The Da Vinci Code competes with Christianity on its own turf, so to speak, and so it is no wonder the churches fear it as they do.Įven more so, these Christian groups do not just fear an alternative story they fear an alternative story that turns one of their most effective and insidious tactics against them. On the other hand, what can and does flourish in such an environment is another story, one that appeals to people on the same emotional level as Christianity and taps the same feelings: the emotional appeal of the triumphant underdog, the sense of being part of something greater than oneself, the idea of great and sacred mysteries that will be revealed to the initiate. In such an atmosphere, it is not surprising that rational arguments against Christianity or any other religion have made relatively little headway.
Our society does not value critical thinking and skepticism highly, but rather steadfast faith and decisions based on emotion. As a general rule, I find that Christian religious leaders are not afraid of rational arguments against their faith, because most believers’ minds are not structured or encouraged to think that way. This, more than anything else, is what the churches fear. The explanation, I believe, is that The Da Vinci Code presents a competing narrative, one that seeks to explain the events at the origin of Christianity in a different way. Why this fearful reaction? The movie’s popularity (it has now exceeded Passion of the Christ in worldwide gross) is part of it, but that would not explain anything unless some churches already sensed a threat. Dave Russell, “ Russell checks in on old friends, Gallup polls and ‘The Da Vinci Code’ again“, from the Asheville (North Carolina) Citizen-Times, To this movie we say ‘kiss my grits.’ Hollywood, you’ve gone too far on this one for this Southern Baptist boy.” We feel that this movie calls the Bible a book of lies…. The reason? We feel that this movie mocks God. Speaking of the South and that strong literalist view, The Smoky Mountain Cinema - Waynesville’s only theater - will not now or ever show “The Da Vinci Code.” A recorded message explains: “A lot of people have been asking us when we’re going to be playing ‘The Da Vinci Code.’ The answer to that is never. Fortunately, in the United States our strong guarantees on freedom of speech prevented religious authorities from censoring the movie, although some individual theater owners made a game effort: (Evidently the state-run church wants to show lay Catholics that it can be just as paranoid and censorship-happy as the Vatican.) Other countries have demanded that certain parts of the film be cut or that disclaimers be added stating that it is a work of fiction. Even communist China banned it, after a brief but successful run in that nation. Lebanon and Pakistan have banned the film altogether, as have parts of the Philippines and India. The Catholic church has urged a boycott, imploring its members not to read the book or see the movie one Vatican archbishop deplored the fact that the book’s “lies” remain “ unpunished“.
However, a few poor reviews are nothing next to the worldwide protests, boycotts and censorship the movie has attracted.