How the DaVinci Code Does Not Work.

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
Originally posted by: waggy
there was a interview with him about the book. he said while the book is fiction it is based on fact. i had to go have a few beers to figure out wtf that meant

He meant he used history to give him some ideas to write his novel. The idea is similar to Girl with Pearl Earing, the story was ficticous but many of the charaters (like Johannas Vermeer) were real people.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: astrocase
No offense to any Christians but you can pretty much call the Bible a work of fiction as well so they should stop trying to attack a simple fiction book like The Da Vinci Code. It's just for entertainment.
This is a ridiculous and poorly thought out post. This is exactly the kind of doublethink comment that the OP's article is addressing. For one thing, the Da Vinci Code, much like a Crichton novel, tries to pass itself off as more than fiction, when in fact it is fiction in the extreme. For another, the Bible actually does contain a large amount of historical fact, and those portions that are fiction provide a tremendous amount of historical insight into the mythological beliefs of ancient peoples. The Holy Grail is not in the Bible, it is a myth from the British Isles, ala King Arthur and the Round Table, and DaVinci almost certainly never even heard of it in his lifetime.
 

Neurorelay

Platinum Member
Jul 21, 2004
2,195
0
0
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: astrocase
No offense to any Christians but you can pretty much call the Bible a work of fiction as well so they should stop trying to attack a simple fiction book like The Da Vinci Code. It's just for entertainment.
This is a ridiculous and poorly thought out post. This is exactly the kind of doublethink comment that the OP's article is addressing. For one thing, the Da Vinci Code, much like a Crichton novel, tries to pass itself off as more than fiction, when in fact it is fiction in the extreme. For another, the Bible actually does contain a large amount of historical fact, and those portions that are fiction provide a tremendous amount of historical insight into the mythological beliefs of ancient peoples. The Holy Grail is not in the Bible, it is a myth from the British Isles, ala King Arthur and the Round Table, and DaVinci almost certainly never even heard of it in his lifetime.

"For another, the Bible actually does contain a large amount of historical fact, and those portions that are fiction provide a tremendous amount of historical insight into the mythological beliefs of ancient peoples."

This is what Davinci code does also, both books serve a purpose, albeit the bible will prevail as historically the most important literature in history.

Remember this quote though by Napolean, "history is an agreed upon fable." Another quote for you "history is written by the winners." Same thing for science, you come away knowing there is no truth, only agreed upon perceptions.

The problem lies in our beliefs in what makes something "important" and worth believing. People are so eager to have someone collaborate and agree with their perceptions. We see a knee-jerk reaction on the parts of christians to this book, because to them they see a challenge to their beliefs. However, if anything, they should be strengthened by such a book, because it is a test of faith.


Vic, you always have such thought provoking things to say, I think we have met on this field of battle before. :)
 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
Originally posted by: Googer
Originally posted by: waggy
there was a interview with him about the book. he said while the book is fiction it is based on fact. i had to go have a few beers to figure out wtf that meant

He meant he used history to give him some ideas to write his novel. The idea is similar to Girl with Pearl Earing, the story was ficticous but many of the charaters (like Johannas Vermeer) were real people.

Also think of the movie Titanic. Pearl Harbor is another example. It was fiction based on historical fact.
 
Jun 4, 2005
19,723
1
0
Good book, take it for what it is. If you read it and decide to base your belief on it, you're a pawn. Read it and ejoy it, that's all.