Reading "Da Vinci Code" does alter beliefs

azzuri · Reading "Da Vinci Code" does alter beliefs

see - http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=731342006

Reading "Da Vinci Code" does alter beliefs - survey

By Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - "The Da Vinci Code" has undermined faith in the Roman Catholic Church and badly damaged its credibility, a survey of British readers of Dan Brown's bestseller showed on Tuesday.

People are now twice as likely to believe Jesus Christ fathered children after reading the Dan Brown blockbuster and four times as likely to think the conservative Catholic group Opus Dei is a murderous sect.

"An alarming number of people take its spurious claims very seriously indeed," said Austin Ivereigh, press secretary to Britain's top Catholic prelate Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.

"Our poll shows that for many, many people the Da Vinci Code is not just entertainment," Ivereigh added.

He heads a prominent group of English Roman Catholic monks, theologians, nuns and members of Opus Dei, who commissioned the survey from leading pollster Opinion Research Business (ORB) and have sought to promote Catholic beliefs at a time when the film's release has provoked a storm of controversy.

ORB interviewed more than 1,000 adults last weekend, finding that 60 percent believed Jesus had children by Mary Magdalene -- a possibility raised by the book -- compared with just 30 percent of those who had not read the book.

The English group demanded that the "Da Vinci Code" movie, being given its world premiere at the Cannes Film festival on Wednesday, should carry a "health warning".

The group, which stopped short of following the Vatican line of calling on Catholics to boycott the film, accused Brown of dishonest marketing based on peddling fiction as fact.

The novel, which has sold over 40 million copies, also depicts Opus Dei as a ruthless Machiavellian organisation whose members resort to murder to keep the Church's secrets.

The survey underlined the astonishing popularity of Brown's novel -- it has been read by more than one in five adults of all ages in Britain.

Ivereigh complained that Brown and film studio Sony Pictures "have encouraged people to take it seriously while hiding behind the claim that it is fiction.

"Our poll shows they should take responsibility for their dishonesty and issue a health warning."

In the survey, readers were asked if Opus Dei had ever carried out a murder. Seventeen percent of readers believe it had, compared with just four percent of non-readers.

Opus Dei spokesman Jack Valero said he was astonished.

"Since we were founded in 1928, Opus Dei has promoted the highest moral standards at work, spreading a message of Christian love and understanding," he said.

"Yet the Da Vinci Code has persuaded hundreds of thousands of people that we have blood on our hands."

What I find astonishing is the hypocrisy of this outburst from an organisation that has itself been peddling fiction as fact for two thousand years. Confused

Rinty · h

It certainly does. Before reading the Da Vinci Code I was of the belief that the general book-buying public were not as stupid as the publishers thought!

azzuri

But the Da Vinci Code sold to more than the normal book buying public Rinty.

It went into the 'super stardom' book range alongside Harry Potter, which means every man and his dog has read it - which certainly skews the survey. I'd imagine the 'normal' book buying public have read this, but not to have taken as seriously as most.

The world has gone 'Da Vinci' mad - a good example of this is the fact that I got 3 copies of the book as Christmas presents, despite already owning two copies (one which I bought myself and one from a previous birthday!). I reckon there must be around 4-5 million copies lying around in Scotland alone.

I actually did like the book - though I'm not saying it's at all factual. It just sort of fits in well with my value system and my appraisal of the Catholic church. I don't hold any religion in high regard though, so I'm probably not the best to judge.

Religious Bastards! Very Happy

Rinty · h

I like that whole idea and did read the "holy blood holy grail" book with healthy cynicism.

The Da Vinci code is quite a clever book but, like Harry Potter, is extremely overrated and is more about the marketing than the writing.

Christopher Brookmyre writes thrillers that have just as clever twists as Dan Browns.

The accuracy doesnt bother me. I quite like speculating on those sort of things myself. But his research is thin and he has basically just dramatised "holy blood holy grail" and other myths.

RadgeJougal

I hate to say it, but there's no way round the fact that it is a badly written piece of trash.

I will be going to see the film though. But that's because I've fancied Audrey Tautou since she was in Amelie Laughing

Aventinian

Cado

I thought it was an interesting book but it causes problems in that rather than inviting 'questions' it goes out of its way to give a whole alternate 'truth'.
but then its fiction. Though I think this term is used by people to slightly atagonise those who are religious - "Its fiction - what are you worried about?" sort of thing.

but something like this is, well, big. It challenges (even though its fictional!), it challenges the basis of our entire religion which has been on the go for 2000 years and underpins the whole of western society. I mean! it needs some guts.

Some say that it undermines only the Roman church - it doesn't - it undermines every church - since apart for a few theological differences, they're all basically the same. The main difference being one of culture and community within each particular church - the overall moral outlook and religious practice.

What I find odd is that not many people go to Church these days - yet there seem to be many quiet offended by it - this only shows that even though people don't neccessarily go to Church they haven't abandoned their views. This should give the Church some hope.

Anyway its fiction - a book on its own shouldn't challenge your faith.

SLG

IF Convenor

It's funny really; supporters of a 2,000 year old fiction about Jesus being outraged by a modern fiction about Jesus.

It's all just story-books, children.

Cado

Well, Ok. The only ones Ive heard being offended (who aren't church figures) are those who are really into the 'church'.

The point that prompted me to say that was a quick look at the BBC 'comments' site - there were a number of 'you are all going to burn in hell' posts.

Most church figures ( I would like to assume) are a bit more temperate than this.

This all opinion - I don't think there is much room for 'facts' in this debate - simply because I'm not sure there are any.

RadgeJougal

IF Convenor

Yes.

Are you really Radge Jougal?

parkhead_rfb

i went to see the film last night and while it was watchable i dont see all the fuss, i havent read the book so i cant comment on that. its quite obviously a ficticious piece of drama and anyone who has their faith undermined by it didnt really have any in the first place.

dave-ex-pat

i thought the film was the most tedious and over-rated piece of tosh since Braveheart
and I wont be reading the book. Anyone who's faith was damaged needs should sue the cinema since they were obviously too young to see the film legally!

Morph

I think that the book was a good read. Anyone whos stance on faith was changed by this book couldnt have had a very strong stance in the first place. I read the book and thought as a story it wasnt as good as Browns previous 'Angels and Demons' novel which was better. It has only sold due to the massive media coverage, to further Azzuris point how many "discovering the Da Vinci code" etc programs have you seen recently?

For better twists am with Rinty give me Christopher Brookmyre anyday. "Big Boys Did it and Ran Away" was a great example of modern Scottish writing

RadgeJougal

IF Convenor

And your point is?