The Code

"That is the definition of faith - acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove." - The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown

Since I do not want to think too much about the future, or my depressing situation, I often retreat to my bedroom, clutching a book and reading. After going through a Children's Book phase, I began re-reading my M. Puzo books and then I bought Dan Brown's other books. (I've been looking for Angels and Demons, which Liza lent me before, so my sister can read it...so in time with the conclave happening in the Vatican right now, but I can't find it anywhere.) I finished his two books quickly, and I still want to read more conspiracy books. So....I went and re-read The Da Vinci Code.

Here's what I don't get, why are some Catholics against the book? It's fiction! It makes for a good read, and it's not the Bible. They say it's attacking the Roman Catholic Church, stating things like our faith is based on falsehood. What the book is saying is that these are the conspiracies surrounding your faith. And I for one, thinks it's entertaining and enlightening to know some information, (like any good reader, I verified which info is true and which is not) and it really is fast-paced, descriptive and a very good read. Some even forbid others to read it because "it will destroy your faith in the Catholic church". It saddens me that a book, a mere fictional book, can destroy a person's faith. I will be insulted if a person will forbid me to read this book for fear my faith will be destroyed by a bestseller. Come on! How little do you think my faith is? I'm not religious, nor am I that spiritual, but I believe in my Faith, and no amount of conspiracy theories can swerve me from it.

That's the thing that's bugging me about Catholic fanatics. They abhor anything that say anything bad about Catholic faith, not knowing that they are the ones giving it a bad name.

So what if Jesus Christ was married? Does that mean He's no longer the Son of God? Does that mean He no longer hears our prayers? So what if the Church did some terrible things in the past? I would like to think that Catholics around the world know their faith's history. It should not make you think that God no longer exist, doesn't it? So what if the Church is keeping this a secret? So what if there may be people who're descended from Christ? So what if Jesus was human after all? So what if this is all true? Or if this is all false? It doesn't make sense to take it as gospel truth, since it was released as a fictional book.

Does reading about Harry Potter makes you less Catholic because it talks about magic and witches and wizards? Does reading Anne Rice, which talks about the devil and Jesus Christ and God (in her book, Memnoch the Devil) be able to eradicate your faith so easily?

The point is, it's a book. If it's supposed to be based wholly on fact, then it'll be hundred of pages long and will be regarded as a textbook of scholarly proportions. But it's fiction! I think it's a very good book. What makes it very good is the fact that the reader is forced to think. The author keeps everything semi-real by quoting some facts and embellishing truths to further support his conspiracy theories. You'll also read some things which sounds true, just because the documents are there, that some books state this and that, and when you check the book is real. Of course! But readers will later realize that these are just books written by men also and are also based on their interpretation of some facts and truths. I was looking at paintings of Da Vinci, searching for info about the history of Catholic Church that dates back from Constantine and learning new things. Few books can do this to me.

So, all in all, it was a good book. And if you're Catholic and doesn't want to read it because you think it's against everything you believe in, think again...how much faith do you have that you're afraid to read a very entertaining book that might be against it? I highly recommend it to all Catholic bookworms. Very entertaining.

To quote a Catholic book reviewer...."Jesus taught his disciples that the proper way to evangelize a strange city is to enter it with their eyes open, carrying very little, and to exchange blessing for blessing. As we enter the 21st Century, we Christians need to pay attention to what’s going on around us and among us, on the hunt for the good our culture has to offer, and not afraid to call out its lies and dark secrets—especially when they’re our own. "*

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*John Tintera, Episcopal Priest book reviewer