Hoe dink ongelowiges?

Hier is 'n resensie van Colin Bower se boek Open Minds. Dit is 'n boek waarin die skrywer sy bes doen om die Christelike geloof op allerlei manier aan te val en te diskrediteer.

Bower’s first line of attack is the Bible itself. In massive, sometimes exhausting detail, he documents the evidence for a large human hand in the Old and New Testaments -- the internal contradictions, the inconsistency with known historical truth, the tampering with original texts, the constant textual revisions with the unearthing of new manuscripts, the conflicting sectarian versions of the Bible, the influence of pre-Christian and other Middle Eastern mythologies, the imposition of Church diktats on four centuries of doctrinal wrangling, and so on and so forth.

Teaching Ideas & Resources - TES - The Times Educational Supplement

Groeiende belangsteling in godsdiensstudies as vak In Engeland word toegeskryf aan die sg. "Da Vince Code effect".

Teachers this week reported a growing interest among children in religious education and philosophy on the back of publicity surrounding the film’s release.
The so-called “Da Vinci Code effect” has prompted the Roman Catholic church to issue guidance to its 2,500 schools in England and Wales to help teachers to answer questions sparked by the film.

It is the latest fillip for RE, which is the fastest-growing subject in the country. Last year, 16,859 students took A-level religious studies, and 141,037 pupils took a GCSE in the subject.

Canon Simon Bloxam-Rose, chaplain of Millfield, the private boarding school in Somerset, said: “To think that it is in any way undermining the Church is nonsense – we have nothing to fear from The Da Vinci Code.

Los dít wat Christus afgeskaf het

Prof Hennie Pieterse van UNISA se reaksie op Rant en Dal gemeente wat die bekeringsdoop begin bedien het, in 'n brief aan Beeld vandag.

Ek ondersteun die Wes-Transvaalse NG sinode van my kerk in hul afwysende standpunt teenoor die “bekeringsdoop”, “oordoop”, “belydenisdoop” of die doop van Johannes van mense wat die doop as kinders van gelowige ouers ontvang het.

Mense wat in ons Reformatoriese tradisie ’n bekeringservaring het, seker word van hul verlossing of in geloof hul Christelike opvoeding en -leer bevestig, gebruik die nagmaal – ’n gelyke sakrament waarin die Gees net so kragtig werk as in die doop. Mense wat die behoefte het, kan getuienis lewer in die erediens en dan die nagmaal gebruik.

Mary Magdalene - Women

Wie was Maria Magdalena? As jy nie ons gemeente se Da Vinci Code inligtingsaande bygewoon het nie (of selfs as jy het), mag hierdie artikel vir jou insiggewend wees.

Was she the wife of Jesus, the mother of his children, or the Holy Grail, as The Da Vinci Code claims? Or the repentant prostitute of Jesus Christ Superstar, throwing herself at the Master's feet and singing, "I Don't Know How to Love Him"?

According to Scripture, Mary Magdalene was none of the above. And more than the above.

We find her story in all four gospels, where she's mentioned by name 14 times—significant, since many women of the Bible are nameless.

Tutu laments impact of Zuma rape trial

Desmond Tutu se mening en kommentaar oor die Zuma-sage.

London - Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has described former deputy president Jacob Zuma's rape trial as "one of the worst moments in the life of our young democracy".

He made the comment at Henley Management College at the weekend, where he launched a scholarship programme aimed at developing ethical management in both the public and private sectors.

"It's been a very distressing time for all of us," said Tutu. "I've been saddened by the reinforcement of the stereotype that when a woman accuses a man of rape, she is made out to be the guilty one, and that her sexual history is then brought up - whether true or not.

"It makes it very difficult for a woman to bring charges of rape as she'll nearly always end up being the accused."

He saw the conduct of the crowds of Zuma supporters outside court towards the complainant as "abominable".

"It is sad that we can use our freedoms in such a way that it stomps all over the dignity of the accused," said Tutu.

Ryk Dan Brown rig skade aan

'n Brief in vanoggend se Beeld wat die debat oor The Da Vinci Code voortsit.

Die mensdom se naïwiteit en onkunde speel natuurlik reg in sy hand, want niemand wat dit nou afmaak as “sommer niks” kan tog blind wees daarvoor dat hy miljoene laat twyfel of laat speel met ’n gedagte wat baie gevaarlik is nie.

