DaVinci Code 1

The Source of the Question

This is a continuation of a Twitter discussion that is now too large for 140 characters.  The thread so far:

You:

“I saw the DaVinci Code yesterday. Didn't know story beforehand. Got very upset!”

Me:

“It's just a silly story, an outrageous fiction. Don't let it bug you. Too bad many take it for Gospel though. Don’t eat PB. :)”

You:

“Thnks! My son said his hi school library has it & a teacher recommended it to him....”

What is The Da Vinci Code?

For those who are new to our chat The Da Vinci Code is a curious piece of fiction written by Dan Brown.  It exists as both book and movie.  You can check it out for yourself (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Da_Vinci_Code) or read/watch it yourself.  The wiki plot summary is very accurate.

It is not written from a distinctly Christian worldview, but it discloses an interesting thought pattern and some old-wives-fables or urban legends that the gullible are apt to believe.

It is a fantastic (key operative word is fantasy) yarn set in non-Christian, pseudo-Christian lore, and drawing some absurd conclusions.  As a tale, it is harmless.  As a philosophical, theological system that is believed, it is dangerous, devious, evil, and insidious.  Don’t be deceived into taking it at face value.

The author, Dan Brown seems to like and specialize in this genre of literature.  Since many of his ideas are built around intricately woven conspiracy theories, they must be treated as potentially dangerous.

Beyond all our caveats, it’s simply a murder mystery with lots of twists.  It’s a whodunit.  Perhaps not the best whodunit ever penned, but a decent one.  It will keep you guessing, especially since the conclusions have little resemblance to fact.  It does have some literary entertainment value.  It has little or no philosophical, theological, ethical, or moral value.

What Can or Should We Do?

What should we as concerned Christian parents do when we encounter something like this?

This is the heart of Christian Apologetics.  My suggestion is, study it with your child, or whole family, and refute it page by page.  Your church youth group could even tackle this.  Our kids need to learn to think.  Become “wise as the Serpent, but innocent” too.  Don’t be afraid to engage our enemy Satan, so that “by your good works” teachers, even school systems can be won.  Your church pastor can help with this.  Often Christian radio will deal with topics like this: for example, Bible Answer Man, Focus on the Family, and Catholic Answers.  There are Christian experts who specialize in the analysis of such literature, and I’m sure you can find good counsel.  Contact any of the above three sources and they can aim you in the right direction.  Write me back if I didn’t give a sufficient and pastoral answer.

We should support our teachers wherever possible.  The teacher’s point is probably something like this:

·        It’s good literature, well written, and worth learning from.

·        It has excellent opening, attention-grabbing sentences.

·        It builds a plot to a perfect crescendo.

·        It uses unique figures of speech.

·        It’s written from a ubiquitous perspective.

·        It’s an outstanding example of....

·        It has a level of intrigue, not often found.

These are all good things to learn, and we should support the teacher in them.  We don’t necessarily expect the teacher to share our worldview, but we do want to win teachers to Christ.  The teacher may come from a different church background, use words differently, or face other obstacles to communicating and understanding.  We lead the Christian way by putting ourselves in the other person’s shoes.

The student who comes to class with well thought out plot analysis, refutation of logical errors, and a clear understanding of major themes and conclusions will probably have the amazed appreciation of the teacher.

As always, we should arm ourselves with the Bible and prayer.  The Holy Spirit wants to lead us.  Sometimes we resist following.  Reading through the Bible in our primary language will more than arm us for the battle that is won with “gentleness and respect.”  This is what we want our children to witness in our lives and follow.  The price is not so easy; we have to be the real deal.

What’s Wrong with Da Vinci Code?

The opening set involves the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei.  I’m not an expert in these things.  Make friends with Roman Catholics where you can see the blood of Christ in them and they can see the blood of Christ in you.  From this foundation of mutual Christian respect, we hope to find background information about these movements.  On line helps too.  However, it really does take a village, a Christian village.

The Mary Magdalene Connection

The theory that Mary Magdalene is/was wed to Jesus of Nazareth is patent foolishness.  The Da Vinci Code’s stated evidence is that Leonardo da Vinci’s, The Last Supper, shows it.

