Today (Friday) Sony Pictures released the film version of Dan Brown's bestselling book, The Da Vinci Code, starring Tom Hanks. Because of the heretical teachings littered throughout the book that contradict the historical facts about Jesus Christ, it has understandably been met with strong resistance by Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians alike.
In a very shrewd marketing move, Sony Pictures may have found a way to walk the public relations tightrope between not refuting any of Brown's story and not alienating Christians. They have launched a website (www.thedavincichallenge.com) that allows critics of the book and film to speak freely about their concerns and attempt to correct what they believe are inaccuracies in both.
The website includes numerous articles from respected Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christian leaders. Included among the contributors are Protestants David Bruce of www.HollywoodJesus.com, professor Tony Campolo, theologian Charles Ryrie, researcher George Barna, social commentator Chuck Colson, theologian Ben Witherington III, and musician Gloria Gaither. Also providing content are a number of Christian authors who have released books critiquing The Da Vinci Code. They include:
In one sense, Sony's website seems like a meager carrot offered to appease offended Christians who will be annoyed by the film but will not likely go as nuts as some Muslims recently did over one cartoon. But in another sense, at least there will be a nice centralized repository of insightful commentary where people who do not believe Jesus shacked up with Mary or that elves live in trees and make most of our cookies can track down some truth.
Today (Friday) Sony Pictures released the film version of Dan Brown's bestselling book, The Da Vinci Code, starring Tom Hanks. Because of the heretical teachings littered throughout the book that contradict the historical facts about Jesus Christ, it has understandably been met with strong resistance by Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians alike.