Why Are people so offended by The Da Vinci Code?

Many people seem to have a problem remembering that this book is fiction. Some Christians take offence because it is important to them that Jesus was a virgin all his life. I think these people somehow see sex -- even in marriage -- as "dirty" -- otherwise, why would it sully Jesus' purity to have a wife and children? They seem to think the possibility detracts from His perfection.

For me, it makes no difference. Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, whether He was married or not. And the possibility of His bloodline continuing seems to me to be important only to those who think His blood contained some special DNA that would be passed down. Unless that DNA somehow makes people better people, more likely to love others and change the world -- what difference does it make? And from what I see of the world, any DNA that makes people better has been as diluted as the Truth He brought (sorry, Christians). It would be nice if His Teachings existed and were followed in their entirety, but if they were, the world would not be in the state it is in now.

I don't read too much into "The Last Supper" -- it's a painting, not a photograph! It was done centuries after the fact and the people shown *represent* the people who were there but do not look like them -- since no one knows what they looked like. If the figure to Jesus' left looks feminine, it is only because da Vinci painted it that way -- and reflects da Vinci's beliefs and/or skill -- not reality.

I enjoyed the book, but really don't understand the furor. There are so many books that are more interesting and controversial -- but many of them aren't fiction. :-)

It is a work of fiction which draws on true historical facts and beliefs. I have also read Holy Blood, Holy Grail and The Woman with the Alabaster Jar from which he draws the majority of his information. The characters in the book are fiction. The places, works of art, and rituals are all true.

Christians feel threatened by this book because it questions the very core of what they have been led to believe about their religion. The Bible they profess to believe in as the word of God has been heavily edited and pared down over the years to the version they have today. This is what they have been told to believe in. Some of the more important gospels, like the Gospel of Mary, have not been included because they are contrary to what the Church wants people to believe.

Most of the religious people I know are perfectly happy to keep the blinders on and not listen to alternative possibilities. But there are also a lot of people who like to explore all the possibilities and draw their own conclusions.

If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend the 2 listed above as well as Angels & Demons (another work of fiction) by Dan Brown.

The way I am seeing it about all the controversy about this book is simple. It questions Christianity. The Church has portrayed Jesus one way and this put all of that into question, making one wonder if they are in fact following the son of god. This doesn't go over well with most Christians. I have done some of my own research on the matter. I have found that the "facts" that Dan Brown put in his book are that, facts. They happened in history. The thing is it can not be proven without question that this is what happened. It merely gives speculation. You have historical facts that have a probability of conflicting the Christian faith.

I was brought up Christian and though this upbringing did not stick with me. (I am by no means Christian) it has helped me to understand hte Christian faith. And I personally see the probability in the book. Dan Brown merely gave others the tool to see into history what he and others have already seen. We are to then take it as we want it. Most Christians just dont want to hear it in my opinion.

I think the Da Vinci Code is an extremely good piece of fiction, but it does raise some intersting questions. Where I work we have a full-size copy of The Last Supper on the wall, and, yes, the figure sitting to the left of Jesus does look very feminine!

I was offended that I paid money for the book...it sucked immensely. Was anyone actually feeling any suspense at any time? Bleh. Religously, I thought some of the ideas were intriging to play with in my mind but I don't see how people can be offended by a work of fiction.

Mainly because the book reveals certain truths to the formation and rise of the powerful state-sanctioned Roman Catholic Church, and it opens the door to questioning the compilation [and eventual translations and interpretations] of the sacred scriptures...

Needless to say, the Vatican and its minions among the billions, including the disenfranchised Opus Dei schism, have their ways to put a lid on it if they must.

But how do you un-ring another bell that has tolled once more?

The story depicts characters and events which are sensitive and sacred to Christians. If there was a riot regarding those Cartoons which offended Islam, how much more do Christians feel and act if it is now their turn to get offended?

Maybe it's because a lot of it is complete nonsense, and some people actually believe that it's "historicaly" true. So far, I haven't read it, but I'd like to.

There are numerous people who would laugh at the possibility of altering their fates. This is due to the fact that it thinks that nobody gets more that exactly what is written in his fate.

the da vinci code questions religion directly from the bible, in some instances, it flat out says the bible is bullshit. you know how religious people get with these issues.