| Christian Foes of 'Da Vinci Code' | | | | and religious leaders alike, |
| | | | |
| Debate How to Fight It: | | | | remember that you'll get more of what you |
| | | | put your |
| Leaders of many denominations agree that the | | | | |
| novel the | | | | attention, energy and focus toward. Would |
| | | | you rather |
| movie is based on attacks the pillars of | | | | |
| Christianity, | | | | have more of a teaching moment or a |
| | | | boycott?How instead, could the religious |
| but some are planning a boycott while others | | | | leaders have received |
| see a | | | | |
| | | | the film in a way that encourages the |
| "teaching moment." --New York Times, May | | | | similarities |
| 11th, 2006This headline from writer Laurie | | | | |
| Goodstein caught our | | | | between the two messages? How instead could |
| | | | they relay |
| attention, just as this novel turned | | | | |
| big-budget movie | | | | gratitude that The Da Vinci Code is helping |
| | | | more people |
| has everyone's attention. And different | | | | |
| denominations | | | | inquire deeper into their own lives about |
| | | | the pillars |
| of the Christian church have chosen to | | | | |
| respond to that | | | | of Christianity? How instead could we all |
| | | | see this as |
| attention with criticism instead of a | | | | |
| reinforcing of | | | | a teaching moment?Consider the following:In |
| | | | what ways could the energy that would be |
| the harmonious aspects of The Da Vinci | | | | spent |
| Code's message.Surely when a person or an | | | | |
| institution feels attacked | | | | boycotting be used to foster or indulge in |
| | | | more |
| it may be natural to choose defensiveness | | | | |
| over the | | | | teaching moments?Why spend effort avoiding |
| | | | what doesn't work for you? |
| opportunity to learn. But that's where | | | | |
| hidden value is | | | | What might happen if you focus on what does |
| | | | work for |
| going to waste. Instead of this default | | | | |
| habit, being | | | | you instead?What do you and those around you |
| | | | take as fact or truth |
| open and putting energy into proactive | | | | |
| efforts may | | | | that, if you looked at it differently, might |
| | | | benefit |
| yield better results. The headline states | | | | |
| that some | | | | you more?What is so sacred in your own life |
| | | | that you're not |
| religious groups will spend their energy | | | | |
| boycotting | | | | willing to look at it with freshness? What |
| | | | assumptions |
| what others see as a teaching moment. Which | | | | |
| is more | | | | are you making that it may be time to |
| | | | challenge?Where are your emotions or |
| empowering?What happens when we assume the | | | | judgments keeping you closed |
| pillars of a tradition | | | | |
| | | | to the lessons that are already happening |
| or school of thought can't be looked at from | | | | around you?Take a moment to write down 10 |
| a new | | | | places in your life |
| | | | |
| angle? What happens when something is so | | | | where you criticize yourself, others or |
| sacred that it | | | | almost |
| | | | |
| discourages being reassessed with fresh | | | | taken-for-granted schools of thought or |
| eyes? When | | | | belief systems. |
| | | | |
| something - be it a fern or a person's | | | | Then write down how holding these thoughts |
| creative license | | | | and opinions |
| | | | |
| - stops being open to growing and changing, | | | | is benefiting you, and how you might further |
| it dies.What was Dan Brown's point in writing | | | | benefit |
| The Da Vinci | | | | |
| | | | from letting them go. Take some time to |
| Code? Did he and the director intend to | | | | talk with your |
| incite | | | | |
| | | | coach or a friend about where your reaction |
| controversy, or were they just hoping to | | | | to someone |
| light up the | | | | |
| | | | else's choice is keeping you from moving |
| audience's reverence for art, religion and a | | | | through to |
| thrilling | | | | |
| | | | your own choices. And send us an email so |
| hunt for clues?If it was created simply to | | | | we can |
| entertain, even with a | | | | |
| | | | support you in this process; looking at |
| little spice of controversy to keep us | | | | sacred areas of |
| engaged, it | | | | |
| | | | your life is courageous, and we applaud |
| succeeded. It's a best-seller, a hit film | | | | you!(You may reprint this article in full |
| and you're | | | | provided you |
| | | | |
| even reading an article about an article | | | | include the writers' names, contact |
| about the | | | | information and |
| | | | |
| reactions to it right now.If it was created | | | | brief bio. Thank you.)Kris Carey & Michael |
| to promote beliefs that are contrary | | | | Vavricek, |
| | | | |
| to the dominant religious ideals, you could | | | | are Life Coaches who help |
| say that | | | | |
| | | | you get clear about what you want and get |
| has been successful, too. Otherwise, why | | | | you busy |
| would we all | | | | |
| | | | gettin' it. |
| be talking about it?So for audience members | | | | |