No Da Vinci Disclaimer

A pity, I think. It's hack fiction. People might actually believe it. This isn't to say there isn't a fascinating and important discussion to be had about the divisions and debates among the early Christians, and if the "Da Vinci Code" provokes such a discussion, fine. But on its own, it's fictional dreck and Hollywood hooey.

Can you imagine what Islamists would do if a similar movie were made about the far more dubious origins of the Koran? I guess we should be grateful for our fundamentalists. They may be misguided; they may even be malign; but they are not murderous. For this, muted thanks.

(Photo: Jean-Pierre Muller/AFP/Getty.)