My Dan Brown and I Story

My cousin loaned me a book from his collection about two days ago, and me being me, I didn’t waste much time getting on the first chance to read it. I was in this excited state when, cup of coffee in hand and six hours later, a temporary housemate made a very fancy comment that was certainly intriguing.

“Are you a Christian?”, he asked me suddenly from out of nowhere. I hesitatingly looked up and tried to focus on his question with much difficulty. Did he hear me sing the Christian song awhile back when I was doing the dishes? Or is this coming from the fact that I spend time praying and thanking God before every meal? It was clear that the person took an awful lot of effort to ask that since I am just a transient visitor at their place. So, to be on the safe side (they say, when in doubt, answer a question with a question), I countered, ” Yes, why do you ask?”. With a flippant attitude, the guy answered, “If you’re a Christian, how can you read a book from Dan Brown?”, just then, he made a grand exit without waiting for my reply.

Whew! That episode made me squirm and wish the person stayed with me a bit longer to tackle on the subject at hand. In short, I so wanted to nitpick on the topic of the author’s works and my soon-to-be-ex-housemate’s opinion on the matter. Why is it that most people not only keep their stereotype ideas on matters, but also deem that others would share these blindly with them? Has he even read a single book from the same author? What was it specifically, that made him form his opinion on the author’s qualification? Was it a sermon from a Catholic priest inciting one and all to treat the author’s books with abhorrence and stay clear away from discussing and contemplating on the ideas the writer might spark in the minds of church-goers? Is this the early 18th century where heretics were condemned to a lifetime of seclusion and disdain from society?

I, for one, believe that every voice needs to be heard. Each and every opinion and story matters, and how this idea relates to my life, doctrine, and principles, are made after I have reached a concrete understanding of the depth of an author’s intent and what he hopes to achieve when he created that piece of work. I do not forget that written on that paperback is the word: FICTION and not POISON. My applause then goes to the author who has sparked such interest and emotion toward his work, because bottom-line reason for creating something worthy is to be able to stir minds and hearts to think and feel.

Maybe my new acquaintance threw the bomb at me so I would drop what I’m reading and run the opposite direction. Or maybe he just wants to strike a conversation sometime soon after I’ve settled in on another book to read, preferably from another author. Well whatever it may be, I deduce I can detonate the bomb by writing this article. And with that being said, I go back to chapter 21 with relish and gusto…

My Dan Brown and I Story