The Da Vinci Code
Reactions to the movie, primarily from Christian groups
Sponsored link.
Dan Brown, "The Da Vinci Code," Doubleday,
(2003)
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Reactions to the movie, by Christians and Muslims and albinos:
Generally speaking:
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Roman Catholic groups were deeply offended by the strong
themes in the movie which ran counter to Catholic beliefs:
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The accusations that the Church was
involved in an almost two millennia century cover-up and suppression
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The
suggestions that Jesus did not die on the cross
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The depiction of Jesus as sexually active with Mary
Magdalene and that they had children together
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Inaccurate and vicious portrayal
of Opus Dei.
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Throughout the world, they have urged their members to not see the
film, and have urged governments and censor boards to ban the movie. | |
Protestant groups were also concerned about the above deviations
from the Christian Scriptures (New Testament). However, this was coupled
with a recognition that the movie provides an opportunity to "evangelize the
lost" -- to "bring the unsaved to a knowledge of Jesus."
For example, the National Council of Churches commented:
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"This is an opportunity to teach about and bear
witness to true biblical teachings—many of which have been distorted
in Hollywood as well as in our daily lives...."
"In the midst of the media frenzy, let us not forget that The Da
Vinci Code is a work of fiction that does not accurately depict the
life and ministry of Jesus or the traditions of the Church. We pray
that those who see this movie will want to know more about Jesus
Christ. And, we call on our Christian brothers and sisters to
uncover distortions of biblical truths not only in entertainment but
in policies and actions perpetuated in our society every day.
Neither The Da Vinci Code, nor any other work of fiction, will alter
the beliefs, mission or work of individual churches or the National
Council of Churches. We will not be diverted from the gospel
imperative to care for creation, do justice and work for peace
regardless of what the distractions of current culture may offer."
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Many Muslim groups were not
distressed at the book's suggestion that Jesus survived the crucifixion.
This is precisely what Islam teaches. However, they protested the book and
movie because it suggests that Jesus married his follower Mary Magdalene and
had children with her. They also protested because Islam
forbids depicting biblical prophets including Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad,
because such portrayals might lead to idolatry. Maulana Mansoor Ali Khan,
general secretary of the All-India Sunni Jamiyat-ul-Ulema, told Reuters: "The
Holy Koran recognizes Jesus as a prophet. What the book says is an insult to
both Christians and Muslims. Muslims in India will help their Christian
brothers protest this attack on our common religious belief." 13
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The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentationare [NOAH] has
protested the movie. Their concern centers around the "hulking albino"
character Silas, who is portrayed by Paul Bettany as an Opus Dei monk. Bettany's
hair was bleached and his eyes colored red for the movie. (Actually, Opus Dei
does not have monks in their organization.) A California teacher who is albino
wrote to Brown in 2003 mentioning the 'hateful' stereotypes assigned to albinos
in literature and film. Brown responded: "You might be interested to know
that Silas ... is a far more sympathetic character than anyone else in the novel."
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According to Catherine Elsworth of Telegraph.co.uk: |
"Critics say Bettany's character is the latest in a
long list of evil albinos, including the dreadlocked twins in The
Matrix Reloaded, the white-haired hitman in Foul Play,
starring Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn, the sadistic killer in Cold
Mountain and even the wicked executioner in the comedy, The
Princess Bride."
"Michael McGowan, an albino who heads the National
Organisation for Albinism and Hypopigmentation, said The Da Vinci Code
was the 68th film since 1960 to feature an evil albino."
" 'The problem is that there has been no balance,' he
said. 'There are no realistic, sympathetic or heroic characters with
albinism that you can find in movies or popular culture'." 19
Specific incidents
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2006-FEB-16: Prominent Roman Catholic priests urges film boycott:
Father John Trigilio is president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy.
He contributes to the Eternal World Television Network (EWTN) and has
written four books. He urges fellow catholics to boycott the Da Vinci film.
He wrote: |
I am asking my parishioners and Catholics everywhere to boycott the film and
any of its advertising sponsors. I am asking them to protest by sending e-mail,
snail mail, phone calls, and faxes to those who made this film. The Da Vinci
Code is offensive, sacrilegious, blasphemous and historically inaccurate, as
well as incredulous.
While those who proclaim 'it is only fiction' forget that any and all written
words have an impact on the reader; and erroneous conclusions based on imaginary
premises can and often do lure many readers to accept and believe as true what
their normal common sense and ordinary human reason tell them is utter nonsense.
