I think it was on Friday last week, the school where I work at got a local Pastor to come and give an hour and twenty minute long presentation to the senior students (10, 11, 12) on the book-turned-movie "The Da Vinci Code" and why it shouldn't be taken seriously. Considering the amount of free time I have at work, they put me as a supervisor as well as any other staff that were free.

It was interesting to say the least. I tried to approach his presentation from a completely unbiased standpoint, not a Christian, but not sure about the Da Vinci Code theory either. It didnt help that he was completely biased towards the church.

A lot of his argument was about how the Da Vinci Code was a "grade C novel" and an OK airport novel (meaning you buy it at the airport and read it on one plane trip). Immediately you can see the bias, with him putting down an excellently written book that sold 40 million copies worldwide. Considering its outstanding if a book sells even 10,000 copies, 40 million is totally unheard of.

Another one of his arguments was how easy it is to make up conspiracy theories. He demonstrated this by talking a lot of bull about Dan Brown, and about how he hates all religions and is out to destroy them, then saying that dan brown in another language means killer of belief or something. Then after that he said "True or not? Of course its not true, I just made all of that up. So you see how easy it would have been for Dan Brown to fabricate the Da Vinci Code?" A dismally bad point, with about a million holes.

Another of his cases was that even if Jesus DID get married and have a child, what difference would it make to christianity? Its perfectly normal for a man to get married and have children, and Jesus was a man, he said. Conveniently forgetting to mention the fact that Mary Magdeline was a prostitute before she (supposedly) married Jesus.

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Anyway, after his presentation there was a chance for students to ask him questions. Among them was "Will Dan Brown go to hell?" and "If the Da Vinci Code was such a bad book, why did it sell 40 million copies?" which he answered quite well, there was one question about how he formed his opinion on the topic. His answer was "I base my opinion on the facts that have been written in the scriptures, because really, everyone except Jesus isnt very wise. Mohammed was no wiser than me, the pope is no wiser than me, and Buddha is no wiser than me, we're all in the same boat here, and you have to trust the scriptures."

I thought what he said there was a bit out of line, so after the thing was finished I went to talk to him, he was free for about 40 mins anyway cos he still had to give a presentation to the Junior kids after lunch. After the general introductions and small talk, the conversation went something like this:

(I'll be T, and he will be P)

T: So what did you mean when you said you dont consider any other religious icons any wiser than you are?

P: Well, their teachings are a bit far fetched, and Jesus words come from a historical document. I think they were out of line acting as religious icons in the first place.

T: So you're saying Mohammed and Buddha aren't wise?

P: I guess you could say that.

T: Have you read the bible?

P: *laugh* of course.

T: Have you read the Quaran or the Sutras?

P: I have seen a little of the Quaran.

T: So you aren't aware of the teachings of Buddha and Mohammed?

P: I know them vaguely, and from what I saw they were ridiculous.

T: Do you have a bible with you?

P: Yes, theres one in my bag.

T: Open it up and read Matthew 6. I need to get something i'll be back in a sec...

(I went to get a copy of the Sutras that was in my desk drawer)

T: Did you read it?

P: Yeah, I have read it before. It's a good example of how wise Jesus is.

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For those of you that havent read it, heres an excerpt from Matthew 6 -

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
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(I then showed him chapters 4 and 21 of the Dhammapada, which both say basically the same thing but in different words with different analogies.)

T: See the resemblance?

P: (reading and flicking through Dhammapada)

T: If the buddha wasnt wise and he was saying the same thing as Jesus, does that mean Jesus wasnt wise, or the Buddha was as wise as Jesus?

P: Well thats only one passage, you cant really gauge anything from that.

T: But theres a lot of similarities, not just this one, between the teachings of Mohammed, Buddha, and Jesus.

P: Yes, but the bible is a historical document. (starts putting his computer into his bag, and packing his things up.)

P: Well it was nice chatting with you, I should go and get something to eat before I have to talk for another hour.

T: OK. Well see you later.

P: Bye.

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This is the kind of closed minded christian that I dont understand. I guess I should work on listening to the bible a bit more lol:

"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

I'm completely ready for all the "too long 2 read but yeah i saw a priest 1nce" replies. -_-. I doubt anyone will read my long ass post.

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