Barna report:The Da Vinci Code second only to the Bible
A nationwide survey released May 16, 2006 by The Barna Group finds that:
The Da Vinci Code, has sold more copies than any other fictional work in U.S. history.
[it is] the most widely read book with a spiritual theme, other than the Bible, to have penetrated American homes.
Among the 45 million who have read The Da Vinci Code , only 5% – which represents about two million adults ? said that they changed any of the beliefs or religious perspectives because of the book?s content.
The Barna report went on to say, ?The book generates controversy and discussions, but it has not revolutionized the way that Americans think about Jesus, the Church or the Bible.?
?On the other hand,? the researcher continued, ?any book that alters one or more theological views among two million people is not to be dismissed lightly. That?s more people than will change any of their beliefs as a result of exposure to the teaching offered at all of the nation?s Christian churches combined during a typical week.?
In some ways this isn?t really a fair comparison in that Barna is not comparing one week of The Da Vinci Code with one week of attending church, however it is surprising to think that a single book could have that kind of impact. Earlier in the report Barna states that:
?Before reading The Da Vinci Code people had a full complement of beliefs already in place, some firmly held and others loosely held,? explained George Barna, the author of numerous books about faith and culture. ?Upon reading the book, many people encountered information that confirmed what they already believed. Many readers found information that served to connect some of their beliefs in new ways. But few people changed their pre-existing beliefs because of what they read in the novel. And even fewer people approached the book with a truly open mind regarding the controversial matters in question, and emerged with a new theological perspective.
So it seems that for the most part people reading the book had a theology in place before they read the book and still 2 million of them changed their philosophy after reading it. Influential book.
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I have not read the book, and have no desire to do so. Nor, am I avoiding it. I like fiction, but prefer murder mysteries.I don not care for “real-life” stories, or books based partly upon a smattering of fact. I read my Bible daily, along with many other forms of worship, and really do not care if someone wants to claim Jesus was married and a father.I caught the author on a night talk show after his book became so popular. He was laughing and telling everyone he didn’t know why all the fuss. It’s only a book. And it is fiction. I suppose you can read what ever you want into any situation. I would guess that those 2MM people who allowed this book to change their perspectives or their beliefs probably had little of either prior to reading the book. BUT, there I go…judging, again!
G’day to you Folks,
and warm greetings.
After 32 years as a Christian, I found out one thing – I could make you believe anything your heart desires by taking verses out of context. I could make you believe that you need baptism and I could make you believe that you don’t need it. I could make you believe in Hell and I could make you believe that Hell doesn’t exist. I could make you believe in a rapture and I could make you believe that Christians will live through the so-called tribulation period. You ask me and I’m able to twist verses around to satisfy your itchy ears and make you believe in the fables I can conjure up. This is the reason why the Earth is full of Christian religions with different doctrines. Try reading the first three chapters of Revelation.
Even Satan believes in God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible. Satan knows the Bible both forward and backward, know it more than all the Christians put together, and he uses it to confuse people like he did with Adam and Eve, how he tried with Jesus in the desert and how he works his evil to every Christian.
So, how does God reveal himself to Christians without Satan interfering? You must have an unusally strong personal relationship with God where he will reveal things not shown in the Bible (but is still within the confines of the Word of God).
As for works, there are many verses in the Bible that it is not enough to just believe as in the end every person will be judged by what he or she does on Earth. Read Revelation Chapter 20. Yes, many, if not most, people believe that if they work hard, God will accept them. But they have it backwards. You must believe first then the works will begin showing up automatically.
Pray that you and yours peace of
mind, joy of spirit, good health and
many great friends to share them with,
Steve
Jackie-boy, Matthew 7:20-23 says “the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit produced. Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as ‘Lord, Lord,’ but still won’t get into heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven. At the Judgement many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out demons and to do many other great miracles. But I will reply, ‘You have never been mine. Go away, for your deeds are evil.’”
Sounds like some Christians won’t even make it to heaven according to this scripture.
I believe that Christ had a very important message to send while he was on earth. Most people forget his simple message… love your Creator and love those around you as much as you love yourself. That’s it, that’s all. It’s about LOVE.
Most people concentrate on Christ’s death and resurrection…. but forget what he actually said while on earth. It reminds me of that film, “the passion of the christ”… I’m not certain that Christ would’ve been passionate about that.
The Piscean Age is coming to a close. Get ready for the next Age, people! Can you guess what it is?
MJ, I find it curious that you would prefer a God who judges merely upon actions. One of the biggest excuses for people to reject Christianity is because “churches are full of hypocrites.” Actions alone are not enough to know where a person stands. They may be doing right, but faking it. Also, their motivation for the way they behave may be self-serving. In I Samuel 15:7 it says, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.”
More importantly, our eternal destiny is not decided by our actions. God does not have a scale to weigh our good deeds against our bad deeds. And that’s great news! Answer this question. If God is perfect, if Jesus is perfect, if Heaven is perfect, what would you have to be to get to Heaven and be in God’s presence? Perfect, right? Now I don’t know for sure, but I’ll bet you are just like me and are far from perfect. So what chance do we have? The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”- Romans 3:23. In Romans 6:23 it says, “The wages of sin is death (physical and spiritual). But the last part of that verse begins to show us God’s plan to save us from that death; “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You see MJ, Jesus didn’t die on the cross for His sins, he died to pay the price for your sins and mine. God’s perfect justice demands that there is a consequence for our sins, but God’s perfect love wants all of us to have an intimate relationship with Him forever (John 3:16). He made both possible by having Jesus sacrifice His life in substitution for ours (Romans 5:8).
God’s only criteria for judging our salvation is whether we have acknowledged that Christ died for our sins and have accepted the free gift of eternal life (Romans 10:9,13). The best verse I can think of to summarize is in Ephesians 2: 8,9, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.” MJ, I hope you find this helpful.
Steve, do you actually think God will send those 2 million to hell for changing their beliefs? Is that the kind of God you worship? Wow, count me out. If god is more concerned what people believe, than how they live their lives I’ll take my chances and go to hell and party with the Rolling Stones, dance with the witches and have a intelligent conversation with Dan Brown.
Satan, in his arsenal of God denying games, is happy when one person turns his back on God. He must be doing cartwheels upon the tips of the flames of Hell and crying out in hysterical joy with these two million.
You are so right Jan!! Sad but true…many people call themselves christians(and only God knows their hearts) and yet never read the Bible, never pick it up and study it, and have no idea what it actually says! The way that a bank teller learns how to recognize counterfeit money is to repeatedly feel the real thing. The same is true of our faith…in order to recognize the fallacy or fiction we must know the truth and it is only then that the truth can set us free!!
I am not surprised at all. I know personally very active Christians who never pick up their Bibles and read it but love to read fiction. Although I don’t fully endorse every interpretation in The Message bible by Petersen, it certaiinly makes picking up the Bible for a good read a lot more accessible to the average Joe or Jane. For thorough study I would stick to a more mainstream translation though.
An excellent thought, Deebee. So true! “Be still and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10) teaches us to meditate on His word, to hear His voice, to allow Him to speak to us. A solid foundation in the word of God would cause one to not be tossed to and fro in the wind. When times of disaster or stress come our way, we will then KNOW what to believe.
Wow!! That’s unbelievable that one book could have that kind of sales.And yes, if 2 million people have changed their philosophy after reading it, it is not only influential, but more than just a book as many people are saying. And yet I can’t but wonder if that many people actually picked up the Bible and read it cover to cover, how much more their lives would have been impacted and their philosophy of life changed! Now there’s a thought!