‘Da Vinci’ ondergrawe Christene se geloof, maak van Brown ’n ketter

Is Dan Brown 'n ketter en behoort hy gestenig te word?

Ek meen The Da Vinci code is ’n ondergrawing van die fondasies van ons Christelike geloof. Genoeg om Dan Brown tot ketter te verklaar waarvoor hy in die ou dae gestenig sou word.

Ons Christene kan nie net sit en kyk hoe wat ons in glo en wat vir ons kosbaar is, ondermyn word nie. Dit moet in die oopte gebring word sodat ons dit kan sien vir wat dit is; die duiwel se werk waarvoor ons nie ’n sent behoort te gee nie.

Poll: Nearly One-Third of Americans Believe Bible Word-for-Word | Christianpost.com- Christian News Online , Christian World News

Al hoe minder mense glo dat die Bybel letterlik waar is.

Although some recent surveys found that Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code has altered some people’s views of Christianity, a new Gallup poll reveals a long-standing decline in Americans who believe the Bible to be literally true.

According to the survey, about 3 out of 10 Americans continue to profess belief in a literal Bible today, which accounts a 10 percent drop over the past three decades. More than 1,000 adults were asked to describe their view about the Bible with 28 percent responding that the Bible is the "actual Word of God and is to be taken literally."

I may be Christian, but I'm not superstitious, GREGORY STEELMAN, Chichester - Letter - Concord Monitor Online - Concord, NH 03301

Nog 'n bydrae tot die debat rondom geloof en wetenskap.

I have seen several letters to the editor from people who claim to be rational and scientific in their thinking. They seem to equate anyone who does not swallow the theory of evolution with medicine men or superstitious magical thinkers.

Science is defined as the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation and theoretical explanation of phenomena.

If I understand evolutionary theory correctly, it is in brief a selection of the fittest species through random variation over time. Consider that given enough monkeys, enough typewriters and enough time one could eventually find the complete works of Shakespeare in what was randomly hammered out. Imagining this scenario one would expect to wade through incredible volumes of paper not Shakespeare to get to the jewel produced by random chance.

FINDING MY RELIGION / Tau Malachi, a Sophian Gnostic bishop, talks about Gnosticism and 'The Da Vinci Code'

Interessante inligting oor die moderne Gnostisisme.

No matter what you think about the book or the movie -- love it, hate it or totally sick of hearing about it -- "The Da Vinci Code" has sparked a debate about the nature of faith and the foundations of Christianity. It's also turned a spotlight on some lesser-known religious traditions that have been operating quietly for centuries.

Among the religious groups brought blinking into the "Code"-inspired publicity glare are Gnostic Christians. The word Gnostic, from the Greek word for knowledge, expresses the central tenet of this faith -- Gnostics believe Jesus' mission was to teach people that the divine lives within each of us, and that salvation can be achieved through spiritual knowledge rather than faith and good works. Only through truly knowing God can humans transcend the sins and flaws of this world.

Ray Hanania Online Column: DaVinci Code Is Less Code and Much More Thought

Nog 'n perspektief op die Da Vinci Code ...

Recently, I read a book on the Gospel of Judas, which offers the story of Jesus from the eyes of Judas, who Christianity has blamed for betraying Jesus to the Roman Soldiers, leading up to his arrest and crucifixion. Well, according to this Gospel, which the Church has known about for centuries, Judas claimed that he was asked by Jesus to turn him in to set up the betrayal and strengthen his story.

Whoa!

That’s radical. But who knows? Maybe it is true.

Why are we so afraid to embrace something that offends us even if it may be true?

We should always seek the truth. Watching the movie “The DaVinci Code” doesn’t undermine our beliefs in Jesus, but it does force us to debate issues based on truth.

Critics be damned: Fans flock to Da Vinci Code : Mail & Guardian Online

Ten spyte van swak resensies vaar die rolprent The Da Vinci Code uitstekend by die lokket.

The Da Vinci Code scored $224-million worldwide and topped the North American box office in its weekend debut as the controversial film overcame bad reviews and calls for boycotts, early figures showed on Sunday.

The film, highly anticipated by fans of Dan Brown's best-selling novel and vigorously criticised by religious groups, raked in $77-million dollars in North America, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Around the world, director Ron Howard's $125-million thriller, starring Tom Hanks, raked in an estimated $224-million, Exhibitor Relations said.

