More on Da Vinci Code

I just can't help it but I need to post more things about this subject....I am just concerned about how some people are saying "Chillout!!! It is just fiction!"...Don't get me wrong, I am not one of those who are calling to boycott the book or movie...nor do I call for the excommunication of Dan Brown...I am just concerned that people seem to be indifferent...Yes, the book is just fiction BUT...

1. I mentioned this already in my previous post - When writing about fiction, the rule is the foreground (the characters, episodes, plot, etc) is of course fictitious, however, if a writer used non-fictional elements (e.g. historical events, actual institutions, actual places, etc.), the writer has to be responsible enough to be accurate on these elements. The problem with DVC is that a lot of references were made on non-fictional elements that are not at all accurate and then some people think that it is really true. History Scholars, Art Historians, Bible Scholars and Theologians, not to mention members of Opus Dei, are all saying that there are so many errors in the description, depiction and referencing on these non-fictional elements that they don't know where to start. Just to give you examples (note that these are just few of the errors in the DVC story background):
a. History Scholars - In DVC, it was mentioned that Emperor Constantine declared Christianity as the State Religion. Historians say Constantine legalized Christianity but it was Theodosius decades later who declared Christianity as the State Religion.
b. Art Experts - In DVC, the depiction of St. John at the Last Supper was too feminine for comfort. But art experts says that that is how young male scholars are depicted in rennaissance paintings (and even art students know that).
c. Theologians - In DVC, it was stated that it was just Emperor Constantine who declared that Jesus is God and that before that people believed that he is just mere man. It is clear in the Bible that the apostles believed that Jesus is God and even in the Acts of the Apostles, that is already what the Apostles are teaching and that dates back to at least 300 years before Constantine.
d. Opus Dei - In DVC the villain is an Opus Dei monk. There are no monks in Opus Dei. It is not in the charism of Opus Dei to be monks and to be secluded from the world. Plus, the head of Opus Dei is not based in New York as stated in the book. The Prelate of Opus Dei is based in Rome.

2. Yes, it is just fiction but instead of praising how well the book is written, I just wonder, don't you think we should feel insulted because:
a. the book is so badly researched - it is an insult our intelligence
b. the book is implying that the Church all this 2000 years has been fooling its believers from time immemorial - doesn't that feel like an insult to our family? (that is if you feel you are part of the family of God)
c. the book is implying that Jesus is just man, not God - isn't that an insult to God himself after all that he has done for us? Is it going to be that mock trial at the Sanhedrin all over again? Isn't that an insult to our dignity as man as well? Because if Jesus is not God, then how can he redeem us? Thus we do not merit heaven? How can we call ourselves sons and daughters of God then? So what does that make us?

When one says "Yeah, it is just fiction so there's nothing really to be uptight about. Besides we all know the author, the publishing house and the producers of the movie would just like to make money", it is like saying "You are making money out of saying false and malicious stories about me, my father and my family but in fairness ha, the story was well written." Duh? How can we be so dense? How did our culture has become so callous that we cannot anymore realize when our dignity as a person is already being maligned, worse, we even welcome it.

So what is the proper Christian response to DVC?
1. Study, study, study...Brush-up with Catholic doctrine and Church History
2. Take this opportunity to educate those who would want to be clarified
3. Pray for yourself, for all Christians, for those who have or are going to read the book or watch the movie and pray even for the author and producers of DVC