#264 - Taking the Fun Out of Fiction

Christian groups are planning a boycott of the upcoming "Da Vinci Code" film, and all I can say is:

"Blecch."

Which syllable of the word "fiction" do they not understand?

Of course, many who would participate in this boycott are the same ones who object to the "Harry Potter" series on religious grounds. Never mind that many of us enjoy it for the sheer story-telling aspect of it; it propounds the existence of magic and could lead people into Satanism. (Grossly oversimplified version of the argument, but I think that's the salient point.)

Likewise, some Christians find it to be blasphemous in the extreme to front an idea that Jesus allegedly married Mary Magdalene, had children, and spawned the greatest cover-up in world history; all perpetrated by the Catholic church in its attempt to control the minds and hearts of their believers.

All those who believe everything in Dan Brown's book, please stand up.

[takes count]

Ok. Now, of those standing, how many of you also pay actual money for "National Enquirer?"

[did no one sit down?]

Thought so.

The simple fact is that the only people whose opinions might be swayed in favor of the Code's theories are the same ones gullible enough to follow every conspiracy theory ever fronted by caffeine-addicted insomniacs. Most of the rest of us, whose testimonies of the Gospel remain firmly intact, are less likely to be "offended" by this film's premise.

We reserve the right, of course, to become highly offended if they don't follow the book closely enough to lend credence to the film. That, in my mind, would be a truly excommunicable offense.

The film happens to open on the weekend that Mrs. Woody and I will be celebrating our TENTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. We already have tickets for Friday morning.

We'll let you know if we find any protestors.

P.S. Don't tell the activists: Kids today are more likely to find their faith challenged in the classroom than they are in "Harry Potter." We'll just keep that our little secret, okay?