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Title: Top Cardinal Blasts 'Da Vinci Code' as 'Cheap Lies'
Source:
Netscape News
URL Source: http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/ns/news ... 2&dt=20050315130200&w=RTR&covi
Published: Mar 15, 2005
Author: Reuters
Post Date: 2005-03-15 17:59:13 by Mr Nuke Buzzcut
Keywords: Cardinal, Blasts, Cheap
Views: 7987
Comments: 568
Top Cardinal Blasts 'Da Vinci Code' as 'Cheap Lies' ROME (Reuters) - A top Catholic cardinal has blasted "The Da Vinci Code" as a "gross and absurd" distortion of history and said Catholic bookstores should take the bestseller off their shelves because it is full of "cheap lies." Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, in an interview with the Milan newspaper Il Giornale, became the highest ranking Italian Churchman to speak out against the book, an international blockbuster that has sold millions of copies. "(It) aims to discredit the Church and its history through gross and absurd manipulations," Bertone, the archbishop of the northern Italian city of Genoa and a close friend of Pope John Paul told the paper in its Monday edition. "This seems like a throwback to the old anti-clerical pamphlets of the 1800s," he said. The central claim of the book, written by American Dan Brown, is that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had children. The Bible says Jesus never married, was crucified and rose from the dead. Bertone's comments were significant because until the Pope named him archbishop of Genoa in 2003 he was for years the number two man at the Vatican's most powerful department - the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. "You can find that book everywhere and the risk is that many people who read it believe that those fairy tales are real," he said. "I think I have the responsibility to clear things up to unmask the cheap lies contained in books like that." HOLY GRAIL A central storyline of the book is that the Holy Grail is not the cup which Christ is said to have used at the Last Supper but really the bloodline descended from Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Bertone calls this idea "a perversion." Bertone is so incensed about the novel that he will be the key speaker at a roundtable in Genoa Wednesday night attempting to dismantle the book, which also accuses the Church of covering up the female role in Christianity. "I will try to clear things up and help form consciences," the cardinal said. "I think that when faced with affirmations that are so shameful and unfounded, readers who have even a minimum of basic (Christian) formation should react," he said. He said it was "sad" that even Catholic bookstores were selling The Da Vinci Code "for purely economic reasons." One bookstore selling "The Da Vinci Code" is the one in the Gemelli Hospital, a Catholic institution where the Pope spent a total of 28 days in two stints in February and March. In the interview, Bertone firmly rejected the book's claim that the feminine role in Christianity had been suppressed. "This is one of the most vulgar of inventions. The feminine element is present in all the Gospels," Bertone said. Bertone also strongly defended Opus Dei, the conservative Church organization that the book depicts as a ruthless, Machiavellian group that resorts even to murder in its attempt to keep the Church's secrets hidden. The novel is going to reach an even wider audience next year with the release of a film based on the book staring Tom Hanks. © Copyright Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Reuters Ltd. 03/15/2005 13:02 RTR
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 113.
#1. To: All (#0)
How ironic that someone whose living is dependent upon pushing a fiction like the bible should react so defensively against another similar work.
ROFLMAO!! EXACTLY RIGHT......
He's talking about the bible, right?
I think so. I mean, Da Vinci actually existed, but the guys who venerate the water walkin shepherd born of a virgin are offended because they say someone is making up stuff??? Rich.
have you read, the Da Vinci Code, The Bible, and down this thread in that order?
yes, yes, yes, and so what? When I read DVC and Angels and Demons, I laughed out loud because I knew the "Church of the Rock" would soil their vestments over it. At least SOME of what Brown wrote was verifiable in the historical record. Find me a large buried boat, or some credible corroborative documentation concerning the life of Jesus written contemporaneously with his existence on earth, and we'll talk.
"At least SOME of what Brown wrote was verifiable in the historical record." Yes, there was a Da Vinci... "Find me a large buried boat, or some credible corroborative documentation concerning the life of Jesus written contemporaneously with his existence on earth, and we'll talk." the archeological evidence in support ofthe Bible is staggering. Read up on it sometime.
Yeah, towns existed with the same names as some of those in the Bible. Finding a reference to Loch Ness in an ancient document and producing Nessie are entirely different matters entirely.
I suppose you're not old enough to remember when the ancestors of your ilk were claiming the Bible was surely false because it mentioned Hitites and there was absolutely no such thing as a Hittite. Then some more excavation was done and presto, the Hittite civilization was discovered! No one remembers that anymore though.
At the end of the day, you can find all the Roman roads, dead civilizations, and mysterious parchments you want, yet the entire system is based on something that is NOT there in a tomb in Gethsemane?? Thomas was on the right track. Lest I see the nail prints and thrust my hand into his side... Etc, etc...
Hmmmmmmm ... how did I know that you might Turin up on this thread?
Faith, my child. You have to have faith.
I wouldn't stake my life on Gnosticism were I you.
Therein lies the rub, eh? Upon whose teachings shall we stake our lives? Personally, I don't operate well on faith. I demand more of my 10 year old than "just because I say so", so why would I not demand more of my Deity?
On the teaching that has a proven-track record? Christianity is the religion of millions. Gnosticism numbers nuts like the late Philip K. Dick among it's recent and few followers. "Personally, I don't operate well on faith. I demand more of my 10 year old than "just because I say so", so why would I not demand more of my Deity?" That's entirely your business. Your personal standards though, mean nothing to anyone else, and certainly prove nothing.
