A comment on Da Vinci

Ok, apparently the whole world is talking about “The Da Vinci Code” movie coming out…today I think. I don’t have much to say (well, I actually have a lot) but I just want to say this one thing.

One of the arguments given by those who are for the book/movie, or don’t have a problem with it, is that “It’s just fiction.” They state that Dan Brown, the author of the story, never intended it to be historical at all but maintained that it is a very fictional account of sometimes historical events and characters. They are saying that because it is fiction it’s no big deal and shouldn’t be causing such a harsh reaction. Well, besides the fact that the line between fiction and history often blurs in this book, and sometimes only the well educated can know the difference, I will say this…

Fiction may be fake, but it has a powerful impact upon us. Fictional stories impact our thinking, our world view, and our understanding of deeper truths. Ravi Zacharius often says something to the effect that the Illustration (true or not) is the window that breaks the light of truth upon the soul. It’s like we understand things better through a story, or illustration, even if it is not true. Just because something is fictional does not mean it has no impact on our thinking or the way we live our lives.

Many fictional works have had profound impacts upon the culture of their day. Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, for instance, helped to increase awareness and assistance for the extremely poor in London. (I think.) And Harriet Beacher Stowe’s work called “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” had a huge impact on the start of the War between the States. Some even think she started the whole debate, and subsequently the war, with that one book. (Even Abe Lincoln said so.) And just look at the impact that Charles Darwin’s book of fiction has had on the world of science. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist that one.)

The point is that fiction does have an impact on us individually, and upon our culture. The best works of fiction are those based in truth. That is to say, they are believable, and you can lose yourself in a world that seems real. Often it requires you to accept certain far fetched ideas as true (space travel, assassination of the President, etc.) in order for the logic of the story to be interesting. And a work, even that claims to be fiction, that requires me to believe the possibility that Jesus Christ was not divine, and that he had children, etc. etc., is not really the kind of fiction I want to expose myself too. Sure, I know something of the book because a friend told me about it, and there is probably value in knowing the basics so we can debate it in our society and all of that. But over all, I don’t think I will read the book or see the movie because of how it presents my Lord.

And one last thing, fighting this movie as harshly as some Christians are seems to be overkill. This movie is not the cause of our spiritual failure in America, nor will having it “banned” bring victory. Sure it would be a victory, but in the grand scheme of things, a small one. I’m not saying we stop fighting the battles in modern entertainment, because those things shape our culture. But let’s tone it down a bit and keep mole hills the size they should be.

Am I blogging too much?