Little help please

The movie "The Da Vinci Code" finally opened this weekend after months of hype. I'm hoping that you can help me figure out what the big deal is. \nI understand the hoopla over a major Hollywood adventure movie, based on a best-selling book and starring Tom Hanks. \nWhat I don't understand is the rage created amongst Christians worldwide who somehow feel their core beliefs threatened by a fictional movie. They've gone so far as trying to stop the showing of the movie, an act which goes against every principle of free speech.\nThere have been protests in countries as varied as South Korea, Thailand, India and Greece. Here in the United States, a cottage industry has been created to explain to people why the plot of "The Da Vinci Code" is impossible. (Although remarkably no one has yet put forward the most basic rebuttal -- it is FICTION, which by definition is not true.) People have attempted to have screenings of the movie blocked in court. Others threatened to start a hunger strike. A hunger strike over a movie?! Gandhi going on a hunger strike over injustice in India I understand -- people upset by the plot of a book and movie starving themselves? Not so much.\nI understand that religion is very important to a lot of people and is becoming increasingly important in American life. But when did the freedom of expression become less important? Civics teachers have long taught that the core principle of freedom of speech is allowing people to express opinions that you find abhorrent. The Neo-Nazis can march in Skokie, Ill. The KKK can hold public demonstrations. The flag can be burnt. I think a movie about how Jesus had a kid whose descendants have been hiding out in Europe for a couple of thousands of years can be shown. Especially a FICTIONAL movie.\nBut clearly this fictional movie has gotten under the skin of a lot of Christians, and I can't figure out why. \nAre they insecure about their beliefs and hence threatened by a fictional refutation of those core beliefs? Do they doubt their right to practice their religion in public in what, admittedly, can be a pretty aggressively secular America and Europe? Are they afraid they're losing their political clout as President Bush's approval ratings tank? \nNone of these explanations make much sense since by all accounts individual faith is growing, religion and religious practice are only becoming more public and despite President Bush's problems the religious right remains incredibly powerful.\nOr do they feel so powerful that they think they can (or should be allowed to) control what their fellow non-believing citizens see and hear? \nI certainly hope that's not true, since it would be pretty frightening, but I just don't know. I read (and liked the book), but haven't seen the movie yet; I'm waiting for the lines to die down. \nIn the meantime can someone please explain what the big deal is?