Godsdiens-aktueel: Sendingwerk se pendulum swaai

Dr Isak Burger van die AGS se artikel in vanoggend se Beeld.

Enkele weke gelede het ek die een-maal-in-’n leeftyd ervaring gehad om die Azusastraat-konferensie in Los Angeles by te woon. Hierdie konferensie het die 100-jarige bestaan van die moderne Pinksterbeweging gevier.

Benewens die 32 000 afgevaardigdes wat geregistreer was, (hoofsaaklik kerkleiers uit 114 lande van die wêreld) en die wonderlike geestelike belewenisse, het ’n mens diep onder die indruk gekom van die fenomenale dinge wat besig is om op Christelik-kerklike terrein regoor die wêreld te gebeur. Jy voel eintlik verleë as jy die godsdienstige kwessies en onderwerpe sien waaroor daar in Suid-Afrika hare gekloof en energie verspil word.

Gaan kyk ‘Da Vinci’ en dink self

Johann Wentzel van Roodepoort meen die Christelike geloof is 'n histories manipulerende godsdiens.

So, ná die verskyning van die boek en nou van die fliek met die naam The Da Vinci code is die boodskap van die Bybel al weer baie omstrede. Miskien is dit tyd dat Jesus Christus opstaan en vir Homself baklei!

Of miskien is dit tyd dat ons die feite onder oë neem en godsdiens, enige godsdiens, sien vir wat dit regtig is – ’n manier om die samelewing te orden.

Wat maak dit saak of Jesus getroud was of nie? Of hy kinders gehad het of nie?

Natuurlik is dit erg om te besef dat dit eintlik nie regtig saak maak nie.

Nee wat, dink eerder aan die potensiaal van ’n mensdom wat nie beperk word deur ’n histories manipulerende godsdiens nie. Gaan kyk die fliek en begin self ’n bietjie dink.


Johann Wentzel,
Roodepoort

Church leaders to meet Mugabe over deteriorating economy, brought to you by African News Dimension

Kerkleiers in Zimbabwe gaan kyk of hulle nie iets kan doen om Robert Mugabe tot ander insigte te bring nie.

Prominent Zimbabwean church leaders are expected to meet President Robert Mugabe this week to discuss Zimbabwe’s deteriorating political and economic situation.


This comes as pressure mounts at home and abroad for President Mugabe to quit. The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and the ALL African Council of churches representatives are due to meet Mugabe on Africa Day, 25 May. The ZCC has of late criticised government policies which have seen inflation surging to 1042% last week, the worst in the world.

The meeting has the blessing of the World Council of Churches, which is reportedly deeply concerned about the plight of ordinary Zimbabweans.

Sources said ZCC president Bishop Peter Nemapare, his deputy Bishop Sebastian Bakare and secretary-general Densen Mafinyane, as well as AACC secretary-general Bishop Mvume Dandala and colleagues, would meet Mugabe in a bid to find a solution to Zimbabwe’s simmering seven-year crisis.

Nemapare confirmed the meeting but refused to give details

Splintered reality : Mail & Guardian Online

'n Vorige predikant van Lyttelton-Oos bied die volgende perspektief op die wetenskap vs geloof debat:

My own belief is that religion is itself a product of evolution. It evolved to provide a niche for intelligent beings who probe the sense and meaning of experience in order to achieve a deep level of understanding, and who embed their questions and their answers in literature and in history in order to accommodate the emotional and the experiential dimensions of their search.

Willem Nicol se geloofsreis

Beeld se Neels Jackson het met Willem Nicol, baanbreker predikante van die NG kerk gaan gesels.

‘Willem Nicol,” sê iemand onlangs, “is die kerk gewoonlik 10 jaar vooruit om dinge raak te sien.”

Daar steek waarheid in dié opmerking. Toe die Bybelwetenskappe se kritiese insigte nog net hier en daar in die NG Kerk begin uitslaan het, was Nicol een van die teoloë wat dit verstaan het. En terwyl die NG Kerk se leierskorps nog bankvas agter die destydse regeringsbeleid van apartheid gestaan het, was Nicol een van die kritiese stemme in die kerk daarteen.

