Da Vinci Code

[BreakmanX]

Just saw the movie, and I must say that I liked it. Members of the Catholic church stood outside the theater handing out anti-Da Vinci Code leaflettes... Why they are so afraid of something labled as *fiction* is beyond me.

The historical truths of Constantine compiling the bible in 325 is in there, but anyone with a library card (or internet access for that matter) could find that out. The murdering of anyone who questioned the church is in there... All this stuff is so widely available that I don't think this would bother them.

Just find it interesting that the Vatican fears this movie so.. Seeing something the powers that be don't want you to see makes it all that more enticing.

Beyond the political hoopla, I really enjoyed the movie as a story told on screen. I thought Ron Howard directed it well, and I thought the performances suited the film. As is the question for all movies, I think it works.

[jayt11]

Just saw the movie, and I must say that I liked it. Members of the Catholic church stood outside the theater handing out anti-Da Vinci Code leaflettes... Why they are so afraid of something labled as *fiction* is beyond me.

The historical truths of Constantine compiling the bible in 325 is in there, but anyone with a library card (or internet access for that matter) could find that out. The murdering of anyone who questioned the church is in there... All this stuff is so widely available that I don't think this would bother them.

Just find it interesting that the Vatican fears this movie so.. Seeing something the powers that be don't want you to see makes it all that more enticing.

Beyond the political hoopla, I really enjoyed the movie as a story told on screen. I thought Ron Howard directed it well, and I thought the performances suited the film. As is the question for all movies, I think it works.

it figures that they'd be protesting, so to speak, near the Bible belt. I won't be surprised to find out they protest in NYC too, haven't heard anything about it in my hometown.

anyway, zealots like them give religion a bad name, because they are so anal about maintaining this squeaky clean image and the truth is religion has a crime record on par with gang violence in South Central L.A. and the Yakuza combined.

i would have told them to shove those pamphlets up their *beep*

[AIDS]

I want to see it, it looks hilarious. Plus, is has the lady that played Amelie, she's hot.

[Vamp [Bot]]

Uber-Catholics are funny. They're so stupid.

[Triad636]

Bible-Thumpin ftl. lol

Ghost Ryde da Whip!

[BreakmanX]

anyway, zealots like them give religion a bad name, because they are so anal about maintaining this squeaky clean image and the truth is religion has a crime record on par with gang violence in South Central L.A. and the Yakuza combined.

i would have told them to shove those pamphlets up their *beep*

I agree J. Christianity has killed even more though. Millions dead in Jesus name. In face, more people have died because of Christianity than anything else on Earth. The Crusades and Inquisition were especially brutal.

[Realm]

I want to see the movie, and I really don't take offense to the premise. It's just fiction. I'll probably see it in a week or two. The Catholic church feels it needs to take an active approach towards this sort of thing (no different than when Dogma or Bless the Child came out) - but consider this - a cartoon of Mohammad sparked riots worldwide, and PETA burns people's houses down. There are many things more fanatical than the modern-day Christian Church handing out pamphlets. And in the past, Muslims followed a "conversion by sword" policy throughout their conquests, particularly in Africa. Hitler killed 11 million Jews, Poles, and Russians in an attempt to create a "master race." Estimates of the body count in Russia during Lenin and Stalin's regimes are around 20 million - to establish and uphold Communism. Let's not be too quick to make large, off-the-cuff statements like, "In face, more people have died because of Christianity than anything else on Earth"

[Vamp [Bot]]

By percentage of Earth's population at the time, I think the bubonic plague holds the title of most deadly thing ever... it did wipe out half of Europe.

[Atticus]

By percentage of Earth's population at the time, I think the bubonic plague holds the title of most deadly thing ever... it did wipe out half of Europe.

And gave us nursery rhymes.

[jayt11]

Hey Catholic Church! I'm going to screw this girl in EVERY orifice.......before we are married!

[Triad636]

[jayt11]

awww did i steal your girlfriend or spanking material.....oops, Masturbation ref...where's the church!?

[Triad636]

again...

[BreakmanX]

I want to see the movie, and I really don't take offense to the premise. It's just fiction. I'll probably see it in a week or two. The Catholic church feels it needs to take an active approach towards this sort of thing (no different than when Dogma or Bless the Child came out) - but consider this - a cartoon of Mohammad sparked riots worldwide, and PETA burns people's houses down. There are many things more fanatical than the modern-day Christian Church handing out pamphlets. And in the past, Muslims followed a "conversion by sword" policy throughout their conquests, particularly in Africa. Hitler killed 11 million Jews, Poles, and Russians in an attempt to create a "master race." Estimates of the body count in Russia during Lenin and Stalin's regimes are around 20 million - to establish and uphold Communism. Let's not be too quick to make large, off-the-cuff statements like, "In face, more people have died because of Christianity than anything else on Earth"

Many groups have done terrible things as you have said. But, my comment was not off the cuff. It is a comment I've seen in several scholarly books in research as well as in my classes. Hitler actually considered himself a Christian, despite and in addition to his occult interests, and thought he was doing a service to god for destroying what he labeled as "Christ-killers." And would fit most historical catogotization as a Christian since the scholarly way of deciding that is simply if the person considers themsevles as such. The 1st Crusades, for another example, involved Christians going and beheading Muslims (men, women, and children.) Charlemagne, in the 8th century, went around and did his famous self-proclaimed Christian "conversion by sword." Christians still have the death toll in their favor. Christianity also has an almost 700 year head start though, so it should be expected. No religion is innocent of bloodshed, and I wasn't meaning to say that no one else had committed mass-murder. I was just talking in reference to the Da Vinci code, and it only displays mass-murdering by Christians.

In terms of groups, Christianity has killed more people than any other group. As is all history, it is certainly possible that another group has killed more, but the more important point (to me anyway) is that they have considerable blood on their hands. Does that mean that I hate Christians? No, many of my friends are Christians. I do, however, feel the same way I feel about Christianity that I feel about all religions. Religion, and beliefs in general, are dangerous and have lead (as Realm and I have stated) in the murdering of millions of innocents. People that are high up in religious groups have historically taken advantage of their followers. People can find solace in religion, but I believe it is surface cure and does not solve the true underlying problem that they are trying to fix.

Just my opinion, though. Different strokes for different folks.

[Realm]

Some very good points Break. Religion, just as a concept, can be anything to anyone. A feel-good quick fix or a serious commitment. While it's sad to see people abandon religion, it's far worse to see them use it for their own ends - as happens often.