DaVinci Code Deception
“What I like about The Da Vinci Code is not so much the story (in fact, the story was just run-of-the-mill), but how it shows that Christianity as we know it today was really only concocted by men in the third and fourth centuries.”
This statement by an acquaintance of mine made me realize just how much this work of fiction is impacting credulous readers eager to discount the historicity of the Christian faith. Brownpau last month posted an excellent set of links pointing to the Christian response to this growing fascination for gnostic writings. Ever-vigilant Paulo posted more relevant links today. I’d like to contribute this link to an audio discussion (check out the Nov. 30, 2003 broadcast) from STR.org.
Update (01.06.05): More liberal thinkers likewise say Brown’s claim to present facts through fiction is itself fictional and misleads readers.
Attention: Comments section is closed for this entry. Thank you all for your comments.
Tags: Bible, books, Christianity, davincicode
January 13th, 2004 at 11:42 am
Thank God someone is still defending and standing for truth. Isn’t truth the most important thing to anyone? I just left a site where a minister was condoning the reading of the book because it got non-christians to open up and discuss God, the validity of the divinity of Christ, etc… The aspect that bothers me is so many people in the church are reading this as non-fiction rather than fiction. People will be confused with the implications the book projects. I’m not boycotting the book but let’s not be cavalier about truth vs. fallacy. People in the world are dying to believe something that is close enough to the truth to believe as truth but doesn’t qualify, like the Davinci Code.
January 13th, 2004 at 12:33 pm
This book is not based on truth. This book falsely puts information into people’s heads that will make them question the validity of who Christ was and the accuracy and integrity of the Bible. If you feel you really have to read this book… please, please, please read other information so you can decipher the very little fact that is in this fictional book from the enormous amount of fiction. One man comes up with this wacky theory, decides he is going to let the world no about it through a fictional book, and the worst thing we can do as readers is take this theory as our own without further research. You will find this book really has no merit. Research for yourself and you will find the real truth. Don’t stop going to church, reading the Bible, or most of all questioning your beliefs. This is the time to hold true to your beliefs and let your study into this matter strengthen your beliefs, and your relationship with God. I hope this will be the outcome for all people who have the desire to have a relationship with God and for people who are true believers. Knowing who Christ is goes beyond reading a book. It is a spiritual connection that believers have that is as present to them as the relationship someone would have with a loved one.
It is the most vital part of believer’s spiritual self. It allows us to be the best person God intended us to be. It would be a shame if you let this book keep you from most important relationship you can establish, that is your relationship with Jesus Christ.
January 13th, 2004 at 8:27 pm
The “theories” put forth in the Davinci Code are not new. The thing that concerns me is the attention it is getting. My daughter had a course at Vanderbilt last semester that focused on this whole notion of the Churches propaganda against women and brought these “theories” into it as factual. I’m curious how this kind of thing fits into end-time prophecies. Ex: Who is the Whore of Babylon in Revelation? I do plan to use the whole “people who knew the “truth” passed it down through the centuries” as a way to explain how Scripture itself was put together. The early church fathers were certified by their miracle gifts and they passed who and what was known by them to be true Scripture through generations until the Scripture was cannonized. Anyway - I don’t think the lies this book is propagating is going to go away. I think it is the beginning of something that will have huge impact on the lives of people who prefer not to believe that Jesus is God or that the Word of God is authentic and true. I think as Christians we had better be prepared to answer the questions we will be hearing. God help us.
January 17th, 2004 at 4:51 pm
As a cliff hanger, ok, but as anything that resembles truth, it is patently ridiculous and a pastiche of tired old (new-age) ideas put together in a different way. I cannot begin to address all the strange thinking in the book, but let us start with the idea that Da Vinci could hide the truth about Christ. The Messiah’s identity was revealed in Scriture in manuscripts that pre-date Christianity, i.e. the Torah and the Tanak.
Jesus fulfills the prophetic as to his identity and the unity of the Old and New Testaments are inviolable. Something the Nicean Council couldn’t make happen in a zillion years.
Also, from time to time people have trotted out this extra biblical books (Essene gospels,e tc. ) as this book has and seems to throw out to the gullible that these documents exist in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Not so, just subscribe to biblical Archeology to know what is in the scrolls. The scrolls do testify of a monastic Jewish sect who lived during the time of Jesus with rather strict rules for living, but the scrolls also provide a perfect replical of teh book of Isaiah plus fragments of many other Old Testament books and lend further authenticity to their correctness.
Another ridiculous suggestion is the stables beneath Solomon’s temple. Well, I rather like the idea that Solomon and King Herod claim their rights to that place in the book rather than Islam and the dome of the rock. However, if in Jerusalem, you have to go many f eet below to find pavements that existed during the time of Christ. In Christ’s day, I am sure archeology was not a biggie, but Solomon’s temple would have been many layers beneath Herod’s temple which was built during Ezra and Nehemiah’s day.
I don’t think the Crusaders would have been able to access the catacombs beneath Solomon’s temple. However, the Temple Institue in Jerusalem claims to know where the Ark of the Covenant is, in one of those caves. However, the tunnels are under the dome of the Rock and the Moslems have been wrecking havoc under there for awhile to destroy Jewish claims to the place.
