The Da Vinci Code

[Fifty]

This isn't an "is it good" type of thread! I've read it.


Anyways, why do you suppose books like The Da Vinci Code are so rampantly successful? Same goes with the Left Behind series.

My own idea is that people love books that make their religion sound exciting and tangible, what do ya'll think?

 

[Cilpot]

I think the subject is very interesting for a lot of people, but the books previously released have been more like text-books and thus not commercialy succesful. The daVinci Code is, aside from the dubious facts, a thrilling and exciting book.

 

[wilbill]

My own idea is that people love books that make their religion sound exciting and tangible, what do ya'll think?

I think you're right about this. In fact, I'd go a step further and say it demonstrates a lack of faith on the part of people who need these more tangible (albeit fictional) expressions of their religion.

I grew up attending a Baptist church (it didn't "take" with me ). I'm pretty sure that the old folks in that church would have considered books like Da Vinci and Left Behind to be delving into matters that only God can know.

 

[Mauer]

I have and have read all the "Left Behind" books. I know they are fiction based off of Lahaye's and Jenkin's interpretation, but a fun read none the less. As for the DaVinci Code, I think it stems from a lack of understanding of the scriptures. It is a way to mortalize Jesus. Which makes it a fairy tale, and even more of a reason not to believe He is the actual Christ, the very Son of God.

Edit: I am a christian. If I'm a good one is debatable, but just thought I would add that the fairy tale part above is the secular view and not mine. Or at least the way I view the secular.

 

[Damnyankee]

Left behind seris was entertaining, like reading revelations translated into the modern world with more depth and less weird

 

[Taliesin]

I find the success of Left Behind among evangelical Christians interesting, since the Book of Revelation plainly states that anyone adding to its contents will have all the curses of God described in the book added to them. The authors, I suppose, are accepting the inevitable scourge of giant scorpion-men and rains of fire that will afflict them in order to educate the rest of us. How touchingly altruistic.

 

[Fifty]

The thing is, with millions of copies of these books sold, I would doubt that the intellectually curious open-minded CFC member would be representative of the reason for the book's mass success.

Obviously, yes, they were entertaining, but I think it boils down to people wanting to make an unexciting thing be more exciting and adventurous.

Heck, I suppose you could open this discussion up to a whole lot of things that are successful today. Desperate Housewives comes to mind.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

Why books like that are so succesful? They criminalize one of the world's greatest organizations, the Catholic Church.
Let the reader in on a conspiracy theory, drop in a sentence or two that's remotely accurate, sound like you know what you're talking about, and the book will be a hit. It's always fun to hear about the undercover "villains" being "exposed".

The book is such utter crap. And honest Christians can't do much about it - stay silent, and the crap marches on, but complain, and people assume there must be something to it since the Church is trying to shut them up.

 

[Mauer]

I find the success of Left Behind among evangelical Christians interesting, since the Book of Revelation plainly states that anyone adding to its contents will have all the curses of God described in the book added to them. The authors, I suppose, are accepting the inevitable scourge of giant scorpion-men and rains of fire that will afflict them in order to educate the rest of us. How touchingly altruistic.

Since you'll find it in the fiction section, the Left Behind series wasn't added to anything. It is merely their interpretation, with a fictional story line added, for your reading enjoyment. I'll go back and look, but I don't think I'll find that they seperated their chapters by verses too

 

[Steph]

To bad the Da Vinci Code has so many errors. They could have been avoided easily, and increase the "I could believe it effect".

When in the same sentence, a top specialist says "The Knight Templars where created in 1098 by Geodefroy of Bouillin, first king of Jerusalem", that's 3 errors!

 

[CenturionV]

Why books like that are so succesful? They criminalize one of the world's greatest organizations, the Catholic Church.

maybe, but its not like they need a new book to do that, they could have just used any random medieval history book for that. I doubt that was there intention in making the book.