maybe I'll go to confession tomorrow and confess I enjoyed a fictional movie ...

maybe not

LOL

Refresh my memory! LOL Who was the first?

I'm a Baptist, but not your typical Baptist.

I've seen kids sit up in our church and read Harry Potter checked out of OUR church library.

Get the bobsled ready...we are on our way! weeeeeeeeeee

sled = too slow

send me fed ex

me handbasket.

Hilarious...I met my first Catholic my junior year of high school, a "new" girl, she was from Ohio...I met my first Jew when I was in college...the South is a vacuum of sorts, huh?

Mrs. W<-----Southern Baptist

My 19 year old son read and passed the book on to me. I loved the book, but haven't seen the movie. I think the book has enough "possibilities" to challenge one's thoughts. This doesn't have to be a negative. Sometimes it is in the challenge that one develops a deeper, stronger faith.

As a teenager and young adult I would ask various questions in church classes about scripture. When there seemed to be no clear answers or large gaps in information I was told "you just have to have faith.". I often wondered why God had given me intelligence if it was to ultimately be the source of my spiritual doom. And yes I know the line about God giving us free will, etc, but I was genuinely seeking understanding. Why was it okay to use my intelligence as a "gift" in other areas of my life but not my spiritual beliefs?

While the focus in The Da Vinci Code tends to be on Catholicism/Christianity, I think the greater issue is in examination of the role of the feminine in religion long before Christianity. Like it or not, there is much that is valid in examining the role of the feminine, Goddess based, Earth based beliefs and rituals. Many of the Christian rituals were developed around the traditional "pagan" holidays. People were reluctant to give up what had been meaningful, life giving to them. Thus, modifications were made which made the rituals and celebrations more in keeping with acceptable Christian beliefs and practices.

Male and female symbols related to life-giving, "spiritual" energy, are ancient archetypes. The balance of such energies is seen as an optimal state...not one energy over the other. Each has a different, but necessary role in creating "wholeness", as God is whole. This is unlike Christianity where the role of the feminine in spirituality is relegated to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary is certainly not seen as an equal to Jesus or the masculine/paternal "God" as "Father". In fact, her conception of Jesus was "immaculate", unsullied by human touch. Are we to conclude that the coming together of husband and wife in sexual relations is somehow a contaminated act?

Would it be so terrible if Jesus had married and had children? Would this make him "less then" as an example of love and sacrifice? Some of the most selfless and loving relationships are between a couple and their children.

Thought provoking....to say the least.

Mrs W

When Susan and I finally met in person ... she examined my head for tiny stubs of horns! Once she "cleared" me ... we went on to our party wearing blackfishnet stockings, lace panties and "sparkly" shirts in vibrant colors that would have made Neil-in-his-hey-day-Diamond blush ! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I love me some Southern Baptist girl named Suz ... she gave me "new eyes"

~once I was 'blind' ~~ now I can see~

Bwhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Pep

And I have lots of PICS! Wanna SEE???? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

fact: I haven't read all the responses on this thread.

fact: I read the book - but not until it was available in paperback. Similarly, don't know if I'll see the movie before it's available to rent. I'm frugal that way.

fact: I followed the news and objections about the book when it got popular. I've been following the "commentary" in the news about the release of the movie and folks' reaction to it.

opinion: I imagine I'm not the only one who sees the irony in some who blast the book/movie as being "fictional" - compared to the REAL truth in another book.

fact: I'm a huge fan of Michener.

opinion: Michener is the master of transforming historical, factual settings into fiction - filling in characters, detail, and sub plots into otherwise bonafide, factual history. The stories are very plausible and represent to me a way a more detailed history might very well have actually been. Unabashedly fiction, but very, very plausible - and sometimes more rational than the "truth" - because the truth has "gaps." (Intentional irony here - "gaps" as in those being filled on almost a daily basis in evolutionary biology.)

opinion: Similarly, to me, the "Code" seems a more plausible fiction than the "truth." A much more believable fiction.

WAT
----------------
Spy vs Spy
Fiction vs Fiction
So dark the con of man.

You see, I knew I was way beyond my time....

I'm Baptist...dunked in the "swimming pool" at a young age...

BUT..one of my beloved grandmother's was Catholic..a founding member of her church..the other beloved grandmother was Baptist..I guess she won the rivalry...I was the ONLY grandchild for many years...

But better yet...I started wearing BLACK FISHNETS and LACY PANTIES in the 9th grade...did other unmentionable things at that time as well... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Shall I go on..my first job was for a Jewish storeowner...

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Oh yeah, BTW, I'm a Southern Lady....

But Jesus was married - to the Church.

I will say I have not read nor seen the movie. The only thing I do know is from our Sunday service today. Covering the Da Vinci code.

Yes, this is a fictional story, but isn't the author claiming that the backdrop to the novel is rooted in historical fact?

Here is a link to a website that might be of interest:
www.davincichallenge.com

Kim

Lemonman - therein lies the problem...you don't see.

Try reading WAT's post or Heartmending's post for examples of "the problem."

You know there are still people who believe "Piltdown Man" "proves" evolution. There will always be people who believe a lie simply because someone was "allowed" to lie.

