I read The DaVinci Code a couple of years ago. As a recreational conspiracy fan, I already knew about the "secret" heresy. There's nothing in it that real-world theologians haven't already dealt with, even at the Vatican.
I have a mouthy critique of the whole thing, but the short version is: not very good. Apparently I'm quicker on the draw than a Harvard professor and an Interpol agent, both experts on codes and symbols, who are surprised at every turn by information you could find on the Internet without looking very hard. It's like a marine biologist being shocked by what's really a mammal. "Gasp! Dolphins too?"
I try not to be curmudgeonly and patronizing. Barring that, I try not to do it in public. I understand many otherwise reasonable people enjoy the book. Further, some Christians feel challenged by issues the book brings up, and you know, crisis of faith, that's not cheap.
So somehow, this below-average adventure thriller book-made-movie has become, like, the Anti-Passion of the Christ.
The best article I've found around the hoopla is Some Christians Shun, Others Co-Opt DaVinci in the San Francisco Chronicle, which talks about various theological types trying to deal with this month's media phenomenon. Bits worth comment:
Many evangelical Christian leaders are embracing the discourse and breaking with tactics they've used other times when they've felt under attack. They are questioning and refashioning how they react to pop culture and asking whether it's appropriate to profit off of what they see as heresy.
It seems some pastors (and Filipino bishops) feel attacked, and need to "counter-attack." How Christlike!
I'm reminded of how I used to discuss D&D with religious types. The thing (game, movie, whatever) is like a candle. You can use a candle to worship Jesus in your Christmas Eve service, light your house when the power's off, or summon a demon. But sacred, secular, or profane, the candle is not the issue. God doesn't care about candles. God cares about people.
Controlling candles does nothing for the soul in front of you. Loving your neighbor is the job, not batting down opposing ideologies.
My favorite part is at the end, where we see the continued dance of entertainment marketers do-si-do with the Christian demographic:
Just as evangelical Christians have learned to adapt to what they see as a cultural threat posed by "The Da Vinci Code," the studios have had to learn new strategies as well, said Robert K. Johnston, an evangelical Christian who is the author of "Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue."
Movie marketing never used to mention criticism of a film, said Johnston, also a professor at Fuller. But the novel had spawned so much criticism that ignoring it was not possible, Johnston said.
"Sony is gambling that even negative discussion by the religious community will bring more bodies into the theater to see the movie," said Johnston....
Lookit! They're changing color in front of us! But here's the thing: Whatever they look like, they still basically just want money. I'm not pointing this out to be cynical. I'm pointing it out to say, since we know their bottom line, and they're fumbling around for ours, how can we use this advantage to love them better?
