The Da Vinci Code

I haven't read the book (got two chapters in) and haven't seen the film but what I absolutely love about The Da Vinci Code is the fact that everyone is talking about it - from religious groups to athiests to chavscum on the train to Brighton.

Anything that riles up the Christians, turns the whole 'Jesus died for our sins' malarkey on it's head, prompts 'prayer protests' and pulls in $224 million worldwide in the films' opening weekend has got to be worth some thought.

The novel's premise - that Jesus Christ had a child with Mary Magdalene and that their blood line survived through the ages - is just a fabulous story, a fictional account of events that never happened - of course, people have been quick to jump on that, to disprove that that would be impossible, that Dan Brown is a poor writer and a plagiarist, that it's all just a cock and bull story.

Well, yes. I believe Dan Brown said that all along. That it was just a story. I've seen The Da Vinci Code for sale in Borders, in the fiction section.

I myself haven't the foggiest idea what is going on. I always read the bible as a kid, for the great stories - who doesn't love the story of Noah's Ark? Or Kane & Able? Come on, we're told it's all true but we will never know for sure. It's for us to decide what to believe in.

Not a fiction novellist, not a Christian activist group, not the media - no-one but us can decide this one.

Anyway, I think Sir Ian McKellen puts it best. My new hero.

I'm off to watch Life of Brian, because that film never upset anyone...