Jordan Bans Da Vinci Code

[apothanein kerdos]

Amman, Jordan, May. 10 (UPI) -- Jordanian authorities reportedly confiscated copies of the controversial bestseller, "The Da Vinci Code," for slandering Christianity.

Amman's daily al-Ghad said copies of the book were seized from a publishing house in the Jordanian capital and its owner, Ahmed Abou Tawk, was summoned for interrogation.

The paper quoted the president of the state's Publication Department, Ahmed Kodat, as saying other titles were confiscated in addition to "The Da Vinci Code" for undermining religions.

"This book is largely harmful for Christianity and was banned from many countries, including Lebanon," Kodat said, noting Christian clerics in Jordan demanded the ban.

Jordan, a mainly Muslim country, has a Christian minority.

http://washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20050510-061022-1412r.htm

My reaction:

I guess this is the new "Jihad on the side please" Islam?

It's like, Islam with a customer care department.....just.....kind of took me off guard.

[nebula]

Wow!

I am impressed!

[other one]

Well, I think Iagree with SJ and Neb combined. What a pleasant surprise, but

[Avodah]

That's a "hmmm" thing

[apothanein kerdos]

It is good though? I'm so confused. Think about it, on one hand, they're banning something because it's offensive to us....which honestly is amazing. On the other hand...they're taking away the right to free speech.....so it's like....should I be happy or sad?

[Guest Zayit]

Anybody watch the "Real DaVinci Code" last night on Discovery channel? It was a two hour show that was basically debunking the book along with the Holy blood Holy Grail book. Seems that this isn't a coincidense that this show ran and an Islamic country is banning it for going against Christian beliefs, basically that Jesus wasn't the son of G-d but an ordinary man who didn't die but had children with Mary Magdalene, Islam doesn't believe G-d has a son either so this has gotta make you think ........................hmm, why?

[apothanein kerdos]

That and why would they ban a book they could use?

[Pipit]

One thing that needs to be remembered is that though Islam does not hold Jesus as God's Son or the Savior, they do hold him highly as a prophet and a martyr, and also uphold his character and his teachings (to a certain degree). It may be that they uphold Jesus as a prophet and martyr is partly why they are disbanding the Da Vinci Code (which obviously defames who Jesus is, both in the Christian and Islamic traditions). Add to this more then a few things that Muslims will find disagreeable within the book, and you have logical grounds for restricting it.

As well, Jordan, though it hold Islam as its state religion, has fairly strict laws which prohibit religious discrimination and defamation (ie: you risk prosecution defame Christianity, or Islam, or Hinduism or Judism or any other religion. Of course, the law works mainly in favor of Islam). So, take the above reasons to restrict the book, add to it laws that allow you to, and hey... no Da Vinci Code sales in Jordan.

Which is, really, a good thing. Last thing we want to see is someone deciding to buy the Da Vinci Code over the Bible because they can only afford one or othe other...

Edited August 16, 2005 by Pipit

[other one]

Maybe they just don't want people even thinking about Christians. It might actually start religious conversations, and if you are trying to suppress Christianity the last thing you want is for someone to start talking about it.....

[Gerioke]

Maybe they just don't want people even thinking about Christians.