I liked the answer to this question given by Father John Matusiak, Communications Director of the Orthdox Church in America
If you are firm in your faith, to the point that the book would not cause you to question, doubt, or speculate, and if you can stay focused on the fact that it is a novel and nothing more, then read it.If you begin reading it and then start questioning reality based on the fiction contained therein, stop reading it.
If you are not firm in your faith, to the point that the book would cause you to question, doubt, or speculate, or if you are the type that would at some point begin thinking, “hey, maybe this stuff is really true and Mary Magdalene really was what it says she was and the Church has been lying to us all these years,” then don’t read it.
In any instance, if by “book club” you mean a bunch of people who get together to give their personal views on what they have read, you may wish to skip the discussion. Surely, you’re bound to encounter those who draw inane and insane conclusions based on the book. If, however, you are fully capable of discerning reality and truth from opinions that could range from the bizarre to the downright stupid, then the discussion may prove a bit entertaining.
Frankly, the book is interesting as a fictional novel — in the same sense that the recent mini-series “Revelations” was interesting as a fictional novel — but both are about as factual as a book or mini-series about 18th century chicken breeding on Mars. Sadly, there are people out there who are incapable of discerning between fact and fiction.
Hope this helps.
In Christ,
Father John Matusiak
OCA Communications Director
I appreciate Father Matusiak’s insightful guidance about choosing whether to read or not to read The DaVinci Code. I agree that if the book may damage the faith of some then they are not ready to read it.
For others though, there may be some solid reasons for thinking Christians to read The DaVinci Code. It is perhaps a good current problem for the area of canonics (how and why some early Christian documents were retained for the Christian canon and others were rejected). So the current debate may help us to understand and appreciate the principles and work of the early Christian scholars who have handed the NT down to us. At this point the interest and controversy swirling around the book may sharpen our apologetic skills in this area. W may be able to help both believers and non-blievers to see the limited value of the book and keep some from a shipwrecked faith and others from embracing the confusion as another means of rejecting the claims of Christ.
I am influenced by the views of NT Wright who calls for a rigorous historical approach to biblical studies and other ancient literature as well. For Christians, says Wright, history is our friend not our enemy. We come away with not only a better understanding of Jesus and the gospel but also with a greater sense of the reliability of the NT’s presentation of both. Of course, the problem is that some will be (negatively rather than academically) critical only of Scripture and not of Dan Brown and his sources. This is quite trendy these days. Perhaps after (or during or before)reading The DaVinci Code some should also see the many books and articles from both conservatives and liberals who say that while Brown’s book contains a riveting plot and fascinating story-telling features, it is based on shoddy research and highly speculative historical constructions.
Steve,
Thanks for the great comment. NT Wright is certainly giving us a great example by which we can approach Paul, as well as the entire New Testament. I would like to see him completely annihilate Dan Brown’s arguments in a debate. He’s the best.
Speaking of The Da Vinci Code, I just borrowed it from my sister-in-law this evening and plan on reading it right away. I’ll keep everyone updated as I go along. Thankfully God has brought me to a place where I feel I can read a book like this without it influencing my beliefs or shaking my trust in God and His Word. Several years ago, in my ignorant and arrogant skepticism, I might have gobbled up anything Brown would have written in his book. Thanks to men like you I have a mind that actually functions and I feel adequately prepared to handle Brown’s novel.