Nou is hy op die voorpunt daarvan om ’n kontemplatiewe spiritualiteit aan die NG Kerk bekend te stel. Só belangrik is dit vir hom dat hy nou, ná 33 jaar as studenteleraar, vier jaar vroeg aftree sodat hy hom behoorlik hierop kan toespits.

Kerke moet regering help in misdaadstryd

'n Brief van Ds Ian Jonker van die NG gemeente Parys-Oos:

Die kerke moet saam met die regering geweld met alle mag beveg om ’n demokrasie te vestig waarin wetsgehoorsame burgers vry en regverdig kan woon.

Ons land het baie potensiaal en ons het ’n wil om Suid-Afrika vir al sy mense te laat werk.

As Christengemeenskap moet ons die regering in sy inisiatiewe help vanuit ’n praktiese en geestelike oogpunt.

Fans out in force for Da Vinci premiere : Mail & Guardian Online

Die rolprent, The Da Vincie Code, begin vandag draai. Hoe is die ontvangs? Hierdie artikel gee 'n aanduiding:

Amid an unprecedented amount of hype and hoopla for an opening movie at the Cannes film festival, it took the inimitable Ian McKellen to knock Dan Brown and his swollen bestseller down to size with a single word -- "codswallop".

McKellen, who plays the Earl Grey-loving grail expert Sir Leigh Teabing in The Da Vinci Code, said before the film's world premiere on Wednesday: "While I was reading the book I believed it entirely. Clever Dan Brown twisted my mind convincingly.

"But when I put it down I thought, 'What a load of ... [eloquent pause] potential codswallop."

Wondered Into Someone's Heart Lately? - Outreach & Evangelism

Hoe doen 'n mens eintlik evangeliasies. Sien hierdie artikel van Christianity Today se Outreach&Evangelism:

Many evangelistic efforts often close hearts rather than open them. How can you lovingly help someone wonder her way to Christ?

In April 2003, National Public Radio aired a news story about a standoff between an angry mob of Iraqi Shiites and a heavily armored patrol from the American 101st Airborne Division. Fearing that the soldiers were about to desecrate their holy shrine, hundreds of unarmed civilians pressed in toward the soldiers, waving their hands and shouting defiantly. Although the patrol's intentions were peaceful, the standoff would most likely have ended in tragedy—had it not been for the quick thinking of U.S. Lt. Col. Christopher Hughes.

The commanding officer that day, Hughes picked up a loudspeaker and barked three simple commands to his group. First, he told them to take a knee; second, to point their weapons toward the ground; and finally, to look up and give everyone in the hostile crowd a friendly smile. Within moments of obeying his orders, NPR reported, the troops saw the crowd's demeanor transform. Hostility and defiance melted away, as smiles and friendly pats on the back replaced shaking fists and screaming voices.

Though not immediately apparent, this hopeful story from the war in Iraq holds important implications for Christian outreach in a world that's becoming increasingly hostile to traditional evangelistic methods. As author Ravi Zacharias says of today's evangelism, "We must learn to find the back door to people's hearts because the front door is heavily guarded."

Much like the Shiites Lt. Col. Hughes dealt with, many people we hope to reach with the Gospel react defensively. They anticipate, and are amply prepared for, any direct attack on the holy places and sacred shrines of their hearts. Our message rarely gets through because they hear, "My worldview is better than yours, so let me tell you why I'm right and you're wrong." Instead of opening hearts to Christ, we merely perpetuate the "us vs. them" standoff.

So, how do we keep from becoming embroiled in these no-win, never-ending evangelistic quagmires?

‘Da Vinci code’-fliek ‘vervelig

Die eerste indrukke vir die rolprent 'The Da Vinci Code' is blykbaar nie baie positief nie.

Londen. – Die rolprent The Da Vinci code is geen meesterstuk nie en as riller het dit dringend mediese hulp nodig, sê dié wat dit al gesien het.

The Da Vinci code begin môre in Suid-Afrika draai, maar resensente en kerkleiers wat die rolprent Dinsdagaand in Londen gesien het, sê Suid-Afrikaners moenie te veel verwag nie.

The Times se resensent gee die prent drie uit ’n moontlike vyf sterre en sê die “storie is só vergesog dat dit trane van blydskap bring”.

“Any thriller that can throw up the line, ‘I have to get to a library fast’, is in dire need of medical attention,” skryf hy.

