Robed monks perplex students

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June 2006

Robed monks perplex students

On 16 and 17 May, FOCUS (the Fellowship of Christian University Students), brought Dr Greg Clarke to the University of Tasmania to give three talks about The Da Vinci Code. Greg is the director of CASE, the Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education, at New College (the Anglican college) at the University of NSW.

In preparation for the talks, FOCUS hired some outfits for ‘monks’ who walked around the university handing out leaflets for the events. Many university students were amazed and perplexed at seeing ‘monks’, but it worked well. Around 100 students came to the day-time talks and 170 to the Tuesday evening – they found it a very encouraging time.

What I particularly liked about Greg’s talk was that he began by exploring why the book is so popular. He showed that the book portrays the Church as secretive and power hungry, and that these themes resonate with many people in our community.

Rather than trying to deny these charges, he admitted that this has happened in the church and he apologised. He said that he had not personally experienced these things but acknowledged that some people had. His apology was very powerful and engaged well with those persuaded by the book. Greg then asked the audience to give the church another chance and to consider the truthfulness of the rest of the book. He showed that the book is just a novel and that its ideas have no basis in history. This was a well documented and good defence for Christianity.

Finally, Greg considered the alternative spirituality that The Da Vinci Code offers. He showed that while the book rejects orthodox Christianity, it offers only a poor substitute. In Christianity the truth can be known by all easily, in The Da Vinci Code it is only for a few; in Christianity we can call God ‘Father’, in The Da Vinci Code you call ‘god’ whatever you like; in Christianity there is forgiveness and new life, in The Da Vinci Code there is meaninglessness; in Christianity there is community, while in The Da Vinci Code there is your own never-ending search.

We thank God for Greg’s ministry to us. Click here to purchase his book /DVD Is it worth believing? The spiritual challenge of The Da Vinci Code.

From Sam Green, AFES Staffworker at the University of Tasmania.

	The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search
	a healthy church...transformingLIFE
	Home About Contact us News Issues Parishes Prayer Calendar Youth Resources

				June 2006

		Robed monks perplex students On 16 and 17 May, FOCUS (the Fellowship of Christian University Students), brought Dr Greg Clarke to the University of Tasmania to give three talks about The Da Vinci Code. Greg is the director of CASE, the Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education, at New College (the Anglican college) at the University of NSW. In preparation for the talks, FOCUS hired some outfits for ‘monks’ who walked around the university handing out leaflets for the events. Many university students were amazed and perplexed at seeing ‘monks’, but it worked well. Around 100 students came to the day-time talks and 170 to the Tuesday evening – they found it a very encouraging time. What I particularly liked about Greg’s talk was that he began by exploring why the book is so popular. He showed that the book portrays the Church as secretive and power hungry, and that these themes resonate with many people in our community. Rather than trying to deny these charges, he admitted that this has happened in the church and he apologised. He said that he had not personally experienced these things but acknowledged that some people had. His apology was very powerful and engaged well with those persuaded by the book. Greg then asked the audience to give the church another chance and to consider the truthfulness of the rest of the book. He showed that the book is just a novel and that its ideas have no basis in history. This was a well documented and good defence for Christianity. Finally, Greg considered the alternative spirituality that The Da Vinci Code offers. He showed that while the book rejects orthodox Christianity, it offers only a poor substitute. In Christianity the truth can be known by all easily, in The Da Vinci Code it is only for a few; in Christianity we can call God ‘Father’, in The Da Vinci Code you call ‘god’ whatever you like; in Christianity there is forgiveness and new life, in The Da Vinci Code there is meaninglessness; in Christianity there is community, while in The Da Vinci Code there is your own never-ending search. We thank God for Greg’s ministry to us. Click here to purchase his book /DVD Is it worth believing? The spiritual challenge of The Da Vinci Code. From Sam Green, AFES Staffworker at the University of Tasmania.