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BlackPearl1 - why thank you

I've always maintained that if your God did in fact create everything, he didn't give humans intelligence, then expect them not to use it.

posted by gomedome on May 23, 2006 at 12:49 PM | link to this | reply

Hi, gomedome,

Another very thoughtful, well-written post here. I saw the same or a very similar show to the one Wiley mentioned in his comments. It was very educational, too. For the record, all Christians are not up in arms about the book or the movie. I didn't read the book or see the movie (likely to wait for the DVD), but I understand the concept and I've heard a lot of commentary and controversy. Though I believe wholly in Jesus Christ, and what you call the "official" fictional version, I recognize that the Da Vinci Code was intended as thought-provoking, entertaining fiction, just entertainment, and a good deal of imagination went into the book and the movie, which has paid off tremendously for the author, Dan Brown-- a name which I'd never heard until a few months ago-- though I've not seen or heard one good review of the movie. But I digress.

Anyway, I'm left to wonder about the strength of people's faith when they get so touchy and offended by others' opinions, accounts or stories. There are Christians who think for ourselves and who are not intimidated or offended easily when others challenge our beliefs. God help us when people allow themselves to follow blinding, incapable of thinking independently, or without questioning the words or teachings of others. Even as a Christian, I have my many unanswered questions, but no doubt about my faith in God. People would do well to learn that questions and doubt are not synomymous terms.

Good job. :)

posted by BlackPearl1 on May 23, 2006 at 12:30 PM | link to this | reply

Xeno-x - that's the part that the fervant believers on Blogit just cannot

seem to accept.

Faith in an omnipotent creator being and how it is presented via the old established religions is inadequate for more and more people every day.

posted by gomedome on May 23, 2006 at 6:58 AM | link to this | reply

actually about belief

20% of the U.S. population does not. I've linked to a religious stats site in one of my blogs.
The graphic shows that the number of non-religious is growing -- almost exploding.
There certainly must be a defect somewhere in the religion of the country (Christianity) mustn't there -- for this to take place?

posted by Xeno-x on May 23, 2006 at 6:18 AM | link to this | reply

JanesOpinion - There are no truer words than your first sentence.

"Really sad how so many hundreds of millions choose to believe."

In the year 2006, it is really sad, though I would argue that it is not a choice but a precondition. We have our young people graduating from colleges in our industrial societies believing the observations and perspectives of people from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd century. Even the rest of your comment is true, though you mistake my frustration for bitterness. A sure sign that I need a break from this.

posted by gomedome on May 22, 2006 at 10:05 PM | link to this | reply

Wiley.Coyote - we watched some of the special that you speak of

and I should have used slightly different wording in this post. Instead of calling it all fiction, I should have called it fiction derived from some facts and some historical events.

posted by gomedome on May 22, 2006 at 9:57 PM | link to this | reply

Gomedome!!

There was a terrific history program on TV tonight, and it did give a good account of the FACTS Brown portrayed.

I mean his facts about the Knights Templar, their demise by the Catholic Church, the strength of the FreeMasonry in U.S. history, right down to the Masonic emblem on the One Dollar U.S currency.

You write a good post my friend, and if we all can be objective and inclusive, we don't have to share each others' faith.

We are going to die though, no bull in that, Papal or otherwise.

posted by WileyJohn on May 22, 2006 at 9:52 PM | link to this | reply

lovely myth, that Christian religion.

Really sad how so many hundreds of millions choose to believe. The alternative is what, to be a hostile agnostic such as you've seemed to be lately? OK, thanks, but I prefer to stick with the "myth" of Christianity.

On a more serious note, I think the movie and the book can be positive since they help to open dialogue and get people talking about beliefs. A bunch of us at work last Friday had a discussion about the movie, our opinions, etc. We had some excellent conversations. My one gripe with the book is that Brown even says some of this is historically accurate -- and it certainly is not. It's one thing to write fiction and call it a work of fiction. It's another thing to write fiction but say it is historically accurate.

posted by JanesOpinion on May 22, 2006 at 7:34 PM | link to this | reply

Gomedome et al

Ha Ha!

No, it's just a new affectation of mine ; to let people know that I called in, but didn't comment. Had you thinkin', didn't it? LOL