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2006-FEB-24: TFP opens new web site to help people
protest the movie: The America Needs Fatima campaign
of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and
Property (TFP) -- a Roman Catholic group -- has placed
their Protest Central web site online. They hope to
encourage tens of thousands of activists to protest against the movie in front
of their local theatres. 3 They recommend that their supporters do four things to stop the
book and movie: |
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They urge webmasters to
Download a mini-review of the book, modify it as needed, and post it on their web site.
The review is actually a sales pitch for their book: "Rejecting the Da Vinci
code: How a blasphemous novel brutally attacks our Lord and the Catholic Church."
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- Order protest flyers addressed to Columbia Pictures asking them not to release the movie.
- Become an organizer for a theater protest. TFP will give you step-by-step instructions on how to organize a protest in your
community.
- Pray for the TFP effort to stop this movie.
They have placed their book and a protest manual online.
5,6 The author of the manual states
that The Da Vinci Code book:
"...mentions that
'Jesus' and 'Mary Magdalene' had sexual relations, and that the Catholic
Church is the biggest fraud in history for covering it up. Many other
aspects of our Catholic Faith are mocked as well. The Da Vinci Code
attacks the divinity of Christ, the hierarchical nature of the Church, and
the Pope. It promotes Gnosis...But the real question here is if
freedom of expression gives people the right to defame others. Or blaspheme.
It doesn't. I don't think freedom of expression includes the right to
blaspheme Our Lord or the Catholic Church." 6
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2006-MAR-22: Conservative Christian truth squads mobilized against
movie: In the past, a common reaction by conservative Christians
against religious movies an plays with an unorthodox theme has been boycotts and
protests. Consider The Last Temptation of Christ, Jesus of Montreal, Corpus
Christi, etc. But, according to the Christian Science Journal:
"Rather than organize protests or boycotts --
steps taken in the past against controversial films -- Evangelicals and
Catholics instead are mobilizing 'truth squads.' They're producing
books, websites, TV documentaries, DVDs, and study guides. Some hope to
use the film as a 'teachable moment' that could turn the occasion to
their advantage."
Rev. James Garlow, pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church
in San Diego, CA said: "Our task is to be the missionary to the
unbelievers." 7
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2006-MAR-30: TFP collects over 60,000 signatures on a petition:
According to Catholic PRWire: |
"The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and
Property (TFP) and its America Needs Fatima campaign have
collected 60,057 signatures against the upcoming The Da Vinci Code
movie. The organization is confident it will gather at least 100,000
protest letters and e-mails before MAY-19, when the blasphemous film is
scheduled to hit theaters across the country."
Of course, nobody at the TFP have seen the move; they appear to have
based their concern solely on the book.
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2006-MAY-17: France: Protests at Cannes: Movie premieres at Cannes Film Festival:
Sister Mary Michael, a Roman Catholic British nun wearing a brown habit,
kneeled in front of a cross beside the red carpet in Cannes. She recited the
rosary. She said: "I think this movie will confuse people. The world is a
mess and Jesus has the answers." In Paris, two hundred Roman Catholics
prayed and sang outside a theatre showing the film. Riot police moved them
to the other side of the street. Rev. Xavier Beauvais of the St. Nicholas du
Chardonnet church, said: "We are, in fact, being attacked by a
not-so-innocent fiction that will provide one more dreadful occasion to
unleash hatred for Jesus Christ and his disciples." India has delayed
the premiere pending consideration of complaints from Roman Catholic groups
that want the film banned. Censors in Thailand initially cut the final ten
minutes from the film, but later reversed their decision after Columbia
Pictures appealed the ruling. Christians in Australia have run cinema
advertisements which challenge the movie's plot. The Roman Catholic Church
in Hong Kong has organized forums to "clarify the facts."
8 |
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2006-MAY-17: Canada: Movie chain cancels
conservative Christian ad: Cineplex Odeon Corporation "....leases
or has a joint venture interest in 129 theatres with 1,269 screens and is
the largest motion picture exhibitor in Canada." 9 They cancelled an in-theatre
advertising campaign by Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC). The CCC had
spent $63,000 (in U.S. dollars) to create a ten second ad that referred
viewers to its website at
http://www.DiscussDaVinci.com. 10 More details |
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2006-MAY-23: World: Reaction to the Movie:
The Da Vinci Code has triggered opposition by many Christian groups:
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Bahrain: The Christian minority in
Bahrain, which is predominately Muslim, have asked the government to ban
the movie. They reportedly feel that it defames Jesus. |
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Bulgaria: The Bulgarian Orthodox
Church has asked the government to ban the film. |
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China: The censor board did not
require any cuts to the movie. However, the the Chinese
Patriotic Catholic Association, a faith group that is controlled by
the government but which is independent of the Vatican, allegedly
accused the film's makers of "...violating religious ethics and
morals and insulting the feelings of clergy and followers." The
Association told its 10 million members to boycott the film. |
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Greece: Greek Orthodox groups
launched a lawsuit aimed at banning the movie because of what they
considered its blaspheming content. They lost. A judge determined that
the film was not a documentary, and thus should not be offensive. |
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Hong Kong: The local Catholic
church is organizing a forum to "disinfect" the film.
