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Defending ourselves against the DaVinci Code
Posted May 11, 2006 , By Joshua LeBlanc
For those of you who aren't aware, I co-host a weekly television show here in Lafayette, LA that is focused on explaining and defending the Catholic faith. It is a live call-in show and usually we receive a wide variety of callers.
Last night we were discussing the DaVinci code and one caller called in with a comment saying "Why do you find it necessary to defend yourselves againt the DaVinci code? Everyone knows the movie is fiction and even Jesus didn't defend himself against those who tortured and beat him so why not simply ignore it."
While on the surface this idea may seem laudible, there are a few problems. First, not everyone knows that the ideas contained in the DaVinci code are fact, even the author doesn't know that. If you look at the book, author Dan Brown indicates that he believes all of the ideas that he presents are indeed fact and not fiction.
There is also the issue about defending ourselves from the book. 1 Peter 3:15 says "Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame." St. Peter charges us with the task of defending the faith but urges us to do so reverently and with gentleness. Also, did Jesus himself not do the same? While it is true that Jesus did not raise a finger at those who put him to death, did he not throw the money changers out of the temple for blaspheming and defiling God's house? The point is that Jesus knew his death was inevitable…he freely chose to die for us but he did not hesitate to stop those who were blaspheming God. Should we not do the same?
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