The Da Vinci Code

[kerrywins]

In a nutshell:

Basically, the author, Dan Brown, tries to say that Jesus wasn't the son of God. He also says that important people like Leonardo DaVinci knew this, and that the Holy Grail is actually historical documents proving this and showing that Mary Magdalene was married to Jesus. Also, most modern historians alreay know this, as it is "common knowledge" and "well documented". He goes on to say that almost every aspect of symbolism, both in our daily life and the church, is dervived from paganism symbols and that the Church has perverted most of them. Basically, the author has an obsession with paganism. Dan Brown also accuses the top members of the Church of trying their hardest to cover it up and destroy the Holy Grail.


Did I get that right? Or am I just way off base here?

[Lex]

1. Well, most Christian symbols are derived from paganism

as well as most Christian holidays (their timing, at least).

[XNASA]

2. Here's my opinion, FWIW.....

Dan Brown is really, really lousy author.

[kerrywins]

5. I actually thought it was a really good read.

..

[XNASA]

25. I'm basing my opinion on "Digital Fortress"......

...which I picked-up in an airport bookstore.

To be fair, I haven't read TDVC.

:shrug:

[Richardo]

26. Digital Fortress: possibly the only book worse that TDVC

If you got through that one, you can get through DVC.

BTW: The plot of DF depends on another pivotal anagram not recognized by cryptography 'experts' for 200+ pages.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

6. he is a crappy writer

I agree. though I like the suspense in the DaVinci code, I couldn't get over his writing style.

[Melynn]

9. The suspense made the book

As did some of the author's theories about Christianity. On the other hand, I thought his writing style was simplistic. He should have had a co-author.

[terrya]

10. It's an airplane book.

But, if you detest bad writing, you may NOT want to raad it on a plane.

I agree with you. WAY overrated.

T

[Richardo]

3. Plus famous cryptologists do not know that Leonardo wrote backwards....

And don't recognize an anagram when they see one. Three times in one night. That's about it.

[Rockholm]

4. He is right.

[RC]

7. While the story was fiction,

it was based on fact. Very heavy on facts.
From what I gather most people that think Dan Brown is a bad, lousy, etc., writer have a problem with the facts that don't uphold there own rose colored view of Christianity.

Christianity draws heavily on paganism and other religions and their holidays and customs. There is very little original about the Christian religion.

BTY, I have read the book and it was a real page turner for me.

[Richardo]

8. See my post

His characters are idiots, that's why he's a bad writer.

I actually liked the ambition and scope of the plot - but he couldn't pull it off.

[terrya]

11. He's not as bad as Allen Folsom...

thank god. :-)

But Dan Brown is bad enough.

T

[Richardo]

12. You bastard!

I'll have your frozen head for that!

;-)

[terrya]

13. No...no...get it away from me!!!

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

:-)

[ThorsHammer]

14. Pretty much right

I didn't like his style (cliffhanger chapters, constant twists, etc) all that much, but thought it was a decent book overall.

[On the Road]

15. The Tradition About Jesus and Mary Magdelene

is ancient. But there were many apocyphal stories and urban legends about Jesus. So basically there's no reason to believe that particular one was true.

There is a lot of pagan symbolism in Christianity, but so what? There's a certain amount of Zoroastrianism in Judaism because of the Babylonian captivity.

The Holy Grail is a complete myth, as far as I'm concerned.

There are a lot of interesting re-interpretations of Jesus, but this is not one of them as far as I'm concerned.

[Lex]

16. I thought the explanation of the symbolism of the Holy Grail was

interesting.

Some people think that it was described as a "chalice" that held Jesus' blood because that was a metaphor for Mary Magdelene's womb, which held Jesus' child.

And that she had to be hidden away (or face being killed)--that she had to protect herself and her baby-to-be.

[madinmaryland]

28. When I think of the Holy Grail

all that comes to mind is Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Expecially the rabbit of Caerbannog.



and the knights of ni

[Richard Steele]

17. Just my two cents....

As far as a WRITER, he is a second-rate Stephen King....Bearing in mind that Stephen King has himself become a THIRD-rate Stephen King....

The REAL reason that book deserves to be read is the historical FACT he based his lame-ass plot upon....it serves as a kindergarten-primer introduction to some of the TRUTHS behind "western-european white-male history"...

If you care about those TRUTHS, then bow down before the almighty GOOGLE!

But, if you want to read a TRULY good novel concerning "hidden truth and those compelled to seek it",
then you need to read Umberto Eco's 'Focault's Pendulum'
(I may have misspelled FOCAULT'S, so sue me!)

Mr. Eco is an AMAZING writer; a truly brilliant man.

He wrote a novel which was turned into a Hollywood movie; "The Name of the Rose" starring Mr Sean Connory...

But he is more widely respected as a foremost research HISTORIAN.

He wrote the DEFINITIVE commentary concerning the 7th-century Illuminated Text known as "the Book of KELLS"...

And he had the best historical comment EVER written into a serious research document:
The Book of KELLS is:"...the product of a stone-cold hallucination."

[chenGOD]

29. And try reading some David Icke....

I am currently reading "...and the truth shall set you free" and damn it's a read.

Ignore the stuff about alien overlords, but take heed of the material which talks about the global elite (which makes up the majority of the book).

I was very skeptical at first, but damn this book is making me do some serious thinking.



PS: Eco is a fantastic writer...but "Focault's Pendulum" is probably a little bit above the average airplane readers who made Dan Brown a best seller ;)

[4_Legs_Good]

18. You forgot about THE DIVINE FEMININE!!!!!

Which is used in like every other sentence in the book.

It gets sooooooooo old I can't even tell you.

david

[KamaAina]

19. Sacred feminine

guess he should've used it in every single sentence :-)

[4_Legs_Good]

20. LMAO!

I musta blocked it out! :)

david

[DrWeird]

21. That's all pretty old stuff.

Dan Brown certainly didn't come up with it.

Try reading "Foucault's Pendulum" by Umberto Eco.

[Lex]

22. Most people hadn't been exposed to the stuff he put in the book

so it was very new info to most apparently.

I don't think Dan Brown claimed he came up with the information anyway.

[DrWeird]

23. It'd be pretty foolish of him to do so.

I should say I haven't read his book.

"Most people hadn't been exposed to the stuff he put in the book, so it was very new info to most apparently"

That's a good thing. If people are criticizing him, because he challenges their ideas of Christianity, then shame on them.

[mr blur]

24. Absolutely awful book though

Really terrible writing. Tediously over-written. Dull dull dull.

[methinks2]

27. It's a fictional novel!!

Just because he brings up the opinions of out-of-the-mainstream scholars doesn't mean anything.

If you really want to study, borrow a copy of Holy Blood, Holy Grail.

[Bridget Burke]

30. Comparative religion is a fascinating field.

Myth, legend, psychology. (Joseph Campbell was an early favorite of mine.) Many Christian practices began in Paganism. Grail Studies & the whole Arthurian thing tie in, as well.

"Holy Blood, Holy Grail" is a fascinating book that presents most of the "facts" behind the Code. Not really true facts--but entertainingly presented. And "Foucault's Pendulum" is a fictional treatment of similar material--but beautifully done.

Prose samples of "Code" have not persuaded me to read it. But, if you found the premise interesting, there are many worthy works waiting for discovery.