Catholic Church Wants Muslim Support

I hear the film's not very good anyway.

So I'll back the Catholics by not watching it.

well its prophesised that Christians will unite with Muslims,.. The second coming of Isa a.s is around the corner. With Huge number of Christians already reverting to Islam just shows how the prophecy is starting to become reality.

I think we should show support to the Catholics. If the contents of the film is blasthemous and is insulting to our prophet, we shouldn't have to protest under the Banner of christianity, rather we should protest our feelings under Islam.

But I think its good News,

How would we show our support for them?

I have not read the book, nor have I an intention to watch the film. Is that the right way to 'show support'?

Or is it better to read the book, watch the film, and give it a proper critique?

WHat is the actual subject about? Is it about the Prophet Isa (as), or is it about the church?

Granted we should not support, condone or accept in any way the insulting of the Prophet Isa (as), but how far should we go to support the actual catholic church?

Assalamu-alaikum

I'm a newbie 🙂

I don't think it's worth our time reading the book and I certainly won't be watching the film either. But, I was asked by a Christian what our perspective is on this book. I don't know anything about it, but apparently it's got something to do with the idea that Jesus (a.s.) married Mary Magdalane (one of his follwers) and a side issue is that God is really a Goddess and the early Church repressed this fact.

Anyway, the point I'm making is that there are lots of review/critiques out there. We should understand firstly the Islamic perspective on this, then educate ourselves on the issues - that is, in my opinion, the best way we can support the Christians.

Farhana

walaikum salam Newbie! welcome to the forum Sister

I've not read it either but I can understand the concerns of the Church.

I heard some reviews about it. Apparently it's not well written, but it's a page turning best seller. No doubt it'll bring in the big bucks, but I doubt we'll hear from this author again. One hit wonder perhaps.

Oh we will hear from him again.

His next book is about the Freemasons.

Apparently the knights Templar are 'bound to be' in the story... I was not aware of any link (mainly because I have not looked for any.), but this show on BBC4 about Dan Brown's book (where the Opus dei were defending themselves...) said we all know how the knights templar are always involved...

Anyone else keep thinking Derren Brown instead of Dan brown?

yeah I got confused. I like Derren Brown's style. I remember him going to the races and making the cashier hand him over money, even though the horse he bet on had lost. Some how he made her believe that he bet on a winning horse. But he's a different story i'm going off topic.

I don't think the doctrinal issues are really what concern the Church, rather, the virulently anti-Catholic position of Dan Brown captures the Holy See's attention. The guy had that whole forward warning us that these are real groups we should be aware of etc, then went on and on about opus dei and other reclusive church affliated organizations. It really casted them in a sinister light. I'm not into Opus Dei... not my cup of tea, but making them out to be sinister church hit men then warning his readership about these dangerous people is uncalled for.

As for the doctrinal issues, I've always enjoyed textual criticism so long as it's got weight behind it and isn't another spurious unfounded position (and there is no shortage of those). Brown's book borrows and embellishes facts from Baigent Leigh and Plantard which turned out to be largely a hoax anyway.

On a side note I think probably one of the biggest mistakes the Christian world made in the modern age was to open textual criticism to parties outside the fold of the church heirarchy and scholarship. With the advent of the internet it's caused a great deal of confusing as interested parties pass on bizarre theories and conjectures based on selective attention to history and sketchy paleography.

i watched the film...and i kind of liked it :?

even tho i dont believe the theory, its an interesting one

well.... i can promise that i wont go and see it again if that helps.

it was kinda dull....

disappointed.... in my day if we werent satisfied we'd demand our shilling back.

Muslims were offended by the Danish cartoons but the rest of the world seemed confused by all the fuss.
Here another faith group has been offended but many Muslims will not understand why Catholics feel slighted.

I think those who made a big song and dance about the blasphemous cartoons should support the Catholics on this one as a matter of principle. Especially as the Catholic Church, under the late Pope John Paul, has gone a long way to establishing friendly relations with the Muslim world.

It is my ardent hope that Muslim and Christian religious leaders and teachers will present our two great religious communities as communities in respectful dialogue, never more as communities in conflict. It is crucial for the young to be taught the ways of respect and understanding, so that they will not be led to misuse religion itself to promote or justify hatred and violence. Violence destroys the image of the Creator in his creatures, and should never be considered as the fruit of religious conviction. Better mutual understanding will surely lead, at the practical level, to a new way of presenting our two religions not in opposition, as has happened too often in the past, but in partnership for the good of the human family.
As members of the one human family and as believers, we have obligations to the common good, to justice and to solidarity.
May the hearts of Christians and Muslims turn to one another with feelings of brotherhood and friendship, so that the Almighty may bless us with the peace which heaven alone can give. To the One, Merciful God be praise and glory for ever. Amen

Pope John Paul II - Address at Omayyad Mosque of Damascus - 6 May 2001

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saintS/pope0264qr.htm

I'm not sure I agree with the Church's position on Islam.

Catechism 841The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."

The Church has worked very hard over the last several decades to promote goodwill between Muslims and Catholics; by focusing on our similarities real or imagined. However it seems as though the Church has gone too far on many occasions, and drastically misunderstands the profound differences between Catholics and Muslims - Jesus being one of them. Dialogue is important but for it to be honest the Church needs to address differences as well as similarities and not disillusion itself with thoughts of unity where it can not exist.

It also seems mildly dishonest that the Church would ask Muslims to condemn the movie on account of Jesus when by all accounts the Church is more concerned with the blatently anti-Catholic tone of the movie; rather than spurious theories about Jesus Christ.

I'm not convinced this new era of goodwill is about the Church's genuine doctrinal position; it seems like there is an air of politics about it.

Chinese ban Da Vinci Code movie

China has ordered cinemas to stop showing The Da Vinci Code, weeks after it was released in the country.

Officials in the country said the move was to make way for local Chinese films to be shown during the peak summer viewing period.

But others say the ban may have been implemented because of the religious content of the film.

The film, starring Tom Hanks, has already been banned in Fiji, Pakistan and some Indian states.

It is based on Dan Brown's best-selling novel that claims Jesus married Mary Magdalene and that their descendants survive today.

Since it was released in China last month, the film has made 104 million yuan (£7m) and was on its way to becoming one of the most successful foreign films to be released in China.

It initially escaped the censor's cuts and made its debut in Beijing six hours ahead of the film's official premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

Short notice

Wu Hehu, spokesman for Shanghai's United Cinema Line Corporation, said he received a notice to cease showing the film, but he did not know why the order was made.

"This is such a short notice from the film's distributor," he said.

"I don't know the reason. We just do what we are told to do."

The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing said there had been speculation that the film was proving too popular with Chinese Christians.

China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television oversees film distribution and censorship in China.

In recent months it has also banned Memoirs of a Geisha and Brokeback Mountain.

BBC News