May 12, 2006

Religious Illiteracy

I'm happy to say I have neither read nor paid much attention to all the hoopla around the Da Vinci Code.

The problem is not that someone made up a story and is making some noise in the world for a little while. People do this all the time.

The problem is that many of us don't know our own faith and that we have lost a sense of a catholic culture. And when you don't know who you are, anyone fool is free to come and tell you. We suffer from what Cardinal Poupard has called religious illiteracy. You can check out what he says today in Zenit.

To address this situation is critical if we are to be able to "give an explanation to anyone who asks us a reason for our hope." (1 Peter 3:15) Perhaps the Da Vinci Code is a grace to help us recognize our need.

2 comments:

Cathy said...

Very sad and very true.
How many Catholics out there now believe that Opus Dei is some wingnut organization with assassin albino monks? Poor St. Josemaria.
I was at dinner with one of my parish priests the other night, and the book came up in conversation.
I asked him if he had read it, knowing full well he had not.
"No, but not because of why you think. I just don't have the time. When I was in seminary one of the guys read it, just to see what was in it, but I didn't have the time. With theology on the shelf, I just can't devote time to a novel."
Amen.

Anonymous said...

I like your post! I hope Cardinal Arinze reads it and is filled with hope as I am. As reported in Catholic News Service, Cardinal Arinze says regarding this movie,"There are some other religions which, if you insult their founder, they will not just be talking. They will make it painfully clear to you." The Cardinal apparently was referring to widespread Muslim anger and demonstrations earlier this year over Western newspaper cartoons that caricatured the Prophet Mohammend.


My dear Cardinal... 'they' not only insulted our 'founder' but killed him by hanging him on a tree. I did not see where Peter and the the guys made it painfully clear to anyone their sadness/anger at the death of Jesus.

I pray that people will investigate their faith, not only only in an academic way but in a spirit of prayer. Reading the Gospels and early church Fathers is not enough, they must be prayed. Maybe this movie will motivate some.

+ Crescentius of Iesi