·        Careful inspection of the painting itself shows that this is more than quite a stretch; it is simply a bit of subjective nonsense.  This is an excellent place to look into factual details about da Vinci’s famous painting: for example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supper_(Leonardo_da_Vinci)

·        A late fifteenth century painting has little or nothing to say or prove about a first century historical event.

·        The Bible is a carefully protected first century historic document which says nothing whatsoever about any such possibility.  It is not merely remote, it is non-existent.  It is especially important that there is no Biblical evidence Mary of Magdalene attended the Last Supper; nor is such evidence found in early iconography.

·        This forces the proof onto the idea that da Vinci has secret inside information, but no such information or source is forthcoming.

·        While we may not be experts in Patristic Church history, we are unaware that anything written by the Church Fathers or other credible historic sources supports such an idea.  The burden of proof lies with proponents of The Da Vinci Code to produce real evidence.

·        As it stands, this is nothing more than very subjective and unsubstantiated urban legend.

The Knights Templar Conspiracy

The supposed connection to the Knights Templar is also suspect.  The Templars find their origins in the twelfth (or eleventh) century in close association with Christian pilgrimages and the Crusades.  Pilgrims (see Egeria’s Travels in various translations for the journal of a real pilgrim) visiting the Holy Land had two essential needs: protection from bandits, and places to find food and shelter.  Militant Orders provide “police” escort and protection.  Hospitallers provided hospitality.

Our various national Red Cross organizations have a loose history from the Hospitallers who were permitted to wear the insignia of the Red Cross on their clothing.

I do not know if Militants were granted the right to wear the Red Cross or not.  I do know that the Militants fell into disfavor with and were ultimately discredited by the Roman Catholic Church.

I also know that the principal function of the Fourth Crusade was to sack Constantinople.  Western Crusaders rode their horses down the main aisles of Hagia Sophia (Greek: Holy Wisdom) church.

We reject the Templar connection for much the same reasons that we reject the da Vinci theory.  Twelfth century events have little to say about first century history, there is no evidence, and the whole construct is subjective.

Other Conspiracy Theories

Are the Knights Templar connected through the Illuminati to the Masonic Lodge.  This sort of wild conspiracy theory is sometimes embraced by mislead but sincere, well-meaning Christians.  So what?  Even if such wild conspiracy theories are ever substantiated, what does this prove about the first century?  Absolutely nothing.

We will reserve the argument that the Masonic Lodge does not present a distinctly Christian worldview for another day.  But this has little or nothing to do with establishing any historical connection to the books plot.

Since such conspiracy theories run rampant in American society, wise Christians will learn how to examine them factually, and deal with them prudently.

The one conspiracy that we must take seriously is that we have a real enemy in Satan.  Satan is no figment.  The overthrow of this conspiracy rests on the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Savior.  That is where we must always return our emphasis and focus: namely, on the death and resurrection of Christ.  We Christians need to hear the Gospel preached repeatedly because it is so stabilizing and so comforting.  The world is going to go to Hell no matter what we say or do.  Our job is to pull whatever we can salvage, out of the fire.

Is Da Vinci Code an Attack on the Roman Catholic Church?

If The Da Vinci Code is an attack on the Roman Catholic Church, it is not a very effective one.  We Christians just have bigger fish to fry, for example:

·        Learning to love one another.

·        Learning to speak the same things.

·        Finding out how to become one in the Spirit.

·        We’ve been a shambles since, 1054.  Time to fix it.

Don’t Eat PB

Those familiar with the book will recognize that my joke relates to the murder of the chauffeur who is fed peanuts and dies of anaphylactic shock.  The point is simply this: we can have a lot of fun discovering facts and separating them from fiction.  This can become a real family adventure and a way of pointing to Christian truth.  Those who are well-off might even visit these places and see the evidence first hand.  That my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, could be a real hoot.  We have just scratched the surface, but we hope we got you started.

Yours in Christ,

Herb Swanson aka Augie

Debt Slavery 3

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I'm republishing this old e-mail because of our current national emergency.  What Moses and Jesus command is not optional.  This is a Christian problem.  I pray that we take it to heart.

