It's just a novel! But it also makes people discuss religion and spirituality!

Newsweek's Senior Writer Devin Gordon makes light of TDVC flick and smirks at those who think it might actually affect how people view the Church, Jesus Christ, and other curious topics (hat tip to NewsBusters.org). After all, "it's just a novel":

Denver, CO: I have read several writeups about the book but most fail to state that this book is fiction. Is that correct? Is it fair to state that while the locations and some artifacts exist, the story is misunderstood as being a factual story versus a fictional story?

Devin Gordon: If they called it a novel, that should be sufficient. A novel is by definition a work of fiction, and I've never heard anyone call Brown's book anything but a novel. That said, it's clear that the line has been blurred, intentionally or not, by the book's foreword claiming that all descriptions of art, architecture and secret rituals are accurate. First of all, their accuracy is in quite a bit of dispute. And second, that statement lets readers run wild with their imagination and forces them to draw their own lines about what's true and what's not. So yes, the story is certainly misunderstood by some as being factual. I think anyone who believes *everything* in the book is foolish, but I know reasonable, intelligent people who take as fact some things in the book that are completely untrue.

Exactly! Which begs the question: how do readers who are historically illiterate know what is true, false, and in-between in the novel? And if some of it is true and some of it is false, what's wrong with pointing out what is false, especially since many readers are clearly taking the book as a sure guide to Big Question about Big Issues? (See my article, "The 'It's Just Fiction' Doctrine" for more on that topic.)

The following exchange highlights how there is a disturbing illogic used by some readers (including not a few Catholics), who like to intone how "the books gets everyone talking about important topics," but then insist, when criticism arises, that "it's just a novel!":

Chicago, IL: LOVED the book, I am a little concerned that people are so serious about its contents. I'm a devoute Roman Catholic and loved every piece of this. Lets face it, it got everyone discussing certain aspects of the Catholic church and the very least perhaps paying a little more attention to God - one way or another. I hope the movie will be as entertaining (key word here folks!) and people will go see it for fun. Let's not take everything written in life so seriously. Debate it yes, but live your life around the "controversy"? Relax already! How long did the the filming take?

Devin Gordon: Thanks for writing this. Despite all the controversy surrounding the book, I genuinely think your view represents the vast majority of people both in this country and worldwide. Lots and lots of Catholics read, and loved, "The Da Vinci Code." They read it as a kooky, creepy thriller, and when they finished it, they got on with their lives. I think that's a healthy way to look at the book. That said, I do respect and understand that many people were offended by some of its contents. If I was a member of Opus Dei, I'd be hurt, to say the least. But it as, after all, as much fiction as "The Exorcist" was.

Since many readers do "love" the book (a sad, but true, statement), shouldn't we be curious about why they have such an affection (or obsession) with it? As I've pointed out:

If the Code, as "just fiction," is merely entertaining, we should ask: How and why do people find it entertaining? In what way, for example, is it entertaining to think that Jesus was married and that the Catholic Church is a violent, nasty, woman-hating institution? If it's because you enjoy the possibility of that being the case, we are back to the question of historical and theological truth. If it's because you enjoy asking "What if?", we are again back to the question of historical and theological truth.

It is, then, a matter of truth. Is truth revealed or defiled in the Code? Since these questions are so important and since twenty-five million copies of the Code have been sold, is it not reasonable to examine the historical and theological claims, questions, and issues contained within the Code? Is it really so ridiculous, or unfair, or unprecedented to critique the style and substance of a novel that makes bold claims—and has so obviously influence many readers?

I find it hard to take Gordon seriously when he says, "I do respect and understand that many people were offended by some of its contents." Blah, blah, blah. Wink, wink, wink. The fact remains, as it's been said many times, if TDVC had been written about Islam/Mohammed or Buddhism/Buddha or Judaism/Abraham, there would have been strong criticism, even outrage, from most corners of the MSM. No, the double standard is not surprising. But it is a double standard, and it should be pointed out — again and again and again.

Comments

[Sandra Miesel]

Why are self-identified "devout Catholics" so stupid that they just love seeing their faith attacked as an evil fraud? I rather doubt that "devout Jews" would react so blithely to a film of THE PROTOCOLS OF ZION, nor would MSM expect them to.

[Another Steve]

What about the Communists who during the Cold War did their best to keep people away from any literature (especially Sacred Scripture)that might in any way cast Communism in an unflattering light. Any 'devout' prominent communist who airily waved aside all objections to the protelariat being allowed to decide for themselves what to read and believe, would very soon have found his party membership revoked.

The only slightly bright spot in this rash of new 'novels' that claim to be based on Truth, is that it won't be long before Mr Brown and his copiers will have so muddied the water that a desire for true Truth may yet make its way to the surface and all those trashy novels will stop selling just as fast as they started.

Well anyway that's my hope and my prayer and BTW it's 9.30a.m. here on the first day of 2006. So all you people, "HAPPY NEW YEAR'.

[Patricia Gonzalez]

The continuing popularity of DVC never ceases to amaze and sadden me. One of my extremely devout Catholic friends is reading it now, and thinks it a "good read" & doesn't understand all the fuss, because "it's just a novel"... sigh ... IMO, it's a badly written, anti-Catholic piece of dogggy doo. I believe it was H.L. Mencken who said that "no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the [North] American public." (Please correct me if I've quoted the wrong source.) DVC and its ilk are examples of the "dumbing down" of fiction in general. Most of these authors should go back and take courses in remedial English grammar, and be required to read or re-read great authors, beginning with Shakespeare. (Former English teacher's rant!). I hope this New Year brings better fiction and better journalism our way, but won't hold my breath! Happy New Year, everyone!

[Will]

I have to cope with people who think that THE MISTS OF AVALON has something to do with history, and are not even deterred by pointing out that it is FICTION. It must be true because it's In A Book (unless the book is the Bible.)

[Will]

Sorry. I kept clicking "Post", and nothing happened. I hope that does not happen again.

[Carl Olson]

Will: No problem -- you're comments came through. Very good point about fiction and Bible. Atheists insist the Bible is fiction, and then write books and articles "proving" that is the case. So why aren't they mocked for being concerned with "fiction"?

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