Archive for May, 2008

‘Da Vinci Code’ Movie. Should you see it or not?

Sunday, May 18th, 2008


Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks star in the film version of “The Da Vinci Code”

Good question, isn’t it? My Indian friends may take this as an opportunity to bash me when they hear what I have to say. I’m an Evangelical Christian, not a Catholic – what else would make them angrier since I’m not part of a protest against the movie. I have good Catholic friends, but their view of protesting or banning the movie ‘Da Vinci Code’ do not stir well in my mind.

A book sold at Padmasri MA Thomas’ Emmanuel Mission created much hatred from Hindus in general in India. A lot of negative depictions of Hindu Gods in the book affected MA Thomas’s work – his son was arrested, and Mr.Thomas had to go into hiding. Are Hindus tolerant? They may be not. The Muslims were neither tolerant – the book ‘Satanic Verses’ caused a lot of hatred. People died in riots after some cartoons of Muhammad appeared in a Danish news papers, and the people took the hatred to the streets.

Are Catholics of India intolerant to a movie like ‘Da Vinci Code?’? They are – that is my opinion. They can’t tolerate the blasphemy against Jesus. I would say that is a good stance, but have we not blasphemed against Jesus at all? The Catholic priests are running TV channels in Kerala. What if these priests could not broadcast half nude movie dance on their channel, would the rating go low? The abuse against minors, innocents dying in retreat centers – are they not blasphemies against Jesus? May not be directly, but they are. Joseph Dias, the president of the Catholic Secular Forum should find some time to analyze the blasphemies against Jesus in our own churches.

Hey friends, the movie ‘Da Vinci Code’ is a not threat against your Christian belief. The regular movie goers or the ones who have interest to see this movie had already made up their mind to challenge your Christian belief – they know Jesus is not the savior of their soul, and your interest to convert their religion.

We have seen enough TV Evangelists, and their copy cats. We have seen enough theologians, and their interpretations of who Jesus was. Haven’t we followed their teachings, deviating from what Bible teaches? Haven’t we seen enough splits in our churches – churches stealing sheep from other churches? Have we ever protested against blasphemies in our own churches? Probably not, in that respect finding a true protest against this movie without a little hypocrisy is difficult.

I will see this movie. This is not to make Dan Brown or Sony Pictures rich – I know if I don’t buy tickets or some minorities do, it won’t impact the producers economically. It is neither to support Dan Brown’s view of questioning Jesus divinity. I would watch it to make my faith stronger.

Would you like be part of a cultural conversation – a time to analyze what you believe in, to start a conversation of who Jesus was, why was he crucified, and tell others Jesus is more personal to you than any great man’s teaching? To me, being a Christian without complete conviction is not a Christian at all. I did not become a Christian simply because I was born in such a family.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” Romans 8:35

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A time to remember every mother

Friday, May 16th, 2008

Today is mothers day – a day to remember all our mothers. We remember our mothers every day or not, a day likes this to appreciate their contribution shows our gratitude.
Stories after Stories, we all have something to say as good about our mothers. When I look back my mother, she could not verbally express a lot of things positively, but her actions did. She was a school teacher in her whole life – she understood the importance of education in every child’s life, so she wanted me to have the same.

‘Do you want become an engineer or a doctor when you grow up?’ a familiar question to children – something to stir their mind, to decide on a destination they can dream of. I never had any idea who I should become, a doctor or an engineer when I was growing up, but I wanted to be an Engineer – who should not when you get 98-100% grade in mathematics.

My mother was so particular about me getting the top rank – a system when you score much than others – in the school. She entered me to vacation school for tuition under some brilliant minds – they taught me how to solve problems. I remember days when she allowed me to watch a movie in a theatre only after I completed solving a chapter of mathematical problems.

My brother did not have a lot of challenges when he got admission into a State Engineering college – I’m talking about the year 1981. The system changed when I completed my college to enter Engineering. The state Govt. introduced an Entrance exam – you can get entry to an Engineering college only passing an entrance exam.

I did write the exam, well enough to get to Mechanical Engineering which was not my favorite. I was disappointed, but my mother found a way for me. A friend of hers, whose son was studying in a different Indian state for Computer Engineering promised her to talk to the same college for my admission. I had the merit, so the college granted me the admission.

When I look at my office table, I see some wonderful things on my table – my laptop, a broadband internet, knowledge bases, inspirational books – because of my mother’s persistent pursuit to bring the best in my life.

I thank God for my mother – she gave me good education.

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