The Lost Symbol
I’ve just finished reading, or should I say, listening to, Dan Brown’s latest book, “The Lost Symbol.” I believe he is an important author to follow since he caused so much controversy with “The DaVinci Code” by stepping on sacred cows.
The response to this book so far is interesting. As of this writing there have been 246 reviews on Amazon. Only 46 are 5 stars, 37 – 4 stars, 37 – 3 stars, 64 – 2 stars and 62 give one star.
In other words, over 50% more readers give it one or two stars than give it four or five. Sounds like Dan has a dud on his hands, doesn’t it?
I don’t think so. Believe me it will be a big seller for a while yet and I’m sure they’ll make another movie of it.
Here’s a brief synopsis from Amazon of how the story begins:
“As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object — artfully encoded with five symbols — is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation […] one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.
“When Langdon’s beloved mentor, Peter Solomon — a prominent Mason and philanthropist — is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly plunged into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations — all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.”
(End Quote)
One of the reasons the book received so many low ratings was that some of Brown’s writings are bound to offend a lot of people. The main thing that will stick in the craws of many is that he suggests that the Founding Fathers believed their destiny was to become Gods and he often quotes the scripture “Ye are Gods.”
He also points out that the God of the Bible is plural and represents many, and the Book of Revelation is really “The Unveiling” and not a literal prophecy. Where have the Keys members heard this?
Then he makes the startling observation that in the eye of the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol is a painting called “The Apotheosis of Washington.” This painting depicts Washington’s ascension to heaven similar to that of Jesus.
Most of the rest of the book centers around a quest to find the Lost Word of Power which can give man the power of the gods. They must prevent this word from falling into evil hands.
Overall I would say this book is of equal quality with “the DaVinci Code.” My favorite for pure entertainment is still “Angels and Demons.” I’m speaking of the book, which was better than the movie.
I think Dan Brown gives more teachings and history than he did in his other books. It kind of reminded me more of my approach to writing “The Immortal” than his other books did. For those who are only interested in a good story the history lessons may have seemed to be a distraction.
Not for me.
The information I gleaned from the book was the most valuable part to me. Not only does he supply a lot of good history and Masonic information but he gives a lot of details of landmarks in Washington DC. A lot of what he writes of could not have been obtained from just reading books, but I would guess that Brown spent a lot of time visiting, in person, a lot of sites in Washington DC and asked a lot of questions.
Overall, I would give the book four stars, but the controversy it will cause is worth five stars.
“To live in the world without becoming aware of the meaning of the world is like wandering about in a great library without touching the books.” From “The Lost Symbol,” by Dan Brown
NOTE: Dan Brown has a new book coming out in September 2025 called “The Secret of Secrets”)
Gathering Problems
Reader Comment: “So imagine through some miracle that the people of the United States managed to re-take control of our government and throw out the crooks in government. Do you think that the Gathering would then occur here? After all, if America really turned around and repented of all the evil in big government and allowed people to create a really productive society — the result of freedom and free trade — then there would be little motive for people to gather elsewhere, would there?”
JJ: Good question. You are correct in thinking that great tribulation or discomfort will motivate people to move in a different direction. Therefore, if there was some kind of breakdown people would be looking for a solution like never before. Those looking, however, would be the good and the bad, the ready and not so ready, the spiritual and the carnal. Therefore, to take advantage of a collapse quite a bit of preparation must be made in advance or you would have only the gathering of the troubled rather than the gathering of lights.
In many ways it would be more advantageous for our country, or several countries, to be reformed so reasonable government again prevails. If this were to happen then we would not have to gather in the seas but could build cities of light here upon the land.
And many still look for better things, even during good times. Remember the Sixties with the hippies and the communes? Many of those who gathered out of society had rich parents but they thought there was something better than materialism and went looking for it. I always thought that it seemed the flower children were looking for a real spiritual leader that just never showed up.
If we can indeed “Fix America” then a coming correspondence to the Sixties will come, but on a higher level with higher principles.
If America is not fixed then I pray that the Lights will have prepared for them a gathering place in time to escape the things to come.
I have not yet obtained power enough to issue a clarion call for gathering. I am working on it and hope to make some stronger moves in the future.
Popular Issues
A reader writes: “I don’t know where you stand on any of these issues, but here are some freedoms I’d be in favor of:
“1. All US military personnel should be free to consume alcohol responsibly when on leave regardless of local drinking age laws (in the USA at least). If a kid is old enough to die for his country, then he’s old enough to have a beer.”
JJ: Agree 100%.
“2. Freedom of adults to join in marriage unions as they see fit, without any outside authority dictating what does or does not constitute a marriage, and without threat of future annulment by legislative or judicial decree.”
JJ: I think gays as well as polygamists should be able to make commitments of marriage and have them respected and not be hassled over doing this. They should be free to introduce their partner(s) as their spouse. I do not see getting an actual certificate as being a freedom issue for if I couldn’t have one myself, I do not see much of a change that would happen. The liberals in the Sixties I think were closer to the truth when they said that a marriage certificate was just an unnecessary piece of paper.
“3. Legalization of marijuana. You might be able to talk me out of this, but my general impression is that marijuana is not significantly worse than alcohol or tobacco.”
JJ: I support the legalization of all drugs. In the past I have called this the Drano Principle. Drano is indeed harmful, but I do not think we need a law telling us we cannot drink it. Instead, we just need to educate people on what is harmful and what is not.
I also support channeling a good portion of the money from the war on drugs to education and rehabilitation.
Cigarettes are a good example of how this can work. When I was a kid most adults around me openly smoked inside and outside, even is restaurants, cars, busses and homes. Then an educational process began to show us how harmful they were and the media even tried to make it appear socially unacceptable to smoke. In 1955, when I was ten, a whopping 45% of the people smoked. Now in 2009 that figure has been reduced to around 20%, less than half of what it was. (Note: by 2022 the figure has dropped to 11.6%)
It has always been cool to be attracted to the forbidden and there is a real attraction to illegal drugs. But the statistics on cigarette smoking reveal that education on the negative effects plus making it socially unacceptable can produce more results than making something illegal.
“In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act.” – George Orwell, ‘1984’
Sept 21, 2009
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