Call for Censorship
borac...@gmail.com
---
To The Point
Emil Juradano
Da Vinci Code' movie:
The trailer of the highly controversial best-seller novel of Dan Brown,
Da Vinci Code, movie is now being shown in local movie houses awaiting
its worldwide release perhaps within a month or two.
I have read the fiction novel myself, more out of curiosity and while I
admit that Dan Brown weaves a conspiracy theory shattering the divinity
of Christ, who supposedly married Mary Magdalene and that the great
painter-artist Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" had Mary
Magdalene seated beside Jesus to his right at the table, a movie
starring Oscar-winner Tom Hanks would have a devastating impact on
Catholic Philippines. The concept of the "Holy Grail" is also
shattered.
It may just be a movie, but that's what makes it dangerous,
especially to those of little faith. It could raise doubts and
questions.
This is a movie the Catholic Church, especially the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines, should look into on the wisdom of the
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board allowing it to be
shown in the Philippines.
<remaindier snipped>
---
see http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=emilJurado_jan24_2006
Anyone interested in going deeper into this than the DaVinci Code novel
does should see the 1982 best-seller "Holy Blood, Holy Grail".
Cheeze
borac...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> It may just be a movie, but that's what makes it dangerous,
> especially to those of little faith. It could raise doubts and
> questions.
>
Pope Benedict already said that he preferred a small but faithfull
Catholic church. He probably believes that any effort to keep people
without or with little faith harms the church more than it helps them.
Here's an idea, allow people to know about these facts. Don't censor
anything. Because like I keep saying, true faith is NEVER blind.
tumbaga
The writer of that book did nothing original, all he did was compiled
several books already written, and combined that with other conspiracy
theories around the Roman Catholic Church, including the two Pope era
and the so-called holy grail, the whatchamacallit Morengwhatever noble
family, so-so bull crap and the Masons.
johnwa.james
pilipinos don't even know what all this thing is about. and this da
vinci code is nothing but a novel
Cheeze
Exactly. BTW the Morovingian was in the Matrix.
Domoarigato
Catholic Church is always righteous and infalliable when it comes to
the true religion. As our good friend Padre Damaso always reiterates
that the "Indios" must always see no evil, hear no evil and speak no
evil otherwise we all go to the fiery inferno of hell. While we are at
it, we should also censor all news pertaining to priests that abuse and
take advantage of the youth. The more we hide it, the more it is good
so that as the author above put it "It will prevent those of little
faith to raise doubts and questions". Let us all take things
seriously. Let us not distinguish fantasy from reality. This is the
true pinoy trait that has brought us in the rut for almost 500 years.
tumbaga
> how low can you go?
> pilipinos don't even know what all this thing is about. and this da
> vinci code is nothing but a novel
Really?
I read all of it before, to me it is unoriginal. Nothing great about it.
moondragon
difference? :}
Talagang Ganyan
especially to those of little faith. It could raise doubts and
questions.
bill,
the solution for those of "little faith" is not not to watch the movie
but rather to strengthen it.
a foundation for a house is not strengthened by not exposing it to
water but rather to add more cement and steel.
moondragon
tumbaga
> geeze its only a book . what are people scared off?
>
If you have faith, there is nothing to fear. I look at it on literary
points, it is crap, unoriginal and unimaginative. I am not even afraid
since it will not shake anything in my boots.
The issues raised were old, in fact one of the reasons why the Gnosts
were excommunicated is because of the issues raised in the book, the
relationship between Jesus and MAry Magdalene.
That was 300 years after Christ died. Think about it.
If you think your God is great then relax, it will take more than this
book to destroy it.
Esther jarabe
better thu .
tumbaga
> actually imo i liked the book. the other one with that pope was
> better thu .
>
Hehehehe...
don't know why, lots of stuff in it are just pure conjecture, stupid
even some of them.
Esther jarabe
kinda makes sense the stories about mary magdalene, etc etc.... im
not into the conspiracy thing but they weaved it into a good story in
this book. very entertaining. now we can fathom what the muslims
felt about good old salaman rushdie hehehehe
Cheeze
moondragon wrote:
> psst ayn rand books are also fiction novels. whats the dang
> difference? :}
The truth that a novel like Rand's asserts, are not that the story
itself was true. Rand was about morals. Just like the Bible, which I
also read not as a reference to facts, science and history, but to
morals.
Cheeze
I think its like "the Idiot's Guide" to "Holy Blood, Holy Grail".
Cheeze
moondragon wrote:
> geeze its only a book . what are people scared off?
either you are not catholico cerrado or you haven't read the book.
tumbaga
There was an old movie about the holy grail, it was starred by Paul
Newman, a jewelry maker/sculptor, he made a chalice with all the
apostle's faces on it. He had difficulties making Christ's face until he
became a Christian.
tumbaga
ok...
borac...@gmail.com
see
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=connieVeneracion_jan26_2006
---begin snippet 1
When Dan Brown's book was first published, it was clearly labeled
FICTION. That's why it was so funny when the Vatican created a
commission to debunk the theories raised in The Da Vinci Code.
