|
MOST POPULAR...
- Classifieds
- Jobs
- Real Estate
- Auto
- Subscribe
- Search
Site
- Business
Directory
- Contact Us
COMMUNITY
- Banks
Community
- Jackson Community
- Madison Community
SERVICES
- Place an Ad
- Send a Letter
- List your Business
- Subscribe
- Advertising
- Links
- Printing
PDF FORMS
- Rates
- Print and Internet
- Engagement
Announcement
- Wedding Announcement
- Birth Announcement
- Church News
- Credit
Application
|
Local congregations address popularity of ‘The Da Vinci Code’
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
Dan Brown’s controversial book turned movie, “The Da Vinci Code,” may be reaching millions worldwide — but local pastors say the international hype isn’t a major concern among their congregations.
In fact, the best-selling novel — and now the movie — are opportunities for the church to address the accusations Brown made about the church and Jesus’ life, they say.
“It challenges us as a church to define what we believe,” said Jamey Prickett, pastor of New Liberty United Methodist Church in Braselton.
“The Da Vinci Code” follows a Harvard professor, Robert Langdon, who is helping to solve the murder of a high-ranking official at the Louvre museum in Paris. The murder victim, before his death, left clues at the scene amid works by Italian artist Leonardo Da Vinci about the identity of his killer.
The novel says the fictional murder victim was a member of the Priory of Sion, a centuries-old secret society with elite members whose mission was to preserve the “truth” about Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Brown claims the Priory of Sion exists in real life.
Ultimately, by leaving clues in other artworks, Langdon and a granddaughter of the murder victim learn that Jesus and Mary Magdalene escaped his crucifixion and had children together. The novel claims the descendants of their children remain in Europe.
Jeff Appling, pastor of Grove Level Baptist Church in Maysville, said the church is not overreacting to Brown’s blatant attacks against Christianity in the novel.
One of the key problems with “The Da Vinci Code,” Appling said, is a “fact page” in the novel that claims the book is factual.
That page says the documents, rituals, organization, art work and architecture cited in “The Da Vinci Code” are factual.
Appling said experts in the history, art and theological communities have debunked some of Brown’s “factual” claims.
“Brown is a great fictional writer,” Appling said. “He should stick to writing fiction.”
Prickett, who read the novel, said he’s also concerned that readers and movie patrons will take Brown’s fictional work at factual.
“It worries me that we don’t think for ourselves,” he said.
And while Prickett said “The Da Vinci Code” is a good mystery novel, he certainly doesn’t believe the novel’s notion that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. The novel also portrays Jesus as just a man, not the son of God, he added.
But if “The Da Vinci Code” makes such a claim against Christianity — the most prominent religion in the United States — why have more than 60 million copies of the novel been printed? And why did the movie earn more than $238 million worldwide during its opening weekend?
Prickett believes the novel and movie tie into a growing sense of spirituality in the nation. Last year’s popular “Passion of the Christ,” and a number of bestselling books about spirituality point to that movement, he said.
People, he said, are beginning to realize that the physical world doesn’t provide all of life’s answers.
Appling said he believes the novel and movie appeal to those who don’t believe the story of Jesus.
“Conspiracies are always interesting to people,” he said.
But how are local churches handling the popularity of the controversial novel and movie?
Prickett said while he hasn’t addressed the claims made in “The Da Vinci Code” at the pulpit, he has discussed some concerns individually with parisoners. A book club at the church also studied novel. The pastor said he plans to preach about “Rediscovering Jesus” during the second week of June.
Appling said he has preached four sermons about “The Da Vinci Code” at his 2,000-strong congregation. The sermons, he said, are focusing on facts to point to the Bible’s truth — with manuscripts, archeology, prophecies fulfilled and statistical probabilities.
Appling said the Bible will defend itself against the claims in “The Da Vinci Code.”
“We’re certainly not telling people what to do,” he said. “You don’t have to drink poison to know that it’s bad for you.”
Attempts to contact other local pastors of various denominations prior to deadline were unsuccessful.
|
|
View the
Best Homes
in Northeast Georgia
in
MainStreet Homes.
Click
HERE
|
|
