Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

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Hello. I just finished reading the novel "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown (author of "The Da Vinci Code") and was wondering about the Catholic response to this book. I know that Brown's books are very controversial, but I am very interested in the Catholic viewpoint on the Illuminati. Thank you. -Mark

-- Mark (Mark01@hotmail.com), November 07, 2003

Answers

These guys reeeeeealy don't like Dan Brown. Check out the "Dismantling the Da Vinci Code" thread and you'll see what I'm talking about.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), November 07, 2003.

I, too, read the book Angels and Demons. I am unhappy to say that it is one of the most un-Catholic things that I have ever read, trying to reduce God to mere equations and "anti-matter"! Also some of the rituals and other thing described in the book were a bit off. However it was a good action novel, though it got a bit gorey.† AMDG

-- Jeff (jmajoris@optonline.net), November 08, 2003.

That's the perspective you have to look at things from, people. It's just a book. It's fiction. Tell me Jeff, have you read "The Da Vinci Code"?

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), November 10, 2003.

That's the perspective you have to look at things from, people. It's just a book. It's fiction. Tell me Jeff, have you read "The Da Vinci Code"

WHAT?!?!?! you come to a CATHOLIC forum and tell us the perspective we HAVE to look at things from?!?! are you MAD? How about this, while you are a guest here, you look at things from a catholic perspective.

what if somebody wrote a fictional book that said socialist leaders all ate babies? its a fiction right? so you wouldnt have any problem reading it? you would feel no compulsion to defend your beliefs? i think you need to mature a bit and realize where you are... OUR CATHOLIC REFUGE. you are here as a guest and should not be so presumptuous as to tell US what values we should and should not espouse.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), November 10, 2003.


Actualy now that you mention it, I have read a piece about Socialists eating babies. And it was presented as non-fiction. It was some propaganda piece of a neo-fascist organization. Anyway, I thought it was a hilarious little yarn, and I laughed my head off because it was so rediculus. I knew it wasn't true, and most REASONABLE people knew it wasn't true, so what's the harm?

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), November 14, 2003.


The danger is this-- I teach art in a Catholic school. While the students were finishing up their Christmas inspired drawing, one of the students came to me very upset because another student told her that Jesus was married and had children. I spoke with that child and then asked to speak with the other 5th grader who had read the book. This 5th grader was unable to wead through the very deceiving facts to realize that this was just a fiction book. This child received no guidance from the parents who gave this child the book. I had not read the book at the point of this dicussion and so over Christmas break I read the book, did extensive research, and now I need to find a time to talk with this child. The problem is that I will probably not be supported by the parents who gave this child the book in the first place.

Another danger is very uniformed Catholics are reading it and believing the claim that the book is well researched. The book as some data with poorly formed claims. Case in point, one of the religion teachers at our school read the book and believes it. The reason being that she wants to believe it. Many of the women want to believe in the plot that the Catholic Church has strangled their womanhood. This book just adds fuel to the fire burning in women. I am afraid that this book has changed the way that this teacher teaches Church history. I know because I partner teacher with this person.

I think that a person can read the book as purely fiction, but that person needs to be well informed and strong in the faith.

-- veronica (vurphy@hotmail.com), January 06, 2004.


Veronica,
Not only that but the book's art history stinks to high heaven too!

In Christ,
Bill

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), January 06, 2004.


These guys reeeeeealy don't like Dan Brown. Check out the "Dismantling the Da Vinci Code" thread and you'll see what I'm talking about.

AB: I don't have anything against Dan Brown. He writes good fiction. As long as everyone understands it's FICTION! :)

I think his ultimate agenda is to get people interested in cryptology.

In Christ,
Bill

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), January 07, 2004.


All a faithful Catholic can do is speak up for Jesus Christ and the Church He founded for us. We understand that this will alienate a number of lukewarm Christians. Catholics adhere to the Holy Gospel. Nothing but the Holy Gospel!

Who else is out there to offer us more?

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), January 07, 2004.


Gene,

I'm not speaking about the "DV Code." But there will be times when true scholarly work is done that can help illuminate the the lie of Christ or His followers.

Something good to look for in alternative texts is the Nihil Obstat or Imprimatur that is the seal of approval that any book teaches no truth contrary to the Church.

In Christ,

-- Pat Delaney (pat@patdelaney.net), January 07, 2004.



Total and complete OOPS!!!

I meant the "the LIFE of Christ" and NOT "the lie of Christ."

-- Pat Delaney (pat@patdelaney.net), January 07, 2004.


Yes, the art critque is also bad. Besides the problems spoken about in actual Da Vinci pictures, the Dan Brown comments on Georgia O'Keefe using flowers to demostrate the female goddess/sexual union. I have a documentary movie with Georgia O'Keefe herself in it. The interviewer asked her about the sexual shapes in her flowers. She told the interviewer that this was crazy. "She just liked the shape and so she painted it." I think that the article, "Dismantling the Da Vinci Code" was coherent and so I gave it to the child that read the book.

I just wish that more Catholic adults were solid in their faith. I think that many Catholics are weak in their faith and knowledge of Church history. Therefore, many average Catholics can be led in all different directions. As Catholics, we need to be better informed.

-- veronica (vurphy@hotmail.com), January 07, 2004.


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