Popular Culture

Useful information for playing VATICAN The Board Game

Popular culture’s portrayal of the Catholic Church frequently creates controversy. An example of this can be found in The Da Vinci Code, a best-selling novel by Dan Brown, and the movie of the same title. Mr. Brown’s central thesis reworks a 12th century myth that Jesus was married to Mary of Magdala, and idea that strikes a chord in popular culture because of a growing realization that women did play a major role in the early church. The popularity of Brown’s book, and widespread acceptance of it as being factually correct, has created controversy in Christian communities. The book and movie have also been criticized for reflecting traditional anti-Catholic bias and especially for depicting Opus Dei as a dangerous secret organization.

This controversy is likely to continue as Brown’s prequel to the novel, Angels and Demons, is slated for a 2008 release as a movie. The climax to this story involves the election of a new pope.

By playing  VATICAN The Board Game,  you can obtain a great deal of factual information about the inner processes of the Catholic Church as well as learning how popes have been elected. VATICAN Board Game provides players with essential background that should greatly increase their enjoyment of books and films in popular culture.