On the trail of the Holy Grail : Mail & Guardian Online

Die "heilige graal". Almal praat daaroor, maar wat is dit?

In The Da Vinci Code, the Holy Grail is neither an object nor an objective. It symbolises an earthshaking secret: Mary Magdalene bore a child with Jesus.

The mega-selling book -- the film version of which opens next week -- is fiction. But, as far as Grail legends go, it's in good company. The only undeniable truth about the Grail is that there's no shortage of tales about it.

Since the Holy Grail became part of the popular Christian imagination in the Middle Ages, it's taken an array of forms. The most enduring Grail image is as a vessel -- perhaps a chalice -- held by Christ at the Last Supper and later used to catch his blood during his final hours.

Beeld, Dinsdag 9 Mei 2006, p. 03: NG gemeente sê ja vir volwassenes se doop

"'n NG gemeente in Krugersdorp het besluit om lidmate wat as volwassenes tot bekering kom, te doop as hulle dit vra.

Die Rant en Dal-gemeenskapskerk sê dat hulle nie daarmee die verbondsdoop van kinders van gelowige ouers verwerp nie. Lidmate wat om 'n volwasse doop vra, is ernstig met hul geloofsverhouding met die Here en die kerk wil aan hul geestelike behoeftes voldoen.

In die gereformeerde tradisie word daar tradisioneel nie ruimte gelaat vir 'n tweede doop nie, maar prof. Adrio König, sistematiese teoloog, het 'n paar jaar gelede die moontlikheid geopper dat daar naas die verbondsdoop van kinders, ook ruimte kan wees vir 'n bekeringsdoop soos wat Johannes die Doper bedien het."

"Da Vinci" hunger strike planned

In Indië doen hulle dit anders ...

Mumbai - A Catholic group on Tuesday called on Christians to starve themselves to death to protest the release of The Da Vinci Code at cinemas in India.

The Catholic Secular Forum said it hoped thousands of people would attend a protest on Wednesday in Mumbai to burn effigies of Dan Brown, the author of the best-selling novel.

Hierdie naweek by Lyttelton-Oos

09:00 en 10:30 Tema: Die huisgesin van God vergewe mekaar.

Dit is die eerste in 'n reeks van vyf wat handel oor ons verhouding met mekaar. Ons kyk hierdie Sondag na die basis van ons verhouding met mekaar, naamlik onvoorwaardelike aanvaarding van mekaar. Dit beteken dat ons geduld met mekaar sal beoefen, sag met mekaar sal werk en vir mekaar ruimte sal maak. Niemand van ons is perfek nie - ons is immers 'n gemeenskap van sondaars!

19:00 Mosaïek-diens: Ds Freddie Schoeman. Tema: Inligting oor die Da Vinci Code

Die boek van Dan Brown - en nou ook die fliek - gee vir ons geleentheid om nie net ons eie geloof te versterk nie maar ook om met ongelowiges in gesprek te tree oor onderwerpe wat op almal se lippe is. By hierdie geleentheid gaan ons kyk na die bewering dat Jesus getroud was en die voorvader was van die Franse koningshuis!

Sondag 14 Mei by Lyttelton-Oos

09:00 en 10:30 Tema: Die huisgesin van God vergewe mekaar.

Dit is die eerste in 'n reeks van vyf wat handel oor ons verhouding met mekaar. Ons kyk hierdie Sondag na die basis van ons verhouding met mekaar, naamlik onvoorwaardelike aanvaarding van mekaar. Dit beteken dat ons geduld met mekaar sal beoefen, sag met mekaar sal werk en vir mekaar ruimte sal maak. Niemand van ons is perfek nie - ons is immers 'n gemeenskap van sondaars!

19:00 Mosaïek-diens: Ds Freddie Schoeman. Tema: Inligting oor die Da Vinci Code

Die boek van Dan Brown - en nou ook die fliek - gee vir ons geleentheid om nie net ons eie geloof te versterk nie maar ook om met ongelowiges in gesprek te tree oor onderwerpe wat op almal se lippe is. By hierdie geleentheid gaan ons kyk na die bewering dat Jesus getroud was en die voorvader was van die Franse koningshuis!

Gemeenteprogram

Klik op "Gemeenteprogram" hierbo of hier om die program van Lyttelton-Oos se aktiwiteite te besigtig.