As for the other attempts in the books to resurrect paganism and goddess cults, nothing new just the typical New AGe ideas recycled once again.
At one time we enlightened ones were glad to have done away with polytheism and rejoiced in teh belief of one God, but now, not surprising that in the end times., old Babylonian and Eastern thought is being trucked out as wisdom.
Another thought, since The Last Supper was a fresco, painted on plaster which literally fell apart, the restorers did the best they could to reconstruct those images that had crumbled to nothing, their is no truth that Da Vinci painted Mary Magdalene instead of John at the last supper. The restorers tried to be true to what they thought was there. So that is made up from whole cloth. Imagine all the readers out there who think the book is non fiction and that Da Vinci really painted the Last Supper and that he really was a homosexual and that he really was a member of Knights Templar.
Anyone can get ahold of the Rites of Masonry and read some of the thought and origin of some of the new age thought that is in the book, nothing new under the sun, weedhopper.
January 17th, 2004 at 5:01 pm
Oh yes, one more thing. From Genesis to Maps, teh Bible elevates the role of woman from her pagan contemporaries. The “seed of the woman” destroys Satan. Sarah is necessary to bring forth the Messianic line otherwise God would not have plauged Pharaoh to let her go. She was to be the mother. Abraham could have had other wives if he were totally important, than the little issue of the bride price that the Hebrew paid for the woman rather than the dowery that the father paid in pagan cultures to get rid of the woman. The Bride price is a type and picture of Jesus purchaseof his bride, the Church, from sin. Beautiful pictures exist all throught the Bible of woman’s importance. We have Deborah who was judge, prophetess, and warrior. Barak and the men were wimps, it was Deborah who gave the men courage. And in the new testament it is to women who Jesus revealed his identity: The Samaritan woman, and at the cross, it was women who first beheld the wonder of the resurrected Christ.
Another thought, archeology studies have proven that the gospels were written first in Hebrew at a much earlier time than otherwise suspected.
Oh yes, It is easy to write such rubbish as the docrines in the Da vinci Code if one has not read the amazing Old and New Testaments in their entirity. If Mary Magdalene was the mother of a Jesus line, then their would be no documents from her era to prove such a thing as the only Scriptures in her day were the Tanak. Would they have been trotted over to France to have the learned pour over them?
Another thought, Jesus’s disciples begged him to be that worldy King. He wouldn’t need to beget a new line to get Jews to declare him King. Even Pontius Pilate did that. Ridiculous, the theories in the book for the unlearned, the unwashed, and the hyper imaginative.
January 17th, 2004 at 5:08 pm
Excuse my several typo’s. I don’t mean that Da Vinci didn’t paint the Last Supper. We have no proof, evidence, nor has it ever been taught in an art History Class that he painted Mary Magdalene in the historic spot occupied by the disciple John.
Typo: “Then, the little issue of the Bride Price which was only found in Hebrew Society, totally elevated woman and separted her as the chattel she was in pagan societies. Some bad typing above.
January 17th, 2004 at 5:45 pm
another thought occurred to me. Of course it is true that Christianity did absorb some pagan symbols, the revelation of the blend of paganism and Christianity is written about by the erudite C.S. Lewis in his book The Discarded Image. He is the last word on the subject, a Christian apologist!
January 18th, 2004 at 2:06 pm
I enjoyed the book as a work of fiction. My faith doesn’t waiver. Interesting piece of work put together by the author but so many people have to remember, it is a piece of fiction. If you already believe, it shouldn’t hurt your faith. If you were a non-believer, questions can only be a good thing. At least you’re seeking something where before you weren’t.
January 20th, 2004 at 5:50 am
The DaVinci Code is so full of historical inaccuracies it’s distracting. Add to that the poor writing and the most entertaining part of the book for me becomes debunking “the facts” Browne claimed. Forget the many distortions of the Bible, he doesn’t even know where the Louvre is in Paris. For those of you who say that it’s a work of fiction, Browne himself, on Good Morning America, claimed it to be historically correct. My review of this book would be simply “pulp fiction”.
January 20th, 2004 at 9:19 am
This message is for Mary Parnell…. I’m currently reading The Davinci Code… I will not comment on the book and the theories it promotes until I’ve completely read it; however, I do have issues already. I truely feel that there is much I can learn from you, so please, I implore you, send me a e-mail confirming that you’ve read this message… I would love to chat with you about many things within this book, and many things beyond the scope of this book.
January 20th, 2004 at 10:52 am
Sekour: Pinkneygirl@yahoo.com
Excuse me, I keep saying Herod’s temple. Incorrect. It was the temple built by Ezra & Nehemiah that I am referring to after the Babylonian captivity. Solomon’s temple was destroyed by the Babylonian armies. I don’t know why I kept saying King Herod. He did do a lot of restoration and built up the walls but the II temple is the one I am referring to. Solomon’s would be many layers beneath Temple II.