Yours in Christ,

Herb Swanson aka Augie

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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Dear family,

I’ve been approaching this same problem from the Bible.  This talk approaches the problem from an economist’s opinion.  I stumbled on it by accident.  Very interesting, and informative.  A few observations:

·        These guys are selling something, it’s not free, get the book from your local library.

·        Take the information seriously, but keep your hand in your wallet and don’t let go.

·        What they say about real-estate investment is true enough; but your house changes value because it’s getting older, not because the amount you can sell it for changes.  Baring natural disaster, your house will be worth tomorrow, what it is worth today, minus one day’s worth of wear and tear.  It is a roof over your head, it keeps the vermin out, and it keeps you from freezing and heatstroke.  Keep it up as best you can.  It’s not changing value very rapidly.

·        Kill off debt, before it kills you first: by all means, credit cards first, cars next, house last.  Get used to paying cash.

·        Yes, I agree, almost all investments are worthless; but a roof over your head, a car that moves, a shirt on your back, and food in your belly are tangible investments with obvious worth.  The Bible says, “Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.”  I think that includes basic healthcare, car, and house, and some other stuff.  You’re able to figure it out.

·        Fine, if you’ve got too much house, trade down to a cheaper house; but be careful, when we looked at this we ended up with a smaller house alright, with the same payments.  If you can’t pocket cash out of the deal, it’s a looser.

·        Investments: A few years ago, the joke was going around, “I being of sound mind, spent it all.”  You can’t eat paper money, bonds, gold, etc.  A little common sense will help you figure out where to invest, for example:

·        If your old washing machine is on its last legs, study Consumer Reports and find a good replacement.  When you can afford to pay cash, get it.  If we still have electricity 20 years from now, it should still be working, and you’ll still have clean clothes.  Very practical.

·        Buy a bicycle.  You’ll have exercise and transportation, and maybe even entertainment in one bundle and no gas.  I’m assuming you have strength to peddle.  Very practical.

·        Remember those food hoarding programs?  Don’t go there.  But if you like, start a garden, learn to can, raise rabbits or chickens, etc.  Live a more simple life.  These are investments you can eat, and even wear.

·        Of course, there are still risks.  The raccoons killed our son’s chickens and destroyed his budding egg business.  Oh well, he still has a roof over his head.  Still very practical.  Just build a better chicken coop next time.

·        Help your kids, your neighbors, your friends, or anyone else you love get out of debt.  Very practical.

·        What else is left in life?  Sex with the man or woman you love?  I’m too old for that.

The bottom line is, we are in trouble as a nation.  This debt-slavery is no joke.  Please take it seriously.  I still trust the solution recommended by Moses and dozens of other prophets, and guaranteed by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Jesus, I trust.  This investment scenario or any other, I don’t trust.  But I think the info is right on target.  The specifics change day-by-day, but the long-term principles never change.

·        Get out of debt and stay out of debt.

·        Show mercy, hate cruelty, help others in trouble; love your neighbor as yourself.

·        Never forget where all blessings came from, love God with all your heart.  You have a job because He gave it to you.  Become a more thankful person.

·        Enjoy sunrises, sunsets, and the simple pleasures of life and remember that your Creator gave them all to you.

·        Go to Church on Sunday, and remember that the most powerful person in the universe is still in charge of this mess.

http://w3.newsmax.com/a/aftershockb/video47.cfm?PROMO_CODE=E821-1

Don’t lose sight of the fact that the guys in this video are selling something.

Yours in Christ,

Herb Swanson, aka Augie

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Debt Slavery 2

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I'm republishing this old e-mail because of our current national emergency.  What Moses and Jesus command is not optional.  Today, I would use different dollar targets and percentages because I've learned more about the problem in the past months.  This is a Christian problem.  I pray that we take it to heart.