Debunking fiction? Ridiculous! Why should anyone be afraid of fiction?
That is so immature, really, just like being afraid of the boogeyman.
But, of course, many are aware by now that many scholars agree that at
least parts of Mr. Brown's claims are historically accurate and that
puts the Catholic Church in a very bad light indeed. In that context,
one can almost understand why the Vatican got spooked.
As with many novels of this genre, The Da Vinci Code is a mixture of
historical research and the author's interpretations of pieces of
information that he had unearthed. As such, it cannot be classified as
an authority in history. However, the book raises enough issues to make
a Catholic wonder at the accuracy of some parts of Christian history
and at the truthfulness of the Catholic Church in portraying historical
figures. At the center of it all is the attempt to derogate the role of
women in society. In a nutshell, the book emphasizes that Mary
Magdalene was not a prostitute. Mr. Brown's theory is that she was
Jesus' wife.
---end snippet 1
Yes. As I mentioned previously, another book which goes into the
historical underpinnings of this stuff much more thoroughly than Dan
Brown's nevel is "Holy Blood, Holy Grail"
---begin snippet 2
Blocking the showing of The Da Vinci Code in local movie houses also
poses some serious legal repercussions:
1) It will be a case of arbitrary censorship;
2) It will further boost the sales of pirated DVDs.
Let's discuss these issues one by one, starting with censorship.
Under what circumstances can the MTRCB disallow the showing of a film?
Section 3 of Presidential Decree 1986 states that the MTRCB has the
following powers:
<details snipped>
Now, where, I ask, can the MTRCB possibly base any decision to disallow
the showing of The Da Vinci Code? <snippage> Stretch the interpretation
of the law to justify banning the showing of a film that, at most, is
merely a proferred alternative interpretation of a part of history that
religious dogma has shrouded in mystery and symbolism, and there you
have the perfect case for abuse of discretion. Whichever way you slice
it, it will still be arbitrary censorship.
---end snippet 2
Ah! Back to the "Call for Censorship" issue, as opposed to the "What
do I think about the subject matter in question" issue.
Esther jarabe
Cheeze
Esther jarabe wrote:
> ive read the book and i take a lot of it with a grain of salt .
That's good.
However conspiracy theories is like a love affair. If you don't take
it seriously its no fun. If you do take it seriously it breaks your
heart.
Esther jarabe
,experiencing how diverse humanity is, seeing the implications of
certain texts, and comparing certain passages to established science,
or history someone could see sylvias pov and not get to annal about
da vinci text. another nice religious themed fiction is about mary
being preserved and discovered by the protagonist. i forgotthe title
but its in my storage somewhere. nice non fiction about biblearethe
dead sea scrolls, and the books the editors of the bible took out.
psst even the roman catholic bible have stuff protestants think should
be taken out .
Sylvia Knörr
"Esther jarabe" <soccultur...@yahoo.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:1138287234.7...@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> i used to feel the same thing but after being outside the pond
> ,experiencing how diverse humanity is, seeing the implications of
> certain texts, and comparing certain passages to established science,
> or history someone could see sylvias pov and not get to annal about
> da vinci text.
Um, Renie, I did not yet say anything about it, I didn't even read that
book! But you got me right, I wouldn't get too annal about it anyway. :-)
Freedom Of Speech Piggy
bugok na itlog
<borac...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1138242068.2...@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
I really liked the book. It should not be censored in any way. I believe
that it will challenge someone's imagination growing up in predominantly
Roman Catholic community. Fiction as it may.
Billy
I got the chills last month when I finally saw the full trailer while
watching King Kong. I was actually more excited about seeing the
trailer than seeing King Kong. Anyways, the trailer is up in apple's
website:
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/da_vinci_code/hd/
I also thought the other book, "Angels and Demons", which came out
before Da Vince probably would have been a better movie. Hopefully
they make that into a movie as well.
I read it a couple of years ago, and recently barrowed the
"illustrated" version from the library. I have a friend who's going to
Europe next month for a three month stay and I told him to read Da
Vinci and Angels & Demons before he go, so he can check out the places
mentioned in the book.
Anyways, regarding cencorship. I think it's a stupid idea. I know I
don't live in the Philippines anymore, so I guess I'm just a spoiled
American now, and I hate anything that restricts freedoms, especially
for a stupid thing like this. I remember when I was growing up in the
Philippines and Marcos censored Voltes Five because it affected
children's studies, I thought that was stupid.
Again, I really don't care if the Philippines censor it. Freedom,
specially of Speech is not something the country value anyways.
Maybe they should just put a warning at the beginning of the movie, one
that says:
"This is a f*ucking movie, get a life assholes."
Just JT
8< putol >8
>
> It may just be a movie, but that's what makes it dangerous,
> especially to those of little faith. It could raise doubts and
> questions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
What's wrong with raising doubts and questions? Is it right to have BLIND
FAITH?
