Sunday, May 21, 2006

Sunday Some: DaVinci and Wisteria Lane

So we went to see The DaVinci Code last night. It's a fun thriller movie -- adventure, murder, and intellectual intrigue across Paris, London, and the French countryside.

There might be one or two little moments of offense to Christians. There's a quick flashback to the activity at heart of the ritual in which Sophie's grandfather participated, and Tom Hanks makes a brief and unconvincing reference to the possibility that the Divine lies within us.

But otherwise?

The shenanigans of the Desperate Housewives every Sunday night, a show which I have on good authority is watched in millions of Christian households, is far, far more offensive to the fundamental beliefs and values of Christianity.

I stand by my original assessment of the outcry raised over The DaVinci Code. As long as women are running around an upscale suburban neighborhood with their boobs bursting out of their tank tops, having sex with every hunk who meanders down the street, abusing and prostituting their immigrant labor force, and burning down each other's houses, they're in their place -- sexy, insipid, and without impact on the world around them.

But to suggest that women might have a role to play in the divine message of love?

That's pretty worrisome, isn't it?

Dan Brown had to wrap it up in the cloak of a marriage and sexual relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, but that's not what bothers people, if you ask me. What bothers them is that Jesus was the message and that Mary Magdalene was the first to proclaim it.

So today's Sunday link is to
a terrific little series on The DaVinci Code hosted on Beliefnet by the charming and dramatic Robin Griffith-Jones, the Master of London's Temple Church, which figures prominently in the novel and movie.


8 comments:

Lisa :-] said...

I just wrote an entry on The Da Vinci Code. Haven't seen the movie yet...working on the book, first. But I have to believe that all this hubbub does more to give credibility to Brown's "heresies" than otherwise... :-]

Anonymous said...

I so agree with you that the book & movie are entertaining and that's it. My faith wasn't disturbed by any of its content and find network TV an awful lot more offensive than anything in the DaVinci Code.
I think I'll re read the book now.

Meg

Cynthia said...

I just don't understand why people are so bothered by women having a place in Jesus ministry, and it saddens me that they do. To me all the hubbub about Jesus and Mary Magdalene is irrelevant. If they were married, if Jesus actually lived like a flesh and blood man, rather than a cardboard cutout of what we think God would act like as a man, does it change his message, his gift, his sacrifice, his grace one iota? I feel that the people who are in such an uproar over the book and the movie are afraid that it minimizes God. Yet I fear that what shows is the size of a faith that cannot grasp with the humanity of Jesus and the value of all people, including women, to God. Let's also not forget that the Bible never mentions Mary Magdalene revealing her cleavage, but that might reduce the readability factor.

Anonymous said...

The only thing that offended me about The Da Vinci Code was how badly written it was! My dh wanted to see the movie last night, and I refused.

Paul said...

I agree that the Da Vinci Code, without the fascination of the semiotic elements, is a poorly written book. I have watched several atempts to debunk the book, and find them curiously unconvincing.

Anonymous said...

I read the book and found it enjoyable. My husband and I saw the movie Friday night and enjoyed it too. I don't watch Desperate Housewives (not much of a t.v. watcher at all), so can't really compare the two, but from what I have heard I would agree that it is probably much "racier" than DC.
Leenora58

Jody Harrington said...

Have you read Robin Griffith-Jones book "The Four Witnesses"? It is an outstanding study of the four gospels which I used in a Sunday School class a few years ago. Wish I had seen him.

I haven't seen the DVC yet, but plan to go this week.

Thanks for giving your opinion!

Bedazzzled1 said...

Seems there is always something for groups of people to complain about, isn't there?

I have The Da Vinci Code, but I have not read it yet. It has been hard to miss the uproar surrounding it, though. I am not the least bit worried that it will offend me. It intrigues me. Closed minds miss too much. Ü