I'm not watching the Da Vinci Code Movie

[taijasi]

Well, for what it's worth, esoteric legend has it that St. Patrick was the Christ .... either incarnate, or "overshadowed" - which is what was supposed to have happened with Jesus. Now, what novel notions these; apparently, William Blake didn't find them so strange - as the poem and hymn suggests:

And did those feet in ancient time

And did those feet in ancient time,
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold,
Bring me my Arrows of desire,
Bring me my Spear—O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green & pleasant land.

Andreas-taijasi

[Postmaster]

Why would I support something that is potentially destructive to something that cost many of lives to accomplish, to an idea that is great and to something that has and will continue to save people? I try to promote Christianity not destroy it. Personally though, I think this film will do more good then harm! Brings Christianity back into the spot light and as soon as people get bored of the idea Jesus had a girl they'll be interested in what the Church has to say. Someone who knew was getting himself in trouble for teaching of social equality, forgiving people unlimited times and floving your enemies couldn't have been too interested in having kids and getting married?

[China Cat Sunflower]

I think the premise of the DvC is probably crap, but I'm going to see it anyway. I like that religion has it's collective panties all in a bunch over it. Reminds me of when I went to see Monty Python's Life of Brian in the theater twenty five years ago. There were these old Catholic women kneeling on the sidewalk reciting the rosary over and over and begging people, for the sake of their immortal soul, not to see the movie. Then, of course, there were local TV film crews shooting the spectacle. I don't think they realized how they were contributing to the publicity of the event. Hey, to each their own. A lot of people went to see the Passion of the Christ. I wasn't that interested in seeing a dramatization of Jesus getting the snot beat out of him.

Chris

[Tao_Equus]

Originally Posted by Postmaster

Why would I support something that is potentially destructive to something that cost many of lives to accomplish, to an idea that is great and to something that has and will continue to save people? I try to promote Christianity not destroy it. Personally though, I think this film will do more good then harm! Brings Christianity back into the spot light and as soon as people get bored of the idea Jesus had a girl they'll be interested in what the Church has to say. Someone who knew was getting himself in trouble for teaching of social equality, forgiving people unlimited times and floving your enemies couldn't have been too interested in having kids and getting married?

Thats the spirit!! Theres no such thing as bad publicity and it works 2 ways!!

To me it is not a far fetched hypothesis to suppose Jesus and Mary of Magdala did indeed get married and have a family. There is a growing body of evidence to support such an idea after all. Further, if this was the fact, I do not see how it detracts from the essential message of Christianity. If anything and for many people I would imagine, this would only make Christianity more appealing. Sweep away the supernatural invocations and tell the truth, a man or a woman like you or I is equally capable of devine communion. This is what I have always felt. To see the Christian Establishment embrace such an idea would illicit from me a new found respect. I can relate to the 'man' Jesus, I find the 'diety' Jesus somewhat repellant, a supernatural caricature rather than someone genuine.
What really sets today's peoples apart from our ancestors is our education. I think for very many of us the irrational aspects, the fanciful notions and miracles, found in the bible are no longer credible. It is a shame that a fortune seeking 3rd rate author should have hijacked this debate, adding yet more fiction on top of so many other fictions. Perhaps this is why the Establishment makes so much noise now, seeking to sew non-sense debate so that the real fundamental truths have no chance to be raised. Certainly would not be the first time.

regards

David

[I, Brian]

More on the Joseph of Arimathea story here:
http://www.comparative-religion.com/..._arimathea.php

[flowperson]

Brian and David.

Thanks for your posts. Very interesting stuff.

By the way, I believe that I read of this also in Leigh, Biagent, and Lincoln's book, Holy Blood, Holy Grail. These, the first two, are the guys that sued Dan Brown some time ago for lifting information from it to put into the plot of The DaVinci Code.
The only entity to win in that case was the publisher which, coincidently, handled BOTH books. A good plot to boost the sales of each, eh?

flow....

[Tao_Equus]

Originally Posted by flowperson

Brian and David.

Thanks for your posts. Very interesting stuff.

By the way, I believe that I read of this also in Leigh, Biagent, and Lincoln's book, Holy Blood, Holy Grail. These, the first two, are the guys that sued Dan Brown some time ago for lifting information from it to put into the plot of The DaVinci Code.
The only entity to win in that case was the publisher which, coincidently, handled BOTH books. A good plot to boost the sales of each, eh?

flow....

Exactly!!! ......who needs Prophets when you can have Profits!!!

Regards

david

[flowperson]

We went to see the movie this afternoon and all agreed that the book was a better told story. However, we enjoyed the way the film was sequenced and put together. We all agreed that Tom Hanks was not good in the part, but Ms. Tatou was great. Well worth the price of admission we thought.

flow....

[wil]

We went this weekend...I hadn't read the book, did read HBHG years ago...

I thought the movie interesting. Didn't really understand the fuss. Little over the top for me on the Silas's need to suffer...and the need for the graphics...but that is me. I didn't think I would enjoy the story line, but I did.

I don't see it as tearing down the temple...but do see it causing people to question, contemplate and explore...which I think is good.

[pohaikawahine]

personally I loved the book and plan to watch the movie .... although I don't think the real meaning of the symbols were ever reached in the book, it was a good start .... I think the essence of the controversy is whether Jesus was divine or simply a gifted man that married and had children like other men .... there is another book out called "The Jesus Papers" by Michael Baigent, co-author of Holy Blood, Holy Grail that most would probably not read if you are so concerned about the Da Vinci Code .... the essence of that book is to try and document that Jesus was still alive in the year A.D. 45 .... seems to me that there will always be the great divide between the old testament and the new testament regarding the way in which one is redeemed or reaches the promise land .... the secret societies of the past and those that "held the mysteries" and "secrets" may have held knowledge that is important to understanding who we are today .... but I believe that even those societies have buried the knowledge through the closing of minds and hearts .... we are so divided in our beliefs, but would we be so divided in our knowledge if we are willing to open our minds and hearts to each other and to an ancient path of knowledge that is within our grasp .... I don't think it serves us well to close our hearts and minds to possible paradigm shifts in the way we all see things .... as they say, the real question to find the holy grail is to answer "Whom does the Grail serve?" .... he hawai'i au, pohaikawahine

[flowperson]

Hello Pohaikawahine:

Or as the great Bob Dylan taught us, "You've Got To Serve Someone"

Aloha flow....