Om die kalender te sien is dit nodig om in 'n Google-profiel vir jouself te skep. Dit is vinnig, maklik en kosteloos - en jy word ook nie gepla met allerhande ongevraagde e-posse daarna nie. Wanneer jy op die skakel klik sal jy na 'n bladsy geneem word waar jy jou profiel kan skep. Klik op "Create an account" in vul die enkele gegewens in.

Most Americans believe Bible over 'Da Vinci,' poll shows - (BP)

Die Amerikaners hou van meningsopnames - hier is een oor hoeveel mense werklik die die Da Vinci Code as waar aanvaar.

Novel faiths - The Christian Century

Die skrywer van hierdie artikel vergelyk die Gnostiese boeke - soos die Judas Evangelie e.a. (en daarmee saam die boek van Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code) - met Tim LaHaye en Jerry Jenkins se "Left Behind" reeks met mekaar en vind verrassende ooreenkomste.

At first glance, it might seem that The Da Vinci Code and the Left Behind series occupy opposite poles of the cultural spectrum. The former's effort to reaffirm the "sacred feminine" with the claim that Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife is the sort of reworking of tradition that presumably appeals to far-out liberals. The latter's unfolding of the apocalypse according to a dispensationalist eschatology presumably appeals to far-right biblical fundamentalists who scour the news for signs that the rapture is coming.

Yet these two publishing phenomena share more than success in the marketplace. As Rodney Clapp suggests (see p. 22), both trade on a fundamentally gnostic premise: that most of the church has been duped and that the real Christian belief is a secret that will now be divulged to the privileged reader.

Gister se Godslaster deur vandag se oë

Christo Lombaard evalueer opnuut die rockopera Jesus Christ Superstar.

Die destydse bohaai oor Jesus Christ Superstar klink vandag vreemd. Nou, met die opvoering in Gauteng, wat oor drie weke Kaap toe verskuif, doen dié rockopera amper evangelies aan in die rep en roer in ons tyd van Nuwe Hervormings, Judas-omvormings en Da Vinci-kodes.

Gnostiese tekste en Christendom

Pieter Craffert, Nuwe Testamentikus by UNISA, se rubriek in vanoggend se beeld.

Boesak kry prys vir beste Christen-boek

Berig oor Allan Boesak se woorde met die ontvangs van die Andrew Murray prys.

We love a conspiracy - Daily Record - MorrisLife

Hierdie artikel ondersoek reaksies op en metodes om die inligting in die boek en komende rolprente The Da Vinci Code te hanteer.

While it may seem strange for a clergyman to embrace Dan Brown's church-challenging plot, Hinds accepts the book for what it is.

"Clearly it's a work of fiction," he said. "(Brown) is taking some basic facts and going off and running with them. The author is creative, and it is an engaging book to read and provided a good starting point for discussions."

The Rev. Dennis Crowley, associate pastor of Assumption Church in Morristown, could attest to that.

"It was a little fanciful thinking, but that's fine," he said in an interview in March. Crowley found Brown's book "fascinating but not threatening."

His church in early March presented an actress's monologue, "Magdalene," a memoir of the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus as seen through the eyes of Mary Magdalene.

An ecclesiastical meltdown- Los Angeles Times

Het die kerk nie dalk oorreageer met die bekendstelling van die Judasevangelie en die bewerings wat in die boeke The Da Vinci Code gemaak word nie? Hier die artikel in die Los Angeles Times bied 'n interessante perspektief.

If I were the pope, my response to "The Da Vinci Code" would have been regal silence — or at most, a release from the Vatican press office along the lines of "we are not amused." As for the Gospel of Judas, I would have issued a bland analysis proclaiming that the early church was right to have rejected Gnosticism as heresy. And then I would have offered a prayer of thanks, as thousands of editors throughout the world deleted my press release from their e-mail, saying "no news here."

Instead, the Vatican went ballistic during Holy Week, the most sacred period on the Christian calendar. And the archbishop of Canterbury — whose Church of England has often been at odds with the Vatican since Henry VIII broke from Rome to marry Anne Boleyn — sounded more Catholic than the pope by denouncing the public "obsession" with conspiracy theories. On Holy Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI described Judas as nothing more than a greed-driven "liar and a double-crosser who breaks with the truth." Only last week, the Vatican called on Catholics to boycott the film as blasphemous.

