haven't even read it.... funny

No, I haven't read the book. I know people who have seen the movie, I've seen documentaries about it, and I'm currently reading a book that my church provided which is basically an overview and Q & A. I know enough about it to know that it's garbage.

Carri20 · May 24, 2006

Also let's not forget that every time someone buys a copy of this garbage a blasphemer's wallet gets a little fatter.

Sophia7 · May 24, 2006

Carri20 said:
No, I haven't read the book. I know people who have seen the movie, I've seen documentaries about it, and I'm currently reading a book that my church provided which is basically an overview and Q & A. I know enough about it to know that it's garbage.

I agree. I don't need to read the book or watch the movie to know that I wouldn't want my kids to read it or watch it (if they were old enough). Being exposed to the different ideas that people have is one thing. Reading a book that presents fiction as historical fact is another. I don't want to pay any money to support the creation of something like that. I strongly disagree with the idea that I have to read every piece of garbage in question just to know what people are thinking before I can defend my faith.

BeanMak · May 24, 2006

I read the book. It was a page turner. I found it a good read, along the lines of a Robert Ludlum or Tom Clancey book. Historical Fiction. with FICTION being the operative word.

bliz · May 24, 2006

Carri20 said:
Also let's not forget that every time someone buys a copy of this garbage a blasphemer's wallet gets a little fatter.

What exactly is it that you consider blasphemous in the book or movie?

Sophia7 · May 24, 2006

bliz said:
What exactly is it that you consider blasphemous in the book or movie?

Perhaps the idea that Jesus was merely a man and not God? If that were true, then Jesus Himself was a blasphemer, just as the Pharisees thought. Dan Brown has a completely anti-Christian view of Jesus.

Leanna · May 24, 2006

Oh... I see this turned explosive. I think the book could have been better, but it was entertaining enough. You know this reminds me of when they had those Mohammed cartoons and the Christians said "why can't they just laugh!?" then when the joke is on the Christians in the davinci code they forget their humor.... its so one sided.... either you can laugh or you can't.

Sophia7 · May 24, 2006

Leanna said:
Oh... I see this turned explosive. I think the book could have been better, but it was entertaining enough. You know this reminds me of when they had those Mohammed cartoons and the Christians said "why can't they just laugh!?" then when the joke is on the Christians in the davinci code they forget their humor.... its so one sided.... either you can laugh or you can't.

Well, I don't think that Dan Brown meant his book as a joke or a cartoon, not when he claims that all of his historical descriptions and facts are accurate. That is the laughable thing because he is easily discredited by real scholars. Neither do I expect Muslims to laugh at things that others may consider jokes but that they find offensive to their faith.

I know that after reading this book, Christians will remain Christians still, and those who reject Christianity will reject Christianity still, but what about those those who are not Christians but who want to believe in God and are seeking answers to their questions about the authority and the reliability of the Bible? There are many people like that here on CF. Something like this could push those who have no grounding in the Bible and church history farther away from God if they take it seriously. What about those who are sitting on the fence?

And to bring this back to the topic at hand, what about our children, who might not always be able to separate truth from fiction, especially when the line is so blurry?

Leanna · May 24, 2006

Ahh yes children. When my little guy is big enough, then he can read it and learn what parts are correct and what parts are erroneous... for now hes not reading, heehee

Lena75 · May 24, 2006

salsa said:
Are you letting your older children/teens read the Davinci code or watch the movie? just curious

Sure! Over my dead body.

Athene · May 25, 2006

Carri20 said:
No, I haven't read the book. I know people who have seen the movie, I've seen documentaries about it, and I'm currently reading a book that my church provided which is basically an overview and Q & A. I know enough about it to know that it's garbage.

So tell me . . . .. was Mary Magdalene a prostitute?

bliz · May 25, 2006

Sophia7 said:
Perhaps the idea that Jesus was merely a man and not God? If that were true, then Jesus Himself was a blasphemer, just as the Pharisees thought. Dan Brown has a completely anti-Christian view of Jesus.

Didn't read the book - only saw the movie.

In the movie we get Hanks wrestling with "fully God - fully man", which is essential part of our understanding of who Jesus was while here on earth. No, I don't think He married, but if He did, it changes nothing about who He was and what His death accomplished.

wanderingone · May 25, 2006

bliz said:
Didn't read the book - only saw the movie.

In the movie we get Hanks wrestling with "fully God - fully man", which is essential part of our understanding of who Jesus was while here on earth. No, I don't think He married, but if He did, it changes nothing about who He was and what His death accomplished.

Right, and this is the discussion that books like Davinci Code, and Mary Called Magdalene (and about a dozen other books that provide a historical fiction account of Christ's life) have created in our house. What if the perpetual virginity of Mary is a myth? What if Jesus had siblings? What if Jesus had a wife? Does that change his being the Son of God, sent to redeem us from our sins? Does the trinity suddenly implode if Jesus the man actually wasn't celibate? Is he less the son of God if his mother had children with her husband after Jesus? Is the foundation of our faith the holy grail? If the church really does lie to their members does that make Christ less than a savior?

I really don't hold a fictional author or producers of a murder mystery film responsible for the fact that people mistakenly take their product as fact.

wanderingone · May 25, 2006

Sophia7 said:
And to bring this back to the topic at hand, what about our children, who might not always be able to separate truth from fiction, especially when the line is so blurry?

I wouldn't recommend this book or movie for young children, anyone old enough to read this book certainly is old enough to have an understanding of fiction vs. fact.

The fact that some adults so readily suck up conspiracy theory and happily mix fact and fiction doesn't make the book or the movie at fault for those people who read a novel and say "wow that's what really happened" When we saw National Treasure I didn't expect the producers to put a disclaimer about the historical content not being accurate.

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