Nor do yours, for that matter. You're saying that because millions believe in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus that validates those myths as a belief system? Millions also believe in Islam and the eastern religions...do they not have a proven "track record?" I'll just take my religion "cafeteria style", if at all. The Christians could use some fun stuff like that 72 virgin retirement plan the Islamics have. All the Bible thumpers have is eternity falling before some throne saying "Worthy is the Lamb..." I've had lamb before, and even with mint jelly, it ain't worth an eternity of praise.
To quote a song I like: Surronded by Your Glory
Not the Baptists. Love the song, though. It has a great dynamic feel to the melody...slow build, then sorta majestic at the end. I play praise music in a band at church, as I've said, more for the music than the theology. Music would be more of a religion to me at this point, but I do appreciate some of the tunes.
And your Pastor is aware of your current belief system? You have a wonderful Pastor!
My pastor has a PhD in psychology and used to assemble nuclear weapons. That being said, I don't discuss my unbelief with him at church. I'm sure if I openly said "I don't believe any of this" any longer, I'd be replaced with a "Christian" bass player. So far, it hasn't come up.
How many people have criticized "Christian churches" for not following the word of God when actually people just attend the churches without even believing in God? It sort of gives the real Christians a bad name.
Can't have non-Christians attending church now, can we? That whole "fishers of men" thing is so first century. ;)
I am just saying that people are too critical of Christian churches and people who attend them at times. You recognize the difference, right?
I don't publicize my "unbelief" or doubt, or whatever, anywhere besides here, where it can hardly be said to influence anyone one way or the other. Nor do I profess, preach, or espouse a belief that I do not hold. I play guitar in the band. That's it.
I play guitar in the band. That's it. Then what you are saying is that what you are doing essentially is being a fraud?
Nope. Every note I play is real.
Not speaking of 'notes' of course.. you are circumventing the issue.. the music.. is the issue and thus you are mocking God and not being true to the music NOR to yourself...aka a fraud.
I hesitate to get involved in this discussion as I don't wish to offend any of my friends, but I don't understand why SG's playing an instrument in the church band is mocking anyone or anything, particularly when he's not there vocalizing any contradictory point of view or deliberately trying to sabotage the service; rather, he is there contributing something of value and is also there accompanying his wife and daughters.
That is up to SG to decide. I guess I am a bit amused at the idea of someone who professes not to believe in God playing with a Praise and Worship band. It just strikes me as funny. But like I tell SG, I don't hold the patent on sanity.
There are no replies to Comment # 113. End Trace Mode for Comment # 113.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest"I think that when faced with affirmations that are so shameful and unfounded, readers who have even a minimum of basic (Christian) formation should react," he said.
#2. To: Mr Nuke Buzzcut (#1)
How ironic that someone whose living is dependent upon pushing a fiction like the bible should react so defensively against another similar work.
#3. To: Aric2000, Samuel Gray (#2)
"You can find that book everywhere and the risk is that many people who read it believe that those fairy tales are real," he said.
#12. To: Mr Nuke Buzzcut (#3)
#15. To: Samuel Gray (#12)
I think so. I mean, Da Vinci actually existed, but the guys who venerate the water walkin shepherd born of a virgin are offended because they say someone is making up stuff???
#16. To: Continental Op (#15)
have you read, the Da Vinci Code, The Bible, and down this thread in that order?
#22. To: Samuel Gray (#16)
At least SOME of what Brown wrote was verifiable in the historical record. Find me a large buried boat, or some credible corroborative documentation concerning the life of Jesus written contemporaneously with his existence on earth, and we'll talk.
#24. To: Continental Op (#22)
#30. To: Samuel Gray (#24)
Finding a reference to Loch Ness in an ancient document and producing Nessie are entirely different matters entirely.
#33. To: Continental Op (#30)
#43. To: Samuel Gray (#33)
#44. To: 2Trievers (#43)
#46. To: Samuel Gray (#44)
#48. To: Continental Op (#46)
I wouldn't stake my life on Gnosticism were I you.
#57. To: Samuel Gray (#48)
Therein lies the rub, eh? Upon whose teachings shall we stake our lives?
#62. To: Continental Op (#57)
Your personal standards though, mean nothing to anyone else
#67. To: Samuel Gray (#62)
All the Bible thumpers have is eternity falling before some throne saying "Worthy is the Lamb..."
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus?
Or in all of You be still?
Will I stand in Your Presense?BR> Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing Hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine....
#68. To: CAPPSMADNESS (#67)
Will I dance for you Jesus?
#72. To: Samuel Gray (#68)
I play praise music in a band at church
#76. To: CAPPSMADNESS (#72)
#79. To: Samuel Gray (#76)
I don't discuss my unbelief with him at church. I'm sure if I openly said "I don't believe any of this" any longer
#81. To: Don (#79)
#82. To: Samuel Gray (#81)
#83. To: Don (#82)
#86. To: Samuel Gray (#83)
Nor do I profess, preach, or espouse a belief that I do not hold.
#90. To: Zipporah (#86)
Then what you are saying is that what you are doing essentially is being a fraud?
#94. To: Samuel Gray (#90)
Nope. Every note I play is real
#104. To: Zipporah, CAPPSMADNESS, Samuel Gray (#94)
#113. To: christine (#104)
but I don't understand why SG's playing an instrument in the church band is mocking anyone or anything
Replies to Comment # 113.