"Oh poor Christian, you shouldn't get offended when we deliberately try to pass of opinion and lie as FACT. You should 'turn the other cheek,' right?"

Nevermind that if ANY other belief was attacked with such impunity and falsehood, the adherents of those beliefs being attacked would be mounting nuclear counterattacks and screaming bigotry and prejudice.

Check how WAT responds to anyone who says, or intimates, that Evolution is wrong and that Gould and his "punctuated equilibrium" is a lot of unproven nonsense being passed off as "fact."

Check how the Islamists reacted to the Netherlands cartoon.

Salmon Rushdee anyone?

Check how South Park wouldn't air a segment with a cartoon of Mohammend in it ostensibly because they didn't want to "offend" any Muslims. (But it's okay to offend Christians all day long with their disgusting attacks on Christianity).

Call it "Righteous Anger," if you will. But I am highly disgusted with and incensed with outright and deliberate blasphemy against God, Jesus Christ, and Christianity by two-faced "artistic" hypocrits. Poor old Mel Gibson was practically stoned for some trumped up accusation that The Passion was somehow "anti-Semitic" when it dealt in FACTS. Here comes Ron Howard with an outright attack on Christianity based in lies and premises that have already been proven to be false and NO ONE is calling it "anti-Christian" as if "anti" was so bad.

Pardon me while I go "hurl" over the hypocrisy.

You apparently have a problem with the Biblical command regarding forgiveness and you also really aren't offended by blasphemy against God, are you Lemonman? What DOES offend you, as a Christian, if not that?

FH,

Have you lost your mind?

I am so sick of you bashing WAT ever single chance you get, and over the stupidist reasons, right out of the blue.

WAT is one of the most decent, intelligent, caring & straight up guys on this board.

Leave him alone, please...enough is enough.

And yes, that was a frontal attack as well as an opinion, that you are going way too far.

***In fact, her conception of Jesus was "immaculate", unsullied by human touch. Are we to conclude that the coming together of husband and wife in sexual relations is somehow a contaminated act?***

Now, even an old pagan like me knows that the term "Immaculate Conception" does NOT mean "conceived without sex".

It means "conceived without the taint of Original Sin that afflicts all other human beings."

The Immaculate Conception was Mary, the mother of Jesus. That is why Mary was suitable to become the mother of Christ - not *just* because she was a virgin.

I am assuming that Jesus was also considered to be an Immaculate Conception as well, but I have always heard the term attributed to his mother.

This is very commonly confused, even among practicing Christians.

End of religous instruction for today <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Mulan

The movie is

FICTION

it says on the front of the book

"A NOVEL"

it is NOT and attack on Christianity

if it is an attack on anything it would be Catholic dogma & the secret societies of Catholicism

this thread is about a MOVIE

NOT your faith

calm down

Can somebody please translate this into American? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

The book was entertaining, but there's better fiction out there. I'll get it when it comes out on Netflix.

Ditto Weaver. Thanks.

FH

Do you speak to anyone in real life like this?

Pep

Well....I guess I can't really let this one go FH. I don't have a problem with the biblical command of "forgiveness"....JUST THE WAY YOU INTERPRET IT !!!! I am not offended by a movie that is meant for entertainment. I am OFFENDED by people like you who use any and EVERY thing in life as an avenue to jam their perspective down your throat.

I have to be honest with you boss.....you have no idea how incredible of a turn off you are with regards to shoving your "biblical" perspective down everyone's throat ALL THE TIME.....EVERY TIME. I mean, come on dude...Get over yourself.

I think it was very clever of you to use the word "disentaglement" in describing your WW'S continued and willful betrayals of your marriage. I don't have any problems with forgiveness...I forgave my WW....she has my forgiveness...Some people here (mistakenly I believe) perceive that because I enforced my boundaries, honored myself and honored my self integrity by not allowing continued and willful damage to my life by staying in a marriage with a cheater that somehow I am not "forgiving" or a Christian person.... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> X 1000

We all contribute good to this world in different ways...You, by citing bible verses and fighting for the "word of God" here and enlightining those (like me) who "don't get it"...and me for standing on my feet for three hours this morning at 2 am and repairing Mr Frank Smith's (pseudonym) ruptured aorta that apparently a parked van didn't like too much after his speeding ford escape SUV smacked it. I can look at myself in the mirror just fine everyday. I do this world plenty good and I make my "fellow man" better by being on this planet (even if I can't recite ten bible verses word for word).

So, I am a catholic, I believe in God and a higher power and am open to learning more...BUT when I have to hear it form the likes of you and in your condescending "holier than thou" way...I tune right out (you wanna bet I am not alone on this one).

LEM

FH



no one

NO ONE

NO ONE

[color:"red"] NO ONE [/color]

is passing this MOVIE off as anything but a movie based on a book , a fictional novel written in a very imaginative way which weaves historical people art & architecture into a storyline

it is a CHASE MOVIE

FH <~~~ YOU are argueing against a point that none of us are making

THIS MOVIE is no more "fact" than the movie JFK by Oliver Stone was a fact

Do you think the Wizard Of Oz is passing it's self off as fact?

Pep