>
> This is a movie the Catholic Church, especially the Catholic Bishops
> Conference of the Philippines, should look into on the wisdom of the
> Movie and Television Review and Classification Board allowing it to be
> shown in the Philippines.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Typical BARRIO-tic mentality: if you don't like it, I want to ban it. <sigh>
--
DalubFreedomOfSpeechIsNeverAPriorityInPI
borac...@gmail.com
Filipino Christians are not reacting to the DaVinci Code similarly to
the way Islamo-whackoes are reacting to the cartoons lampooning their
Prophet.
---From his 23 feb op-ed piece in the Manila Standard
I have been wondering why Christendom-Catholics and Protestants
alike, and others-does not react as violently as the Muslims do with
the depiction of Prophet Muhammad in a political cartoon in a Danish
newspaper and followed up by other Europen newspapers when Jesus
Christ, the Blessed Virgin and even God Himself are blasphemed all over
media.
First, consider Dan Brown's bestseller Da Vince Code which has been
made a movie by Hollywood, and soon to be shown in local theaters
depicting Jesus Christ as having married Mary Magdalene and that the
Holy Grail-traditionally known as the chalice where the Host and the
Wine were transformed into the Body and Blood of the Christ during the
Last Supper-was actually Magdalene. This is blasphemy of the first
order, and to make a movie out of it is even worse. And it's the
Christ, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, being blasphemed, not a
prophet.
But, are Catholics and Christians reacting as violently as the Muslims
do? Santa Banana, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines is
not even raising a whimper with the upcoming Da Vince Code movie
starring Tom Hanks.
Now comes the outrightly blasphemous cable feature on the Jack TV
Channel, depicting Christ as a nitwit, who cannot even do the illusion
of multiplying loaves of bread and fish in an apparent reference to the
miracles recounted in Luke 9:16. The blasphemy is made worse when the
Blessed Virgin was shown standing with the red liquid flowing between
her feet, and a voice-over was heard saying: "She's a virgin,
indeed!"
And tragedy for us Catholics is that Movie and Television Ratings and
Classification Board (MTRCB) Chairman Consoliza Laguardia has not
lifted a finger. The tragedy becomes worse with the CBCP, that is so
vocal on political matters, is so tight-lipped on the blasphemy.
As a Catholic, I'd say that if ever Christians in the Philippines
react, their anger should be directed not only on those behind it, but
more so on people of the MTRCB who have become inutile and Catholic
bishops who have their priorities screwed up.
---
borac...@gmail.com
Reading further, I see that the unbylined lead op-ed piece in the 23
Feb Manila Standard takes the opposite tack from that taken in the
piece by Emil Juradano.
---
On the heels of protests made by Muslims worldwide over a caricature of
Mohammad with a bomb on his turban, a cause-oriented group seems to be
second-guessing that Catholics would do the same over a satirical
cartoon.
Family Media Advocacy executive director and lawyer Jo Imbong recently
expressed dismay over South Park, a satirical cartoon from the United
States that is being aired locally over a cable television network,
Jack TV. She cited an episode which depicts the Virgin Mary as
menstruating, and described it as "offensive."
...
If a Catholic finds this offensive, he can just switch off the TV set.
But to ban it is to deprive all of us of the choice.
Much worse, the group seems to indicate that Catholics should be
outraged by these depictions, similar to the rage that Muslims have
expressed around the world. In doing so, they give the faithful
something to whine about in a time and place where religious extremism
and radicalism has reached boiling point. Who will then take
responsibility for the restiveness and, eventually, violence that can
only worsen the divide between freedom and faith?
Perhaps, instead of spending its energy on trying to ban satirical TV
shows, the Family Media Advocacy should devote its efforts to more
meaningful and truly Christian acts, such as helping our less fortunate
brothers in Southern Leyte.
---
Camilla Umerez
Cheeze
Camilla Umerez wrote:
> o take a pill
The red one or the blue one?
Cheeze
borac...@gmail.com wrote:
> I see that Emil Juradano is still at it on this. Now, he laments that
> Filipino Christians are not reacting to the DaVinci Code similarly to
> the way Islamo-whackoes are reacting to the cartoons lampooning their
> Prophet.
>
I call Christianity the one great curse, the one great intrinsic
depravity, the one great instinct for revenge for which no expedient is
sufficiently poisonous, secret, subterranean, petty -- I call it the
one mortal blemish of mankind.
(I hope the flame bait isn't too obvious.)
borac...@gmail.com
Religion (upper-case 'R' there -- I would probably render non-damaging
sorts with a lower-case 'r' if it occurred me to make the distinction)
is the big curse, not Christianity (individual Religions generally
insist on being upper-cased: Christianity, Islam, etc.). However, I am
not evangelical about my view.
Cheeze
The quote, BTW, is from Nietszche. I always liked it because it
certainly sounds like from a man who has been severely "godsmacked"!