So dark the con of meme

Is the supply of tin foil running low? Is there a communicable mental disease running loose? I suspect so. Conspiracy theories abound.

My question is, should we consider the Da Vinci Code to be as offensive as the Mohammed cartoons were? If not, why? …and where is my anarchist outfit for the christian riots tomorrow? (It was here somewhere…)

The offense purported by the publishing of the mohammed cartoons was that, 1) that they portrayed Mohammed's likeness, 2) portrayed Islam as violent, and 3) were somehow critical of Islam. This hurt the feelings of muslims so much that 130 some odd people died in the ensuing riots.

I hate to think of what kind of reaction there would have been if the 'offensive' cartoons had not merely portrayed Mohammed, but had portrayed him as a pedophile. Which would at least be historically accurate even according to muslim texts.

But the central thrust of the Da Vinci Code is that all of Christianity is a lie. Should this be considered offensive to Christians? I am waiting for the State Department to issue a statement to that effect...

"These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of Muslims," State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said. "We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press and expression, but it must be coupled with press responsibility. Inciting religious or ethnic hatreds in this manner is not acceptable." msnbc

Blasphemous Books

The reason I decided to write this post was that I actually thought I heard an announcement on TV for a segment that was framed as if the truth of the Da Vinci Code was an established fact.

The advertisement said something like, "Is the Da Vinci Code all just fiction? We'll talk to someone who alleges it is all a hoax. ...tune in to find out..." As if someone questioning the veracity of the Da Vinci Code was news.

There are many things wrong with Mr. Brown's interpretation of the gospel; too many things in fact for a single post. But here's a few articles and resources that cover the subject:

Breaking The Da Vinci Code
5 Big Questions from The Da Vinci Code
'Da Vinci Code' errors: A quick list
How The Da Vinci Code Doesn't Work

It seems rather silly to have to refute the arguments of a fiction novel. But many folks seem to believe that this novel is somehow a detective work of historical significance.

If this survey is to be believed the damage is already done:

The British survey, released by a group of prominent Catholics, revealed that readers of Dan Brown's blockbuster novel are twice as likely to believe Jesus Christ fathered children and four times as likely to think the conservative Catholic group Opus Dei is a murderous sect.

...ORB interviewed more than 1,000 adults last weekend, finding that 60 percent believed Jesus had children by Mary Magdalene — a possibility raised by the book — compared with just 30 percent of those who had not read the book. msnbc

In fact, the Da Vinci Code bears more than a passing resemblence to the Satanic Verses, which you will recall earned Salman Rushdie a death sentence and multi-million dollar bounty from the Ayatollah Khomeini. (You know, the Iranian theocracy working on making nukes.)

In the name of God Almighty. There is only one God, to whom we shall all return. I would like to inform all intrepid Muslims in the world that the author of the book entitled The Satanic Verses, which has been compiled, printed, and published in opposition to Islam, the Prophet, and the Qur’an, as well as those publishers who were aware of its contents, have been sentenced to death. I call on all zealous Muslims to execute them quickly, wherever they find them, so that no one will dare insult the Islamic sanctities. Whoever is killed on this path will be regarded as a martyr, God willing. In addition, anyone who has access to the author of the book, but does not possess the power to execute him, should refer him to the people so that he may be punished for his actions. May God’s blessing be on you all. Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini. wikipedia

I haven't heard the Pope issue any fatwas or post any bounties yet, but who knows... even now the Opus Dei may be plotting to erase Mr. Brown from the pages of history.

Aha! I found my black sneakers and hood. See you tomorrow at the riots.

[H]egemonic Word count: 755

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