January 23rd, 2004 at 10:48 pm
I have read the book, twice now! I feel the vitriolic postings toward Mr. Brown and the story of the book only show insecurity. Either you believe that Christ is a deity or you do not. Attacking the medium seems like petty mud-slinging. The message is what frightens you. Why do Christians claim to follow the peaceful teachings of Christ up to the point of any attack upon their faith? Your personal attacks on this Author only serve his renown, so by all means keep it up! I just hope he doesn’t have to go into hiding with Rushdie!
January 24th, 2004 at 9:41 am
The problem with Mr. Brown’s book is the implication of historical accuracy, when even a cursory understanding of the history demonstrates the immpossibility of his central claims. Let’s set aside beliefs about Christ’s divinity for the moment. Many historians and academics who are not Christians themselves have dedicated their lives to understanding the periods covered by Mr. Brown’s novel. Mr. Brown didn’t even bother to check to see if any of the claims have validity.. he horribly misrepresents what happened during early church history, during the early middle ages and even the beliefs of the gnostic christians whom he claims to reprsent. Only the uneducated, or those with a desperate “need” to believe Brown, ie neo-pagans and feminists can possibly take his thesis seriously.
Just a one point:
1. Brown implies that Mary Magdalene’s true mission was to pass along Christ’s bloodline. She supposedly does this by marrying into the French royal bloodline.
Problem: The Franks were not in Gaul (where Mary supposedly fled to) until the 4th Century. The first mention of them in Roman history is when they are defeated by Emporer Aruelus in 241 AD, they don’t accept Christitianity until almost 600 AD
Lets say Mary arrives in Gaul around 70 AD–at this point she would have arrived as a very old woman. And, just for fun to help Mr. Brown’s thesis lets say her decendents seek out and marry the King of the Fanks in 241 AD…this is wildly early since the Frnaks arn’t in Gaul yet, but at least they are mentioned in Roman history.
Lets say Mary’s decendants have children every 30 years (this is also modern assumption and these women would be crazy old for childbearing in antiquity)
The Math alone makes Brown’s thesis almost impossible to sustain.
241 (Mary’s decendents meet the Franks)- 70 AD (Mary arrives in Gaul)= leving us 171 years between the two events.
171/30= roughly 6 generations
Figure it out:
In order for Brown’s story to be true, at least 6 generations of Christs decendents would have lived in Gaul. Pagan-Roman Gaul, not Christian Gaul. I.e. Mary’s great-great-great- great- great- great grandaughter would have married the Pagan Frankish king. (If we wait for the Franks to become Christian i.e in the 500’s the number of generations gets silly)
Six generation living without persecution, all those kids extended family, living openly in Pagan Rome and no historical record???
And why would the Pagan Frankish king marry her if they couldn’t openly admit his wife’s heratige? What would be the Frank’s motivation??
The council of Nicea doesn’t occur until 325 AD
Actually, there is no mention of this legend in France until the 9th century—after the original line has been replaced by the decendents of Charlamange.
There was a historical power play going on, not one suppressed by the Church, but a well documented one that Brown simply ignores because it doesn’t fit within his goddess freindly account.
Opponents to the new Frankish dynasty which was supported by the Roman Church, invent the Magdalene story to call the new dynasty’s legitimacy into question.
Mr. Brown is right that their was some propaganda, but it is his protagonists not the Catholic Church which made things up
Come on Mr. Brown, Good fict
January 26th, 2004 at 5:17 pm
Thank You Mr. Plum!!!!!! At least we have faced the onslaught of anti-christian sentiment with facts instead of vitriolic ramblings against Mr. Brown. It IS good fiction, and the obvious design was to bring an unpopular THEORY into the mainstream. What will be interesting to me, is will Ron Howard stick to the book when he makes the movie, or will they water down the theory to please the “christian coalition”? Christians seem to be this peace-loving group of silent Sunday worshippers, until their glass house is shattered by some historical theory, fact, or point of view. Then we discover that it’s only peaceful on the surface. Millions of priests, preachers, pastors, and whatever else mobilize their congregations to avoid losing their cushy lifestyles. How many preachers do we know who don’t use their power over the spiritual lives of their community to become wealthy? This is the nature of man, and as Mr. Brown so eloquently wrote it, “the bible was not faxed down from heaven” it was written by man, translated countless times by MAN, and interpreted weekly by MEN all over the country. They may be truly pious men, but as Mr. Brown put it, yet again, “Who is more indoctrinated than the indoctrinators?” WHO INDEED?
January 28th, 2004 at 11:38 pm
Good book, a real page turner. I like Brown’s style of writing, very involving and engrossing. Lets not forget what this book is though, fiction. A lot of people who recommended this book to me take it as truth and compare it to the Bible and to actual Christian religion. That isnt what this is book is for, its for a good read. If your faith is strong, this book shouldnt have any affect on it. The evidence of Christ’s divinity is around us everyday, and that makes someone mad to hear that, then what can I say. I am eager to read Brown’s next novel.
Nick
January 29th, 2004 at 1:10 am
Do you people all really believe in god? I guess I knew people like you existed but I’m still shocked to hear it all. God is a character in a book. What could possibly lead anyone to believe otherwise is unimaginable to me.