Is Fear in the Eye of the Beholder?

The Oberlin Review carries this bit of news:

“Why are people so terrified of The Da Vinci Code?” asked Visiting Instructor of Religion Geoff Chaplin in his lecture on the best-selling cult novel by Dan Brown. “Why has this book not only sold millions of copies, but also spawned a cottage industry devoted to fighting it?”

The lecture titled “Can We Escape the Code?” took place this Wednesday and was sponsored by Oberlin’s Religious and Spiritual Life Office and First Church. Rather than “give a catalogue of errors or poke too much fun at Mr. Brown,” Chaplin attempted to “offer an interpretation of the text and unpack the historical precedents of anti-Catholocism and conspiracy theories in The Da Vinci Code.”

I'm not a visiting instructor of religion or empty musings, but I sense something is amiss here. Doesn't Mr. Chaplin answer his second question—why "fight" TDVC?—when he aptly describes it as anti-Catholic and full of conspiracy theories?

As for saying people are terrified of the novel, he is either dillusional or bursting with hyperbole. Since when is responding to an attack a sign of terror, fear, or trepidation? In other words, if this book is really anti-Catholic and full of conspiracy theories—as he admits—and people are downing it like lemonade on a hot day in Toledo, what is wrong with responding to the novel and offering an antidote of truth to confused or curious readers?

In addition, I wonder how many real people he has spoken to who are "terrified" of Dan Brown's novel? I've given some 50-60 talks on the topic in the past 18 months, and I find that nobody is terrified. Angry, irritated, curious, puzzled, annoyed, amused—yes to all. But not afraid, quaking, or shaking.

I must give Chaplin credit for understanding that The Da Vinci Code is not "just a novel." He states:

“People feel for some reason that if you have religion as the apex of all the truths that knit your life together, and you remove that, somehow, we will all end up in lawlessness,” he stated. “Books are sort of feared objects in the western tradition. They have been seen [throughout history] as feared things because they can convince.” ....

Though Chaplin’s lecture avoided the more contentious questions of The Da Vinci Code’s validity, he presented it as an eminently fictional work, one that, through the manipulation of cultural and spiritual hot-button issues, has aroused considerable public interest.

So, we have an anti-Catholic, conspiracy-laden novel that attacks religion and tradition and seeks to manipulate readers. Oh, and it has sold some 22-28 million copies and isn't slowing down. And the media loves it. And endless numbers of people have questions about it. Hmmm. Once you think of it in those terms, you really do have to wonder why some of us bother to respond to the silly thing. I feel like such a terrified fool...

Comments

[Mark]

Or as I have heard from an online blogging priest, hopefully our new pope will see this book for what its worth, just an easy read fiction novel and nothing more.

sigh.

[Faith]

He provides a lecture on reaction to the book- so wouldn't that make it a reaction to a reaction?