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India: The censor board did not
require cuts to the film. However, under pressure from the Catholic
Bishops Conference, the board required a "bold and lingering
disclaimer" stating that it is a work of fiction. They also
restricted attendance to adults. Some Christian groups appealed this decision to
India's top court, but lost. The court ruled that no country which has
Christianity as a dominant religion has banned the film. However, at
least six of India's 28 states have banned it on the basis that it
offends some Christians. |
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Latin America: In a number of
predominately Roman Catholic countries, Catholics indicated their
displeasure with the film. However they did not launch a major protest
allegedly because they felt it might serve to make the film more
popular. |
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Philippines: The country is 83%
Roman Catholic. The Manila City Council banned the movie saying that it
"...is undoubtedly offensive and contrary to established
religious beliefs which cannot take precedence over the right of the
persons involved in the film to freedom of expression." |
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South Korea: Christian leaders
unsuccessfully attempted to have the film censored or banned. A small
group of protestors picketed theatres with signs reading " 'The Da
Vinci Code' is nothing more than fiction." |
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Venezuela: The country's bishops' conference condemned the
movie as "an attack on the fundamental beliefs and values of
Christianity and the Catholic Church." However, they did not ask
their members to protest or boycott the movie. |
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Other countries: Christian leaders in Singapore, and Thailand
tried to get the film banned or censored. |
Yolanda Ventura, a Mexican actress, deviated from the Catholic church's
position concerning Jesus' celibacy. She said: "It would be marvelous if
he were able to experience it as a man and I wouldn't give him any more or
less value for having had sex." 11
Muslim groups were also opposed to the screening of the movie:
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Azerbaijan: Gadzhiaga Nuriyev, head of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan, said:
"The relevant Azeri authorities must ban showing this film and also end sales of the
book....Lack of respect for the feelings of believers, whether they are Muslims, Christians or representatives of other world
religions, is inadmissible."
Lala Abbasova, a parliamentary deputy and member of the legislature's committee on science and education, said:
"This film should not appear on state television channels and should be listed as a banned film throughout Azerbaijani
territory." 15
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Canada: Sayed Soharwardy, president of the Islamic Supreme
Council of Canada, explained that the novel and the film mock his religion
by questioning one of Islam’s most important prophets, Jesus Christ. Soharwardy
said: "He’s part of my faith, and deserves to be treated with honor and
respect....[A] few secular fanatics cannot undermine the high honors of Jesus
Christ....It is time for Muslims to standby (sic) with Christian friends and
express solidarity with Prophet Jesus Christ." He does not believe in
censorship, but asserts that this movie "...should not have been produced. If
we don’t stand up to these movies, they’ll become more frequent." 17
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India: An umbrella organization of Islamic clerics in Mumbai {Bombay]... labelled the film as
"blasphemous" because it spreads "lies" about Jesus Christ. 13 |
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Pakistan: Conservative Muslim political
parties like Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and Jamaat-e-Islami have asked Christian
leaders to join in their protest against the release of "The Da Vinci Code"
movie. A delegation of Muslim leaders visited churches in Karachi and met clergy
to garner support for the move to protest the worldwide release of the film. The
delegation said the film was sacrilegious and termed it an attack on faiths by
the West and an attempt to fuel a clash of civilizations. 16 |
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South Korea: The Muslim organization Jamiyat-ul-Ulema
promised to work with Christian groups to "do everything possible to
stop the Code." Their secretary-general, Maluana Mansoor, said: "The
Holy Koran recognizes Jesus as a prophet. What the book says is an
insult to both Christians and Muslims." 14 |
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2006-MAY-23: Comments by John S. Spong, a liberal
Christian: |
The Right Reverend Dr. John S. Spong is a
retired bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA. In his weekly subscription
mailing, "A New Christianity for a New World," he
had a number of criticisms of the movie:
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He writes: "Biblical scholarship no
more supports the assumptions of 'The Da Vinci Code' than it did
either 'The Passion of the Christ' or Cecil B. DeMille's, 'The Ten
Commandments'." |
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The extraordinary attempts to preserve
Jesus' blood line doesn't make sense. Presumably the hypothetical
