Details said:
The Vatican is calling for a boycott - not the same as banning it.
As to why a work of fiction can be threatening - what about a work of fiction that says black people are indeed genetically inferior to whites? And that they're plotting to kill us all and rape everyone? Something that is put out as fiction, but is very popular, takes historical and real societies and gives them fictious, evil purposes? Says that the NAACP is actually the head of all black gangs, and they are organized to destroy society, for example?
Or pick something negative towards any group - for example, albino groups are ticked off at this film, because it continues a history of films using evil albinos as their villians.
Banning a film - that's too much - but simply proposing a boycott, and electing not to see a movie - that's just a standard way to register some disapproval.
Me - I'm not a Catholic, I don't care what's fictional here or not, but I'll figure the whole thing is unless proven otherwise - so I'll probably go see the movie....... - since I'm not an albino
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Wow evil albinos...hmm black ghetto gansta villains, italian mafiosos, gay/ lesbian who committ murder or suicide, etc etc etc....
Its ok with me for the Pope to call for Catholics to boycott the Da Vinci Code. Just because I do not understand why the existence of fiction is personally or collectively offensive to Catholics does not mean it is not offensive to some Catholics.
Art is Art. By its nature it stirs things up.
Some of the ideas in the Da Vinci Code resonate with people of our time who are searching for meaning in the world.
That Mary Magdalene may have been more than a
, that she may have been a close disciple of Jesus has some historical backup in the Dead Sea Scrolls--(see Elaine Pagel's scholarly works on the Gnostic Gospels, there is a gospel of Mary.)
In fiction, it's not such a far stretch, that Jesus (who is believe to be both God AND Man), may have been capable of having a wife...its plausible. Doesn't mean its absolutely true. Its fiction. But a fiction that resonates with some. It's a stretch of the imagination...
We live in a time when our President lied to us about WMD and started a war. Conspriacy theories abound. Makes sense one more conspiracy theory would make its way into history. At least, we won't be invading some country over it.
Make believe? Likely so. It may be comforting to some Catholic women who long to be priests, and are told they are not by Church doctrine permitted to, to have at least in fiction, some story that suggests they may be spiritual equals to the other apostles.
Some Christians feel that there were hidden teachings of Christ--esoteric, mystical teachings of Christ. They feel the Church suppressed other views and see today's call for boycott of this movie as suppression of other points of view of Christianity.
There is historical back up to the idea that the Church suppressed dissent. Lots of history there. Historically it did not take much to be called a heretic. heresy.
Some feel that the true meaning of the Christian teachings has been taken out of institutionalized hierarchical Christianity
For a person of faith, ideally, everything in the outer environment can serve to strengthen that faith..doesn't it?
The Catholic Church is a fascinating institution and teaches some pretty interesting things. Has great scholarship, fine minds, has made enormous contributions to art, culture, history and ethical debate.....shows leadership in some of the most controversial issues of our time.
Its true that many groups of people are misrepresented unfairly in art, cinema, literature. Its just an another equal opportunity experience IMO.
