lol! Ah, the memories. I’m going to have to go and watch it again now.

It seems I read a little too much into your original comment.

“I’ve not read anything where Brown says ANY of it is true.”

This may have changed since I read the piece of populist crap in question, but at the beginning of the book, Brown made some pretty hefty truth claims about the Priory of Sion and its membership. He maintained that the story itself is fiction (obviously), but many of the historical events he talks about in the book were based on good historical evidence. He was wrong. I’m not sure if he continues to claim any of this, however, but he definitely has in the past.

Brian: You are all individuals!
Crowd: YES, YES, WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS!
Brian: You are all different!
Crowd: YES, WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT!
Lone Voice: I’m not.
Person next to him: SHH!

“We understand that most Christians are not loony fundies who fly off the handle whenever someone says something against Xianity. Those people do exist in significant numbers, however, and that’s where the outcry is coming from; a very vocal minority spoiling the fun for everyone.”

Please don’t misunderstand me and think I’m making some kind of defensory stand for xtians. That would make me quite the hypocrite, now wouldn’t it? I do believe, in this case, that insipid vocal minority is the key here. There always seems to be THAT brand of xtian around who is just waiting to hew and cry about whatever their pastor tells them to that week. You know… the sheeple.

“Almost everything in his book that he claims to be true is bullshit. You’re right; it’s FICTION with no evidence backing its claims. The Bible, though, is also FICTION with no evidence backing its claims.”

I’ve not read anything where Brown says ANY of it is true. He keeps maintaining that it is purely fiction. Of course, it could be that he keeps saying that because he’s been slapped with a lawsuit (or two) and he is trying to defend his work.

As for the bible being fiction, you and I agree on that as well. The reason I mentioned the catholic ladies being nonplussed by the book, was because, after knowing THEIR reaction, I was surprised to see the fundies going on a rampage. (I know, I know… I shouldn’t be surprised at anything they do anymore. However, I figured if anyone would get up in arms about it, it would be the little old ladies in town.)

I was truly surprised that the church-y ladies seemed to like the book so much. They talk about it at coffee. They have little debates over it. I think something about it intrigues them. It’s kind of refreshing to hear some of their talk because, before, I felt they were rather staunch and unwielding about their catholicism. Maybe it is the “forbidden factor,” as you mention. Maybe it is titillating to them on some level. Whatever it is, though, I think it is obviously attached to their deep-rooted feelings about their faith. To me, it isn’t so attractive. I’m not “into” the xtian thing, so it’s just another book, eh?

We understand that most Christians are not loony fundies who fly off the handle whenever someone says something against Xianity. Those people do exist in significant numbers, however, and that’s where the outcry is coming from; a very vocal minority spoiling the fun for everyone.

“All of the church-y ladies have read it.”

Reading such an naughty, forbidden book must have been very exciting for those church-y ladies. I wonder if they mentioned it in their confessions? Everyone gets sucked in by controversy, don’t they?

“Whether or not you believe that there is evidence for some of the stuff in the book to be true is quite irrelevant.”

There isn’t. Brown was taken in by a hoax. Almost everything in his book that he claims to be true is bullshit. You’re right; it’s FICTION with no evidence backing its claims. The Bible, though, is also FICTION with no evidence backing its claims.

Bob,

I’m pretty sure that Cleese & Palin v. Bishop battle is in the special features on the DVD as part of a making of documentary. I recently bought the MP DVD set in England, so maybe it’s not on the American versions (assuming you’re American of course). This is just a vague recollection so I may be wrong about this, but I could use that $20.

“It is an ex-parrot!”

All of the church-y ladies have read it. Some of them have gone and bought their own copies to pass around to family members. It was the subject of the local book club, which is comprised primarily of catholic women, several of them “hard-core” catholics.

All of the response that I heard to it has been positive. Brown’s book is FICTION, folks. Whether or not you believe that there is evidence for some of the stuff in the book to be true is quite irrelevant. It is FICTION. Some people who have read it have expressed their chagrin at the ideas raised, but so far, I haven’t heard one sanctimonious outcry against the book.

From my vantage point, I see the new “outcry” against the book as a piece of hype from marketers. Of course, there will always be the brainless ones, too, who jump on anything someone says is un-xtian without having any real knowledge about it whatsoever.

Just my 2-cents.