The Reiki Cafe 

I am reading the Da Vinci Code. Shall we set up a date to discuss it?

AIM

I enjoyed it and would be happy to discuss it at any time.

:l Kimberlee

I would love to talk about it. I found it one of the most powerful books I have read in a very long time.

Sunshiine

Otoharo!

Since you have brought up this topic, let us know when you are ready to begin. I would love to join in but I will have to refresh my memory.

finality

I read it quite awhile ago. I love that is bringing people into discussions about religion and spirituality. Love it
To funny how some feel the need to attack this book and defend their own interpretations of the bible. Protest to much???

Try Angels and Demons by Dan Brown next. Also great spirituality, ancient rituals.

Be

(Hi Brenda)
Hi everyone, I watched a documentary the other night on which Dan Brown spoke and he said the basic premise of the book was this....
"that prior to two thousand years ago, there were Gods and Goddesses, but for the last two thousand years there have only been Gods....."

Very simple but thought provoking huh? That is the theme in a nutshell! I guess he certainly got that message across, I came out of that book feeling even more empowered than ever, and with even greater belief in my own Divine feminine!
(and of the good that could be brought to the world by working with this belief and energy)
Cheers
Sunshiine

I read the book awhile ago too and liked it. Many people made remarks about the book when I took it with me places. This one nurse asked me to read some book called unlocking the Da Vinci code or something similar which I found was a confusing Biblical dispute against the book. I still do not understand why some would make such a big deal about it. It seems the Christian fundamentalist world seems to believe they have a corner of the market on anything related to Jesus and dislike anyone referring to God as having a feminine nature.
The book is fiction with some true facts although the only facts I've heard were not true was the size of the Mona Lisa as it is quite a bit larger and heavier than described in the book and the Effiel Tower 666 thing.
Dan Brown did get his information & ideas from a woman author whose books were good but did not reach the acclaim Browns books have gotten. It seems to be a remake of her books and the book Holy Blood Holy Grail that was popular a few years back that has gained popularity again. The womans name was Margaret Star something. She wrote the Woman with the Alabaster Jar I believe was the name and other books. I'm game for discussion.

Prosperity

there are a few inaccuracies in the book, but it is a work of fiction, so literary licence has been used.
Very little in the book was new to me, having read quite a few books on the subject, but on the whole I would recommend the book to anyone who has a passing interest in the history of the last 2500 years or so, especially when it comes to christanity/ religion etc .
I am up for a discussion on the book as well, infact I am lookin forward to it (LOL)

Namaste

Rob
Friendship with oneself is all-important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.
Eleanor Roosevelt

I won't read all of the posts until I have finished the book. I love Western iconographic art--you know religious icons and such. I was almost an art history major in college so I like the fact that someone is writing a novel about art that is not the "Thomas Crowne Affair" ya know?

I tried to write a column in the little newspaper in the dorm I lived in ( I-House) called "Art Dirt". It was supposed to be a "gossip column" but was too time involved. Even a "silly" little paper like that one...It was fictional, but was to read like a an actual column..perhpas I should start it again...:)

AIM

I just watched the dvd "Divinci Code decoded"..
It was awesome! I loved that I got a bit of a better experience about the reasoning behind Constantines handling of Christianity.. I see it was alot to do with there being so many Christian groups that couuld not agree on a doctrine, I think he may have had his round table group together ( bible origins- content) trying his best to lessen confusion of Christian concepts.
Also, some of my favorite stuff was about the lost texts of the Cathors, and Gnostics..
Someone found the manuscripts in the 40's and then they were brought to the public much later.. In the written texts there is mention of jealousy in the ranks of the Disciples of Jesus and Mary kissing him on the mouth.. whoooooooo .. :}

Anyway, was great to help me see more clearly something that has haunted me since reading the wonderful, inspiriing works of the Divinci Code..

Blessings,
Jahnavi

it is fantastic book. i had read alot previously that mary magdalene was the person left by jesus to lead the christians group. she i think may have also been his partner. it all makes sense to me, the mysogony of the catholic church perpetuated by peters hatred of her after jesus died. there was a documentary about this the other day clarifying waht i had heard and how they vilified her as a prostitute.
da vinci understood earth/mother and the god/goddess on everybody. more later..

Some of you all might enjoy reading Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Baigent, Leigh & Lincoln.

Just a note about the Mona Lisa painting - I have seen it - it IS small and displayed behind a glass case (or it was when I visited the louvre in 1981.

Huggles to all who will remember me

Eleanor

Hi, whether which topics are going to be discussed. I sense tensions in terms of view points and intrepretations on several topics....

Starjasmine

Otoharo!

Star, does it matter?

finality

Yes it was very good! In fact, it was the best facumentary/documentary I have seen since American Goth!

Am I the only one who did not like it? With all due respect, I found his writing style rather bland, I tried my best to finish but I couldn't. Another thing that concerned me was the extent to which Dan Brown was passing on Truth as opposed to half-truths.Somebody told me that Brown mentions the book The Templar Revelation somewhere in the text. I have read both that book and another book called Mary Magdalene by Lynn Picknett. She claims that the real Messiah was John the Baptist and not Jesus. Not only that but she makes Jesus out to be some charlatan(magician). Well, what is the evidence for that?

Blessings,
Whatever

philanty,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- how could I forget you???

>:-}}

- as for the book? Overall, a good quick read but the ending was just as I expected - the disappointing thing was that at the end, the young woman character who had been so important in the "feminine mysteries" theme of the story, was left out of being at the finding of the resting place of the "prize" - and that it was a male who got that "honor" - sort of an irony referring back to the patriarchal nature of the catholic church - and how women are systematically excluded from the "mysteries"

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Namaste all!

I just finished reading the book. It is a book of fiction, but learned quite a bit about the history of Christianity. I am new to this subject, but I take the "facts" with a grain of salt. In the literary sense, I was disappointed with the book midway because it got a little too predictable like a thriller movie. The idea of feminine powers and goddesses is still very strong in eastern religions and I am surprised that it was suppressed in the west.

Mal

Hey Mal,
I myself was quite angry for about a month after reading the book. Though I recognized that lots of it was embellished for the purpose of entertainment, when I thought about how many had died because Constantine decided on a religion and then persectuted and tortured thousands who didn't adhere to it appals me.

I just read something interesting abou this by the way..
Why wasn't reincarnation included in the bible??

Consantine's wife was actually an oportunist power grabber like Constantine. To recognize Karma and reincarnation both would have led to her having other lifetimes where she was responsible for her actions and this she wouldn't admit.
Also, Constantine alluded to the fact that he was a God- oh crap how did it go now? lol
Anyway, to avoid the repercussions of karma he also decided the high road was to not admit to any past issues influencing another lifetime..
Wowie stuff.
Now I know that the book Divincie Code is not fact but to even make public some of these truths is very powerful.
I have a horrible feeling that its possible were not done with persecuting those who don't believe as we do.

Look at the religious fervor that seems to be gaining foothold in US politics now.. Seems to be gaining steam. And when I think of those who would use Religion to satisfy their own ego based beleif systems, my blood runs cold.
Everyone should be afforded equal rights as guaranteed by our constitution yet gay rights and right to die, legalizing drug use, etc.. is off limits.. Amazing to me really.

SO, in conclusion, if people were able to have more knowledge about their religion, perhaps it would take the steam out of some of the zealots. OF course the true zealot more than likely would say that any insights into this were of the devil so that point might be moot.
But there are a multitude of folks out there who don't feel so fanatical but their taking no chances on coming out in fear of retribution ( hell)..
Bless them all..

And Bless you!

Jahnavi