Da Vinci Code geleentheid om te onderrig

Nog nooit het so baie mense belang gestel in wat by die Konsilie van Nicea gebeur het nie! En nog nooit het so baie mense belang gestel in die eerste eeue van die kerk se geskiedenis nie. En dit is alles Dan Brown se skuld ... !

The public's unquenchable thirst for juicy alternatives to the "greatest story ever told" prompts the question: Why are so many people getting their church history from pulp fiction? The answer might be that even Christians -- Roman Catholics, mainline Protestants and evangelicals -- haven't learned it anywhere else.

"I think the book does fill a void; this is a story, and the churches have gotten away from storytelling," said David Turk, a provost and vice president for academic affairs at the evangelical Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, N.Y. "People have a real need to know ... what was Jesus' life like? We want to know, and the book raises questions that strike home. Churches can't run from it."

Daars maniere en daars maniere ...

Hoe moet ons die stryd teen die bose aanpak? Sommige mense het snaakse idees ...

Leeff Jesus-tradisie uit

'n Brief wat in Woensdag se Die Burger verskyn het.

Skynbaar is daar ’n beduidende groep mense onder ons wat nog nie die gees of strekking van die evangelies besef nie. Hier wil ek sommer ’n paar ander debatte wat tans gevoer word aanraak - dis nou behalwe die Liewe Heksie- en die Da Vinci-sindroom waarna Walters verwys. Ek vermoed dat Jesus en sy volgelinge nie waardevolle tyd sou vermors het om heeltyd vir almal te probeer verduidelik hoe sondig hulle eintlik is of hoe ver ons van hulle of hulle van ons moet wegbly nie.

Inteendeel, ek vermoed dat Jesus in liefde met hierdie mense (lees die Polisiekarre, gays, ensovoorts) gemeenskap sou gevoer het en deur sy voorbeeld die Christelike standpunte en filosofieë in hul teenwoordigheid met liefde sou uitgeleef het. Altyd die eerste om te vergewe of om versoening te bewerkstellig.

Miskien tas ek mis, maar dit lyk of God ’n God van liefde en verdraagsaamheid is, eerder as een wat alles en almal wil veroordeel of verstoot - om nie eens te praat van demoniseer nie. Dis daarom dat Hy gewoonlik tussen sondaars, minderbevoorregtes en almal wat deur die gemeenskap verwerp is, aangetref word.

Film explores Da Vinci craze

Die populariteit van Dan Brown se boek The Da Vinci Code dui op 'n wydversrpeide ontevredenheid met georganiseerde godsdiens. Dit is die perspektief van 'n nuwe dokumentere rolprent oor die boek.

Toronto - A new documentary film screened this week in Toronto about author Dan Brown's hugely popular The Da Vinci Code reveals a widespread dissatisfaction with organised religion, the director told AFP.

"This was a spiritual road trip, a search for meaning," said Emmy award-winning veteran director Jonathan Stack at the packed screening of his film Secrets of the Code at Toronto's Hot Docs film festival.

Many documentaries have been made about the book, he said, but their aim was to debunk it.

"We were not trying to prove Dan Brown wrong or right, but to understand the root causes of the phenomenon," he said on Monday night.

Godsdiens-aktueel: Kerk het haar in dié 'mall' gevestig

Elsje Buchner se rubriek in Maandag se Beeld.

In die ooste van Pretoria staan meer as 15 groot kerke. Elkeen van dié gemeentes het duisende lidmate, goeie geriewe en lewendige bedieninge. Die meeste kan jou vertel dat hulle groei en dat hul geriewe onder druk is. Bouwerk is op meer as een gemeente se agenda. Duisende mense vestig hulle in dié deel van die stad en waar daar voorheen nog grasveld was, staan daar môre huise.

Dit is regtig 'n voorreg om deel te kan wees van 'n groot en groeiende gemeente. Nie dat ons al die antwoorde het nie, want die malls is Sondae vol mense - mense wat verkies om nie kerk toe te gaan nie.

Meer as een stem gaan op dat kerke nie noodwendig groter geboue moet bou nie, maar 'n alternatiewe gemeente in 'n mall moet vestig.

Welcome to The Barna Group!

