Da Vinci Code

Tom Hanks the lead actor in the movie "Da Vinci code" was on TV. Something he said, caught my attention.
He was responding to the criticism of the depiction of Jesus having a child with Mary Magdalene. Predictably the "conservative" religious right in the Western world, promptly began bashing the movie (well, in a polite civilized manner). No theatre burning, no throwing acid bottles at the film crew.. no silly nonsense.
While the film narrative goes in parellel to the church's ambition and powerplay, (never giving an actual sense of Vatican's own potent interest in the "secret"), there are glimpses of the dark side of religious manipulation. To add, there is the fable of free-masonry. Nevertheless, its still a wonderfully woven story around 1000's of years of secrecy surrounding a major religion. A religion that until the 20th century was a haven for noblemen and aristocracy to hold on the feudal system.
However, what I was surprised is coming back to Tom Hanks..
he said, " I dont believe that a fiction book sold in Barnes and Nobles will change the faith and values you hold dear, and that has survived the ravishes of thousands of years of the churning world". ... or something to that effect. I was relieved and also impressed.
Now, here is a gentleman actor, an accomplished performer, who is gifted with art, but also with something upstairs of his neck.
I guess, that is what religion is.. a cornucopia of accumulated beliefs passed on from nomadic tribes to the urban man and that has tempered your "faith".

So here goes, a pictogram of the great divide.

Nota bene: For a moment there, I was confronted with the scene of the Pandava birth and the Kaurava birth and that of Lav and Kush in Ramayana. A chill passed through thinking about the impact on the oh-so-delicate "religious sentiments" that famous euphemism for "total theocracy" that is often stuck up like a dagger, disguised as a PIL (public interest litigation).
A moment of anarchy, a terrifying scream... that's it. I think , its not worth thinking.
Kudos to MT for his "Randamoozham".

Here is an excellent documentary by PBS.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/v2a.swf