Bible as a shield against 'Inferno'

As a Filipino, I can't help but feel slighted by Dan Brown's description of Manila in his latest novel “Inferno”, calling it a 'gate of hell'. Whatever his basis are in saying so, it is nothing but a highly absurd and ridiculous claim by a previously nondescript novelist who only rose to prominence for his penchant in twisting facts and distorting historical accounts as key elements in his writings.

Who would believe him anyway when his best-seller “The Da Vinci Code” was clearly a poorly researched work of fiction. In that highly contentious novel, he may have succeeded in casting doubts about the origins of Christianity and the divinity of Jesus, but he could not shatter the very foundation by which we entrenched of Christian faith. He's good at it though, stirring up controversy to grab attention especially from the millions of curious minds out there. But contrary to his claims that the characters he portrayed in his book are accurate, he actually weaves stories out of false beliefs, far from reality, so to speak.

So clever enough that a huge part of his novels are fiction, thereby confusing the readers from which is true and which is not. Dan Brown is free whatever he wants to pen down, but he must be responsible enough not to go beyond the parameters of what he is writing.

Upon learning of such particular content of his latest novel, it was without doubt a vicious attack against the sensibilities of what is highly regarded as Asia's bastion of Catholicism. That is precisely the reason why I no longer have the interest to read the book in its entirety. It is much better for me to read the Bible instead of grabbing a copy of his book. Dan Brown promotes fiction, the Bible heralds truth. And the Bible can best shield me against any agent of the devil that is perhaps masquerading as a novelist.