The DA VINCI code, ....abinkyi code etc

What is the take of the brothers on the blasphemous Da Vinci Code?. Has any of you read the book or are you planning to watch the movie? Some preachers are saying buying the book or watching the movie will only enrich the author and Hollywood, which is in love with the present world and the god of mammon and seeks to promote any heresy against our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Some have countered that it offers a great opportunity to engage in evangelism- a good non-threatening topic to start a conversion leading to the truth about our Faith. - Gaius Chicago



Very briefly, the only reason why I will read that book would be if I wanted to engage someone in intelligent debate about it and I want to know what exactly the book says. Even then, I think it will probably be a waste of time. I am better off spending the time studying the Word of God. By the way, I would never purchase that book with my hard earned cash. I would either borrow it from the local library or read Calorius's bootlegged copy, more aptly called the "daavi nkyen" code.

The whole thing just reminds me of the passage and verse in Romans 1 which talks about "exchanging the truth of God for a lie". - Robbo



I like the name davinkyi code. It rhymes with abinkyi, which I think means "billy goat" in the Akan language. My pastor made a point last sunday: he said this book would come and go. In 20 years time no-one will remember the D'abinkyi code. but the Bible has endured centuries, and will always be with us.

I remember other books or movies that we once thought would be a problem. There was a book called "in God's Name". Who knows about it now? At the time I read it it seemed scary. It didn't even claim to be fictional. And it was made into a movie. Then there was the book about the seven faces of Jesus. And etc.

There are 3 things we can do:
1. Neglect these books, like they don't exist; they Will pass.

2. Collect and burn them like they did in Acts with the magic books. Not practical these days. An excessive use of this method was in the dark ages when the users of such material were inquisitioned and themselves burnt at the stake.

3. We could learn the Bible so well as to engage these people in discussions whenever the opportunity comes. My own approach is that you do this by knowing the Bible and things about the Bible well, not by studying the heretic material. I am told that at the police academy they learn the features of good currency and of a good check. Then they can identify counterfeit money when they see it. They don't spend or waste their time studying counterfeit money. - Calorius



Calorius, that is so very well said and heart-warming and reassuring and...exactly the kind of wisdom I have come to expect from each one of you. Nothing to add to your collective views on this matter, except to say your postings ring true and are right on the mark. Bottom line: this heresy too will pass. - Gaius Columbus (non-dissentus this time)



Interestingly, when push came to shove and money was on the line in the copyright suit brought against Dan Brown and his book in England, the crux of his defence was that the book was a work of fiction. I think the term "historical fiction" is itself a contradiction and a strange concept. History, by definition, has to be true.

I agree that this one too will pass but "the Word of God will abide forever". The author of this book may be a talented and clever writer who has put together a literary work built around very disputable historical data but I know that he has absolutely nothing on the revealed Word of God. Read again below the beginning of the Gospel of John which is also the ninth lesson from the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols which we held annually in high school in Ghana. I can never forget how I felt the first time I truly understood this passage from the Bible as it was read aloud with clarity in one of those services.

The Apostle John unfolds the Great mystery of the Incarnation. John 1:1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (New International Version)

Thanks be to God, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ- Robbo