Fuller神學教授談《達文西密碼》

小鳴按：

挾著勢如破竹的威力，《達文西密碼》（The Da Vinci Code）*已上映了。去年已看過中文版本，看不到一大半，已沒興趣追看下去。Dan Brown無疑極具想像力，也具備一流吹水能力，可是他販賣的，仍是好來塢公式化橋段和情節。早已風聞會小說會改編為電影，不過，早已沒定不捧場。只是，當下不得不改變初衷，因女主角是《天使愛美麗》（Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le）的Audrey Tautou。自看過《天使愛美麗》，我便情不自禁成了她的「粉絲」。

今天在看舊同事Cyrus的xanga時，竟發現一篇在美國Fuller神學院教神學的教授寫了一篇有關《達文西密碼》的文章。他鼓勵每一個愛思考的基督徒去看電影之餘，還寫下了他個人的看法。無論看過、未看過，又或不打算看，都值得讀讀這篇文章。礙於個人時間有限，不能抽出時間翻譯，我只能原文照登了。請諒！

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Fuller Professor Reflects On
The Da Vinci Code**
Nathan Feldmeth

Every thinking Christian should read Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. I plan to see the movie as well, and as soon as it is comes out. Why? Simply because this blockbuster novel is one of the most potent forces in recent years to shape popular religion. Around cozy Starbuck’s tables, in airport departure lounges, at the proverbial office water cooler, The Da Vinci Code is a hot topic. When the movie opens on May 19th, a massive new and younger demographic will be caught up in discussing the plot and passively absorbing its presuppositions.

It’s hot because it is a very “easy read.” Dan Brown has a formula that appeals to those seeking escapist reading or viewing: use provocative claims like “this book lays bare the greatest conspiracy of the past 2000 years” to tie together famous familiar names with the most marvelous array of historical settings in Western Europe. Add to that a series of vicious slams against the Roman Catholic Church, already held suspect by many for covering up sexual scandals among the clergy. “If the Church covers its dirty linen now,” so the popular logic goes, “how do we know popes, cardinals and bishops haven’t done it for centuries and about the central figure of the New Testament, Jesus of Nazareth?”

If we are ready with calm rejoinders to the claims of a scandalous cover up; if Christians have sound historical and theological answers to these claims, and a quiet confidence that rises naturally from a deep security in what we believe and hold most dear, then The Da Vinci Code can be a genuine opportunity for the Church.

So what are the key issues to be ready for between sips of a caramel macchiato? My list of the five crucial points would be these:

1) The early Church, from the beginning, consistently affirmed that Jesus Christ is God, this did not begin with the Council of Nicaea in 325.

2) "Alternative gospels,” often Gnostic in origin, are not the “earliest Christian records” as the book states, but are generally much later than the four Gospels of New Testament and were rejected by the Church as unreliable after careful consideration.

3) Historical evidence supporting the book’s claims that Jesus married Mary Magdalene who bore his child, is non-existent.

4) Gnostic gospels do not in fact elevate women and affirm "feminine spirituality," quite the contrary.

5) Leonardo’s depiction of the Apostle John in the “Last Supper” as young, beardless and effeminate is consistent with long standing Renaissance artistic tradition and is not a secret code. Better make that a venti caramel macchiato or white mocha frappuccino, so you’re sure to have time.

In all this it is crucial that our attitude not be defensive. Dan Brown sells books and movie rights because he scratches a real itch in our collective psyche. The book is hard to put down. Let’s admit that. Translated into film by the extraordinary talents of director Ron Howard and actor Tom Hanks, the movie will be entertaining and provocative.

My advice, enjoy Dan Brown for what he’s good at but be ready with an informed critique. Hey, with any luck you may get a chance to have a meaningful conversation about Jesus who is the Christ. That can’t be bad. If we can help others to encounter the real Jesus, not some Gnostic or modern caricature of him, this book could be a genuine blessing in disguise.

Nathan Feldmeth is associate dean for extended education and assistant professor of church history in Fuller's School of Theology.

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《達文西密碼》電影官方網址：http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thedavincicode/
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文章轉載自http://www.fuller.edu/news/html/da%20vinci_feldmeth06.asp