Religion Religious Books:Fact or CruciFICTION?

[Mitsuo]

There are a number of controversial books that have hit the shelves.

The Da Vinci Code, Holy Blood,Holy Grail, and many many more. Also recently,
the Jesus Papers.

The question is...How do we approach these books in a rational and logic way? Should we accept them like the bible? I mean the bible is, according to religious folk, real. But yet, we have no absolute answer.

I like these books. Although, they may or may not be real, like the bible. They give an alternative way of thinking. It opens up a whole new door that can be examined.

What are your thoughts on these books?

 

[Mars Man]

Interesting idea, indeed. While I think that the important thing--or I should say at least one important thing--is what the authors know their work to be. I mean some know that what they have thrown together is fiction with a few non-fiction facts thrown in to make the story seem more real. Others may be based on much older traditions which may have come solely from hearsay.

At any rate, I think it is important, once again, to look carefully at all the details and try to follow all the leads, and get as close to as many of the hard and knowable facts as possible. I'm sure there may well be other ways of looking at it, and will wait to see some other replies before saying more.

It should be looked into, I think.

 

[No-name]

I'm not certain what you mean. The DaVici code is fiction...you approach it as a work of fiction, for entertainment. Books that proport to have secret or new knowledge, approach with skepticism. Don't accept anything without checking it out first, including the Bible. Skepticism can be very healthy.

 

[Mitsuo]

I'm not certain what you mean. The DaVici code is fiction...you approach it as a work of fiction, for entertainment. Books that proport to have secret or new knowledge, approach with skepticism. Don't accept anything without checking it out first, including the Bible. Skepticism can be very healthy.

Exactly, but many people think of those books as fact (I don't, I have only read Da Vinci Code, good book, but I know that it was fiction). Some people think that Dan Brown is on to something, and that the only reason why he says it's fiction is due to the controversy behind it, and doesn't want any trouble.

But then, there is Holy Blood Holy Grail. The authors say that it is real. One of the authors of Holy Blood Holy Grail has started his own book called the Jesus Papers. Which he claims is absolute Fact.

So the question is, should they automatically be dismissed or should they be taken just as serious as the bible?

I agree, skepticism is very healthy.

 

[No-name]

There do seem to be quite a few "new" books and articles... The Gospel of Judas...the article about Jesus walking on ice...the Family of Jesus...

I'm certain that when the dust settles Christendom will continue as before...

 

[Tsuyoiko]

Just to point out, Holy Blood, Holy Grail is 20-odd years old - so these ideas have been kicking around for a while. I read HBHG maybe 10 years ago and it certainly helped keep my interest in religion alive. Since then I have read a lot of books on Christianity and related issues, from standard biblical commentary, archaeology and biography to some pretty outlandish theories such as The Jesus Mysteries by Timothy Freke, which claims that Jesus never existed and wasn't even claimed to exist at the beginning. Or how about The Bloodline of the Holy Grail by Laurence Gardiner, which claims that the Stuart dynasty in Scotland and England were descended from Jesus. I think these books are great, as long as you approach them with skepticism, as Sabro quite rightly says. They encourage people to question received wisdom, which is how progress is made. I don't think it matters whether they are true or not - it's the process they encourage that is important.

 

[No-name]

It gets people talking about Christianity, and in the end I think the dialogue is healthy not only for the non-Christian or post-Christian society but also for the Christian community. There has been a huge growth in the Christian media- magazines,movies, books and music. Books like Purpose Driven Life have become best sellers and have a wide crossover appeal.

 

[Mitsuo]

The Da Vinci Code is coming out in theaters on the 19th of May (I am very excited). The religious people all over the world are trying to boycott it. In Athens Greece, the people are going as far as wanting to throw the people who watch it in jail. How ludicrous!

On the News (here in Utah) I am hearing the LDS trying to talk to people out of watching the Da Vinci Code. But they come up with the most inconsistent comments. "Oh I don't know, but I know it's false".

Well, Dan Brown even says that it's just a story (Even though, IMO, I think he believes some of it). People are becoming so paranoid about religion that they are willing to go to extremes, like throwing people in jail for watching a movie.

I say, if people want to watch it then let them. Some people get so bent out of shape when people don't share the same beliefs.

Sorry for the ramble. I am just a tad fed up with this world. dahhh.

Later!

 

[strongvoicesforward]

The Da Vinci Code is coming out in theaters on the 19th of May (I am very excited). The religious people all over the world are trying to boycott it.

It is good that that is all they are trying to do about it. If church thought and influence of several hundred years ago were with us today, there would be some burnings at the stake. Fortunately, a degree of reason interjected into law has brought the religionists to heel.

