Challenging Times

The Da Vinci Code juggernaut rolls on. Every so often, someone says to me ‘why are you bothering with this? It’s only fiction.’

Yes it is. But it has significantly shifted people’s attitudes towards the church and Christian faith, according to a new survey:

More than one person in five in the UK has read Dan Brown’s book. According to this new survey, about two thirds of UK readers believe that Jesus and Mary Magdalene had a child. (Historians and Bible scholars reject this claim as not having any basis in fact.) Sixty percent of those who have read the book believe that Jesus had children, compared to 30% of non-readers.

36% of readers believe that there has been a cover-up by the Catholic Church, compared to 27% of non-readers.

Readers are also four times more likely to believe that Opus Dei is a murderous sect – 17% of readers believe that, compared to 4% of non-readers.

According to an article in the Daily Telegraph last Wednesday, the results of this survey

‘will fuel fears that people increasingly prefer to believe in conspiracy theories that taint the Church, rather than historical evidence.’

So yes, it is only fiction. But this fiction is changing what people believe. And that’s not just daft: it’s dangerous.

On the trailers, on the posters, on the web site, the strap line reads ‘Seek the Truth.’ The day before the World Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, on 17th May, I had the chance to watch the film’s only UK press preview.

As a film, it’s well made. The cast is excellent, headed by Tom Hanks, Audrey Tatou and Sir Ian McKellen. Production and camera work are good, and there are some genuine ‘jump out of your seats’ moments. Most of the action takes place at night or in darkened buildings, and this adds to the sinister and creepy tone of the film.

The greatest weakness of the film is that at times, it doesn’t know whether it’s trying to be a thriller or a piece of propaganda for the worship of the sacred feminine. It is at its weakest when it loses its way as a thriller, and becomes propaganda.

The anti-Church propaganda, although still there, and still in your face, has been watered down from the book.

Something that I found more disturbing is the violence of the religiously obsessed monk Silas. There is a kind of kinkiness about this, which left me feeling uneasy. It is because of this violence, rather than because of the anti-Christian propaganda, that I would not be too happy for children to see this film. The 12A certificate in the UK is on the generous side.

I’m sure it will be a huge blockbuster. Go and see it, but don’t believe a word of it. It’s a work of fiction. Seek the Truth.

There’s a more detailed review of the film on our Jesus & The Da Vinci Code web site.

People today are spiritual but not religious. We’ve all said it. I’ve said it. But it may not be true.

A new report for the Church of England, ‘Making Sense of Generation Y,’ contradicts the belief that young people are spiritual seekers, trying to fill a ‘god-shaped hole.’ On the contrary, many of them seem quite happy with life without God. The number of young people attending church has fallen by half since 1979.

According to John Sentamu, recently appointed Archbishop of York,

‘young people are happy with life as it is, that they have no felt need for a transcendent something else, and regard the Church as boring and irrelevant.’

If they do think about church, the words they associate with it are ‘corrupt,’ ‘traditionalist,’ and ‘stagnant,’

According to Sentamu, there is a large mismatch between the church and the views of 15-25 year olds.

This report says that young people don’t feel disenchanted, lost, or alienated. Rather, the research shows that they find meaning and significance in the reality of everyday life, which the popular arts help them to understand. Their creed can be defined as ‘This world, and all life in it, is meaningful as it is.’ Or ‘There is no need to posit ultimate significance elsewhere beyond the immediate experience of everyday life.’ Their goal is happiness, and this is achieved mainly through the family. The young people studied in this research didn’t have any sense of sin or guilt, and no fear of death.

What a dismal view of life! The report’s writers contrast this worldview with the reality of rises in eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual abuse and suicide. Their conclusion:

‘We live in an instant culture which cannot be reached by instant missionary tactics.’

Read Ruth Gledhill’s article about the report in the London Times.