daughter of Jesus would be half divine. But each generation would
further reduce the divinity content of his descendents. By today,
some 60 generations later, the "divine blood" would be diluted by a
factor of over 66 million. They would be fully human. |
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The failed attempt by the descendent
of Jesus to walk on water, and her hope to be able to convert water
into wine make no sense. Both refer to Jesus' "miracles" as real
events, whereas most scholars regard the stories as myths. |
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The canon of the New Testament was
essentially chosen before 150 CE, and was not
decided at the Council of Nicea in 325 CE, as Brown asserts. |
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The books that were rejected at the
Council did not emphasize the humanity of Jesus; they promoted his
godlike nature. |
Some Roman Catholic women who were
picketing the movie, explained that the film insulted Jesus because it
said that he was married and had a child. He responds: |
"I found in those words the negative
definition of women that is the legacy of the patriarchal sexism
practiced by the Christian Church through the centuries. Is there
something evil about marriage and childbirth?...I do not believe
that women are the corrupters of 'holy men.' Yet that idea lingers
on in a church that installed mandatory celibacy and unnatural
virginity as pathways to holiness. What those 'ideals' produced,
however, has been little more than distorted sexuality and massive
amounts of debilitating guilt."
20,21
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References used: The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above
essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
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"NCC says 'The Da Vinci Code' is 'an opportunity to teach',"
National Council of Churches, 2006-MAY-18, at:
http://www.ncccusa.org/
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Matt C. Abbott, "Prominent priest: Boycott Da Vinci Code film," Renew
America, 2006-FEB-16, at:
http://www.renewamerica.us
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"Everything you need to know about protesting against The Da Vinci
Code," TFP, 2006-MAR-24, at:
http://www.tfp.org/
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"Rejecting the Da Vinci Code: Setting the record straight," TFP, at:http://www.tfp.org/
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Text of the "Rejecting the Da Vinci Code," book is at:
http://www.tfp.org/ This is a PDF file. You may require software to read it. Software can be obtained free from:
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"Da Vinci Code - Protest Organizer's Kit," TFP
http://www.tfp.org/
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Jane Lampman, "Christians ready to refute 'Da
Vinci Code' movie," Christian Science Journal, 2005-MAR-22, at:
http://www.csmonitor.com/.
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"Film premiere sparks protests," Associated Press, 2006-MAY-17.
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Corporate Information, Cineplex Entertainment, at:
http://www.cineplex.com/.
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"Cineplex won't show Christian group's ads," The Toronto Star,
2006-MAY-18.
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"Manila Bans, India Clears 'Da Vinci Code'," Associated Press,
2006-MAY-18, at:
http://news.yahoo.com/.
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Rick Westhead, "Evangelicals hope to break the Code. Evangelicals hone
media savvy to counter Da Vinci 'heresy'," The Toronto Star, 2006-MAR-16,
at:
http://www.thestar.com/.
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"Muslims join Da Vinci criticism," BBC News, 2006-MAY-16, at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk.
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"Ongoing Christian and Muslim protests against 'Da Vinci Code',"
AsiaNews.it, 2006-MAY-17, at:
http://www.asianews.it/.
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"Muslims in Azerbaijan protest 'Da Vinci Code'," Baku
Today, 2006-MAY-16, at:
http://www.bakutoday.net/.
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"Muslim parties ask Christians to protest 'Da Vinci Code'," New
Kerala, 2006-MAY-20, at:
http://www.newkerala.com/.
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"Calgary Muslim Leader to Protest Da Vinci Code Movie,"
Judeoscope, 2006-MAY-12, at:
http://www.judeoscope.ca/.
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"Albino group to protest 'Da Vinci' film," Monsters and Critics,
2006-MAY-20, at:
http://movies.monstersandcritics.com/
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Catherine Elsworth, "Stop making us out as mystical freaks and
unconscionable assassins, albinos complain," Telegraph.co.uk,
2006-MAY-18, at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
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J.S. Spong, "On viewing 'The Da Vinci Code'," 2006-MAY-24.
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You can subscribe to future weekly essays by J.S. Spong inexpensively at: "A New Christianity
for a New World"
Copyright © 2006 by Ontario Consultants on Religious
Tolerance
Originally posted: 2006-MAY-18
Latest update: 2006-JUN-14
Author: B.A. Robinson 
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