In Athens Greece, the people are going as far as wanting to throw the people who watch it in jail. How ludicrous!

Intolerance thought and belief systems can do that.

On the News (here in Utah) I am hearing the LDS trying to talk to people out of watching the Da Vinci Code. But they come up with the most inconsistent comments. "Oh I don't know, but I know it's false".

"Inconsistancy" is what they are steeped in, so it is only natural that their verbage reflects that. The worse act are those people who say they value "reason" and "science" but throw their hands up in the face of those who believe in fairy tales and stalk off without trying to show them the errors of their ways -- usually based on a misguided belief that they should reciprocate the falsity that religionists, too, accept the maxim, "live and let live."

If they are atheists -- I think it was Maciamo who referred to them as "weak atheists."

People are becoming so paranoid about religion that they are willing to go to extremes,...

Religious fervor has often caused people to go to extremes. LSD or another mind altering drug of choice can lead to the same result.

I say, if people want to watch it then let them. Some people get so bent out of shape when people don't share the same beliefs.

lol. Yes, they do, don`t they?

 

[strongvoicesforward]

...skepticism is very healthy.

Only if it is based on intellectual honesty.

Even those who purposely deceive can be skeptics. Look at all the denominations who are skeptical of each others' beliefs.

 

[strongvoicesforward]

... I have read a lot of books on Christianity and related issues, from standard biblical commentary, archaeology and biography to some pretty outlandish theories such as The Jesus Mysteries by Timothy Freke, which claims that Jesus never existed ...

What is so "outlandish" about the theory that "Jesus never existed"?

There is very little evidence from the time he was said to have lived that corroborates his historicity.

 

[Kinsao]

I can never understand what all the fuss is about with such books... religious people getting all hot under the collar about them, and at the other extreme people acting like they are 'gospel truth' in all senses of the word... geez people need to calm down a bit! :souka:
I think it's interesting to read such things, without necessarily accepting everything as true (especially if the book isn't even pretending to be factual!). And to bear in mind that there's money to be made out of this sort of thing, could be the reason why there's a sudden proliferation right now... kashii:

 

[No-name]

I think the answer is that controversy sells. People like new things- concepts- ideas... like if debunking the old tried and true things makes them feel special. The gnostic works seem to be hot right now- a swirl of interest and dedbate with no real hard facts to base anything on. It will die down and the next flavor of the month will replace it.

As far as Jesus being a historical human being... there seem to be enough secondary sources to make such an argument academic.

I don't know if I will be seeing "The DaVinci Code." The reviews have not been great. I can't imagine a bad Ron Howard movie though.

 

[PRIZMATIC]

P.S. :clueless:I did not read the book and probably film I shall look, only if "disk" will get to me...:smoke:
But me personally without a difference - whether Jesus Christ with Maria had intimate relations whether or not... For me His Doctrine was and there is a message from the God... (Only one "is rather bad":wave: , that He has not found more worthy woman to itself...) And even if also Jesus too was not - me all the same... In fact there is a doctrine...:victory: :angel:

 

[Mitsuo]

I'm a little mind boggled from that post. lol

 

[PRIZMATIC]

P.S.-2... There is enough information on Jesus...
... Also there is his Doctrine...
... If "suddenly" appeared, what Jesus it " only thought up history " for promotion of the Doctrine that Christians will refuse the Doctrine?... As That "will disappear" " who for all " took sins "...
And all will be come to reinterpret own life...
... And if appears so, what Jesus Christ not " took sins " for all - that it only " the Byzantian version "?... What will Christians refuse the Doctrine?...
... And if?....... And such "if" it is possible to write infinite set..
So in what Christians trust?... In the Doctrine?... Or in " the Kind Guy " who forgives all if they only trust in him?...
It is a pity to me of Jesus Christ...
And it is a pity to me, that His Doctrine "has turned", thanking " the Byzantian diligence " in fruitless literary trash...
Well and if it is more serious - that it only "Zen"...
So game " senses and words "...
Also it is a pity, that such " the simple composition " causes " cautious sensations "...
Probably really " the Christian belief " became only "dogma" and souls of believing Christians became similar to " the fallen foliage "...:angel:

 

[No-name]

The crucifixion of Jesus is prophesied in Isaiah 53 and 54 and in Psalm 22. There are other texts that hint of a suffering messaiah.

 

[strongvoicesforward]

And to bear in mind that there's money to be made out of this sort of thing, could be the reason why there's a sudden proliferation right now...

The "right now" has no monopoly on making money from reiligious story telling. In fact, that has been going on for thousands of years. The Bible and its renditions put forth by a multitude of different denominating cults may be the most proliferating money making story in bound form of them all.

I am sure the De Vinci Code is a billion printings behind and billions of dollars behind in making money.