Hoeveel invloed het die Harry Potter-stories op tieners? Hier is interessante navorsingsresultate van die Amerikaanse Barna-groep.

Harry Potter has experienced broad popularity because his appeal cuts across demographic and religious lines. The vast majority of teens – regardless of gender, ethnicity, faith, or other characteristics – has been personally exposed to the story. For instance, even a large majority of teenagers from groups that have objected most stridently to the stories of wizards and witchcraft have indulged in this fantasy world. Three-quarters of all church-going teens (77%) and born again Christian teenagers (78%) have seen or read Potter.

Despite widespread exposure to the Potter story, few teens – just 4% – say they have experienced any teaching or discussions in a church about the spiritual themes embedded in the wizard-in-training legend. Among born again teens, a minority (13%) recalls ever receiving any input from their church on the subject or spiritual themes of Harry Potter.

Die Anglikaanse Kerk se anti-The Da Vinci Code velgtog

Die Anglikaanse Kerk gaan baie moeite doen en baie geld spandeer om die huidige belangstelling in die christelike geloof as gevolg van die rolprent en boek The Da Vinci Code so goed as moontlik te benut.

"THE Anglican Church will spend $50,000 in a cinema advertising blitz to debunk claims made in The Da Vinci Code, the blockbuster book-turned-film which hits Australian screens next month.

The Catholic Church is also moving to combat the extraordinary claims made in the historic thriller.

In an unusual move by a major church, the Anglican Church-funded cinema ad campaign will bombard moviegoers with advertisements questioning the book's central claims, including that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene had children.

Based on Dan Brown's bestseller, the movie, which stars Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou, is set to be one of the year's major blockbusters.

Anglican Media Sydney will run 20-second ads on 250 screens in 15 multiplexes in Sydney, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

The ads, which promote a new website created by the organisation - http://www.challengingdavinci.com - will start on May 11, a week before the release of the film, and will run for four weeks.

The money has come from funds set aside by the Sydney Anglican Diocese's synod last year to be used in promoting the gospel in popular media.

Bishop Robert Forsyth, chairman of Anglican Media Sydney, said the church had seized the opportunity to capitalise on the interest the film is expecte"

Alles oor The Da Vinci Code hier

Christianity Today se volledige dekking van alles en nog wat oor die boek en gelyknamige roloprent, The Da Vinci Code.

Wat staan in die Judas-evangelie?

Sedert die inhoud van byna twee weke gelede bekend gemaak is, gons dit wêreldwyd oor die herontdekte Evangelie van Judas. Maar wat presies staan in dié evangelie? Johannes de Villiers het dit onder oë gehad.

VREESLIK baie is die laaste paar dae oor die Evangelie van Judas geskryf en gesê – oor of dit eg is, waar dit vandaan kom, wat die impak daarvan gaan wees.

Iets wat ’n mens egter nie lees nie, is wat presies daarin staan. Dit is wyd bekend dat Jesus in dié evangelie Judas vra om hom aan die owerhede uit te lewer om gekruisig te word, maar dit gebeur maar in die laaste paar paragrawe van die boek. Die res bestaan uit preke wat Jesus aan Judas en die ander dissipels gee oor veel meer esoteriese sake.

Onderhoud met Prof Johann Cook, kenner van die antieke

Prof Johann Cook bied in hierdie onderhoud wat met hom gevoer is baie interessante perspektiewe op die Judas "evanglie" en op die rol van die Griekse vertaling van die Ou Testament, die Septuagint.

“Die Septuagint, wat uit die tweede eeu v.C. dateer, word nie ernstig genoeg geneem in die Gereformeerde tradisie nie.”

Die Afrikaanse Bybel, verduidelik hy, is op die Kodeks Leningradensis (1008 n.C.) gegrond. “Die Septuagint gee egter vir ons ’n perspektief op die diversiteit wat geheers het in die vroeë Christendom en dit bied insig in hoe gelowige Jode in die tweede eeu voor Christus godsdienstige en kulturele bedreigings gehanteer en ervaar het. In my navorsing toon ek aan ’n boek soos Spreuke is effektief ’n Joodse geskrif deur iemand met ’n goeie opvoeding in die Judaïsme en die Griekse lettere en filosofie.”

Kreatiewiteit nodig vir nuwe uitdagings

Elsje Buchner se rubriek in vanoggend se Beeld.