Yours in Christ,

Herb Swanson aka Augie

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Dear family,

I’m so very concerned over the current election trends expressed in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries.  My alarm lies in the fact that there are no real policy issues on the table.  Nearly everyone agrees that the major problem that needs to be fixed immediately is the national economy.  But, for example, I heard nothing about that economy on C-SPAN today.  What I heard was a blatant attack of one man on another.  I heard, “He’s out of ideas, out of excuses, and ... out of time.”  If the real focus of any party is simply to get the other party out of office, without producing any new relevant policy, that party has been derailed.  That party does not deserve a single vote.  I think that it is past time for real men and women to step up to the plate with real ideas.  It’s not enough to go after the opponent and offer no real value in return.  “He’s out of ideas, out of excuses, and ... out of time.” is not a policy idea, it’s an insult to our intelligence.  Where is the discussion of real policy issues and ideas?

Here is an idea.  It’s an exact duplicate of a letter that I sent to the Atlantic magazine today.  It was sparked by James Bennet’s appearance on C-SPAN, he was talking about American jobs.  But this is an idea I’ve been chewing on for some time: namely, the Lord’s Prayer.

Re James Bennet's talk on C-SPAN today.  The issue of the cost of leverage was not discussed.  American labor at say $25/hr with typically 900% leverage costs out at $225/hr in world markets.  How does this impact jobs?  What would happen to jobs if usury laws were enacted at say a 21% true interest cap to reduce at 3%/year to a final max of 3%?  What would happen to jobs if lenders were required to write off bad debt at say 10%/yr?  Many Americans say these words daily, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."  This expresses, among other things, the Hebrew law of Jubilee.  What would happen to jobs if we were actually obedient to this law?  What would happen to jobs if American business, individuals and government were not so saddled with debt?  “Forgive” expresses the novel idea that debt should be erased.  The novelty lies in the fact that we should actually be obedient to that for which we so obviously pray.  Please comment on the air.

My whole letter is attached.  I’m hoping that I’ve hit a nerve, that you’ll be blessed, and that all of you will read the whole letter and pass it on.  That’s my hope.  What you do is up to you.  I won’t think any less of you, even if you violently disagree.  But I hope that you do agree, and I hope that God has shown me a plan for fixing this problem right now, in at most six or seven years, and possibly much faster.  I also hope that I haven’t offended any one of you, but if I have, I sincerely beg your forgiveness right now.

Sincerely,

Herb

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Debt Slavery

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I'm republishing this old e-mail because of our current national emergency.  What Moses and Jesus command is not optional.  Today, I would use different dollar targets and percentages because I've learned more about the problem in the past months.  This is a Christian problem.  I pray that we take it to heart.

 

Yours in Christ,

Herb Swanson aka Augie

 

“Wednesday, January 11, 2012

 

“Re James Bennet's talk on C-SPAN today.  The issue of the cost of leverage was not discussed.  American labor at say $25/hr with typically 900% leverage costs out at $225/hr in world markets.  How does this impact jobs?  What would happen to jobs if usury laws were enacted at say a 21% true interest cap to reduce at 3%/year to a final max of 3%?  What would happen to jobs if lenders were required to write off bad debt at say 10%/yr?  Many Americans say these words daily, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”  This expresses, among other things, the Hebrew law of Jubilee.  What would happen to jobs if we were actually obedient to this law?  What would happen to jobs if American business, individuals, and government were not so saddled with debt?  “Forgive” expresses the novel idea that debt should be erased.  The novelty lies in the fact that we should actually be obedient to that for which we so obviously pray.  Please comment on the air.

 

“Sincerely,

Herb Swanson”

Contemporary Politics and Christianity

The Start of the Discussion

For the most part I don’t believe that Christianity and politics mix.  The basic reason is that politics cannot possibly be redemptive.  Only Jesus is redemptive.  Once in a while, I’m dumb enough to bite on an issue.  This year’s Republican convention is a case in point.  Within a few moments, I was fuming and wrote the following:

I’ve got no use for a non-Christian candidate hiding behind the Christian hymn, “Amazing Grace.”  I’ve got no use for a candidate who can’t spell small business who builds his opening overture on small business people.  I’ve got no use for a small businessperson who claims to blame business problems on no one else, then proceeds to blame his failures on [his political] opponents.  I’ve got no use for a candidate whose only real policy is, defeat that other guy.  You’re thinking I’m anti-so-and-so.  You’re wrong.  I don’t like either one of them.

