The Da Vinci Code and other irreligious matters

Yesterday's post by Fr. Neuhaus at First Things caught my eye. A review by Adam Kirsch, the New York Sun's books editor, inspired this gem:

One need not go so far as the early Karl Barth who insisted that Christianity is not a religion, but it is obvious that one is not, or should not be, a Christian because he believes in religion. Rather, he has by reason, authoritative testimony, and the gift of faith, accepted the claim that God has revealed himself in Jesus Christ.

Toward the end of the post he notes that Sony has enlisted the services of a group called Grace Hill to hype the movie version of Da Vinci Code to evangelicals. It seems a thinly-veiled anti-catholic subtext is part of the program, which comes as no surprise to me. Having been spoon-fed a low dose of anti-Catholic poison from childhood, I can attest to the toxic nature of that line of thinking. Like all forms of prejudice -- race, age, gender, economic or social caste -- it is tough to discern and even tougher to wean from. But it can be done. It really can.

That is my prayer and hope for Muslims, that enough of them can embrace the notion of tolerance long enough (maybe a couple of generations?) to be able to live side by side with infidels in peace.