My Further Response to Comments from Friends

That's pretty much how I see it.  I just can't escape the notion that both of these men are evil.  The image of Nixon taking over a Billy Graham crusade keeps screaming at me.  The choices in this election terrify me.  However, I’m glad that I’ve got both Democrat and Republican friends who have made peace with it, and I sincerely hope you’re both right.  Still, that can’t possibly be true, can it?

My World View and the Candidates

I guess my idea of the end of the world influences me far too much, but I have a very pessimistic view of politics in general.  I believe that a non-Christian hiding behind Christianity is evil.  I also believe that betrayal of Christianity by a false Christian is evil.  I think those two sentences describe our two candidates adequately.  I’ll leave which is which unsaid; both sentences could be applied to either candidate in my view.

If Obama wins, I see four more years of disaster.  If Romney wins, I see four years of Nixon.  Which is worse, Tricky Dick reincarnate or Slick Willy reincarnate?  I think our best bet is to hope for strongly opposing parties in Executive and Legislative branches and four more years of locked up lame duck do-nothing-ism.  Maybe, four years from now something else will surface.

On the bottom line, all my heroes have disillusioned me.  Newt is a rat.  Fred Thompson has turned into a supporter of bad banking.  Paul’s foreign policy is insane.  McCain-Palin just shot themselves in the foot.  Rick Santorum weenied out.  Rick is still my guy.

My Theological Perspectives

I get the Roman Catholic support of Romney, I really do.  In fact, I totally agree with the five non-negotiables, I support them, they are Christian totally values, not subject to debate.  However, I think that Romney, if elected, will just stab us in the back again, the five non-negotiables will be in the trash again, and we’ll have other problems with the big money power play, etc....

Both candidates talk like dictators, neither one has any real moral strength, and the Republicans have yet to field one real policy.  At least Fred Thompson, shill that he has become, knew how to form policy.  So did Reagan, but the current crop do not.

My Christian Solution

I’m going to enraged many Roman Catholics and a lot of Orthodox just by proposing the following silly idea.  Even though I’ve already lost, let me continue with my foolishness.  Please bear with me.

My solution?  The Church must become One.  The Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, and all the little Protestant fragments have to stop saying we’re IT, and come to the table with real parity for a real Ecumenical Council.  That means everybody invited has a real equality in the discussion and voting.  It means that nothing is canonized or enacted without unanimous consent.  It also means we have a big problem: for many groups call themselves Christians who have left the faith.

So how would we ever get such a group together?  Well, the Pope could relinquish his claim to be head over all, accept his office as First among Equals, and invite the delegates from Orthodox and conservative Protestant bodies.

The first act of such a body would need to be the full restoration of Apostolic succession.  That would require many ordinations to take place and be accepted by all concerned, so that all could come to the table in Apostolic parity.

Then many cross confessions would be required, so that all could come to the table having put away every grudge and historic wrongdoing or even slight.

Finally, all local Councils and Synods, together with all ex-cathedra statements would need to be vacated, especially those enacted since 1054.  Then the difficult task of hammering out unity could begin.  What about the the five non-negotiables and the culture of death?  The Pope would simply invite all who sincerely subscribe to the five non-negotiables and oppose the culture of death.  If we were lucky, we would at least have a body that believes that the Ten Commandments are binding on Christians.

If such a body could ever be established it would need to attack the issue of debt slavery very quickly and apply enough pressure to put it out of existence.

A Tentative Conclusion

Many will form the conclusion that I’m being disrespectful of either the Orthodox or Roman Catholic or other churches.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  This idea comes from my deepest respect for Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and other churches.

Now that I’ve managed to make the whole world mad at me, I’ll quit with this parting shot.  We’ve got to wash one another’s feet.  I saw in the news, an Irish priest doing exactly that and I can only applaud his courageous action.  One thing for sure, if nobody is willing to give up anything, the table of unity will never come together.  I’d be glad to make a list of all the things I’m willing to give up for real Christian peace: but then, I’ve got no authority.

However, if we continue to refuse to set aside our prideful boasting, we will continue to be defeated.  We must find a way to give up the least important in order to find the most essential.

Yours in Christ,

Herb aka Augie