In a historical novel readers expect fictional characters, but the reader expects a background to be credible and accurate, but it isn't with the Da Vinci code.
Dan Brown is following one of the oldest heresies, refuted even by Paul in the New Testament called Gnosticism. His claims about alleged clues planted in Leonardo da Vinci's paintings are also refuted by art historians.
Brown often speaks through his fictional main characters a religious symbologist Robert Langdon and a fictional historian Leigh Teabing. On page 231 Robert says the "Bible is a product of Man not God." He also claims that early Jewish tradition involved ritual sex. No rabbi would validate this claim which defies God's law in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible).
The Holy Grail turns out to be the body of Mary Magdalene supposedly buried under the glass pyramid at the Louvre Museum in Paris. In the book when Langdon realizes he is near the bones of the goddess he falls to his knees in reverence.
Dan Brown claims that the book is based on factual information, and many people without Bible understanding are being fooled into thinking they have been given secret knowledge suppressed by a corrupt church. True Christians will see through these dishonesties, but millions will believe that this dishonest book contains at least some truth about Jesus and the church.
Claim #1 The Da Vinci Code is based on fact.
The Priory of Scion - a European secret society was founded in 1099.
Truth: Pierre Plantard a French anti-Semite fraud created the "Priory of Sion in 1956 not 1099.
Claim#2 The four New Testament gospels comprise a false account that leaves out many ancient writings that tell a different more truthful story.
Truth: Dan Brown's challenge to Bible authority is based on a group of 52 books called the Gnostic Gospels. All were written more than a century after the Bible Gospels were written. None of these books has any tie to witnesses in Christ's time. The Gospels themselves (Matthew, Mark , Luke and John are eyewitness accounts).
Claim#3 Mary Magdalene is pictured in the Last Supper. The person pictured at the right hand of Jesus in the Last Supper is not the apostle John but is really Mary Magdalene.
Truth: If that person is Mary Magdalene than Leonardo left out the apostle John. John is often painted in a feminine manner to convey youthfulness.
Claim#4 Jesus did not die on the cross, but fled Jerusalem and married Mary Magdalene and fathered children.
Truth: Jesus crucifixion and appearance after the resurrection are probably the best documented theological events in history with hundreds of eyewitnesses. The Roman historian Flavius Josephus also recorded this event.
Jesus marrying Mary Magdalene and having children came from Plantard forgeries and the Gnostic Gospels of Philip and Mary Magdalene. If Jesus and Mary Magdalene had been husband and wife he would have spoken to her from the cross, and she would not have addressed him as Rabboni at the tomb.
Claim#5 Jesus intended the church to be led by Mary Magdalene, not Peter or Paul.
Truth: There is no proof that Mary Magdalene was anything more than what the Gospels say she was. A woman whom Jesus delivered from demonic possession and became one of his most faithful followers.
Claim#6 The Bible is an ever-changing living document. History has never had an unchanging concrete version.
Truth: No other book has as many manuscripts that are consistently accurate after 2000 years. The New Testament as 5000 early copies existing. The central claims of Christianity are identical to the New Testament manuscripts. By the end of the first century most of the books now in the New Testament had been written and New Testament was already recognized as authoritative. The Old Testament is also consistent. The finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls in a cave in 1947 showed that early fragments of the book of Isaiah were identical to later copies. Plus there were complete copies of the book of Isaiah and all the books of the Old Testament except Esther.
Claim#7 Jesus was merely a man not God. The pagan Emperor Constantine created the myth that Jesus was resurrected after being crucified.
Truth: Constantine, who later became a Christian convened the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. but only to sort out some differences among church leaders. All of them believed that Jesus was divine. All early church historians referred to Jesus divinity ,death ,and resurrection.
Claim#8 the Council of Nicea defined Jesus as God in a very close vote.
Truth: The council did not vote on Jesus divinity. The main question was whether Jesus was begotten or created. The council rejected that claim that Jesus, while devine was a created being, and then co-created with God.
Two Different Approaches to Faith
In studying the effect that Martin Luther and John Calvin had on John Wesley's doctrine of Perfect Love (sanctification) , I discovered a reason why some denominations are predisposed to be lienient or firm on the dispute over homosexuality.
Martin Luther's view of faith is based in the human factor , the person's mind ,conscience and will.
He was more concerned about having a clear conscience before God.
His thinking emphasized the act of believing.
How a man believes.
John Calvin's view of faith is based on the divine part of faith, the divine truths, the realities that are the substance of faith.
He was more concerned about what is believed.
His thinking empasized what to believe in.
What a man believes.
Lutheran faith is based on a clear conscience and the act of believing.
Calvinistic faith is based on scripture and what is believed in.
As a result the Lutheran views the Bible as a good ,profitable, and important book but not a necessary, infallable book.
Only necessary until you discover experientially the truth of justification by faith.
Experience is most important. Knowing you are saved through faith in Jesus Christ.
Calvinist's view the Bible as the Word of God, indespensable, infallible, the bread of life.
If this difference in views of the Bible still holds true , then this would explain why Lutheran and Presbyterian churches feel it is more compassionate to accept homosexuality. They feel it is acceptable to interpret the Bible liberally.
Calvinistic and Holiness churches view the Bible as inspired, inerrant, infallable; so they believe it is more loving to call homosexuality a sin. To do any less is to compromise the Word of God.
Nature sides with the view that homosexuality is sin. Otherwise reproduction and disease point in the wrong direction.
Martin Luther's view of faith is based in the human factor , the person's mind ,conscience and will.
He was more concerned about having a clear conscience before God.
His thinking emphasized the act of believing.
How a man believes.
John Calvin's view of faith is based on the divine part of faith, the divine truths, the realities that are the substance of faith.
He was more concerned about what is believed.
His thinking empasized what to believe in.
What a man believes.
Lutheran faith is based on a clear conscience and the act of believing.
Calvinistic faith is based on scripture and what is believed in.
As a result the Lutheran views the Bible as a good ,profitable, and important book but not a necessary, infallable book.
Only necessary until you discover experientially the truth of justification by faith.
Experience is most important. Knowing you are saved through faith in Jesus Christ.
Calvinist's view the Bible as the Word of God, indespensable, infallible, the bread of life.
If this difference in views of the Bible still holds true , then this would explain why Lutheran and Presbyterian churches feel it is more compassionate to accept homosexuality. They feel it is acceptable to interpret the Bible liberally.
Calvinistic and Holiness churches view the Bible as inspired, inerrant, infallable; so they believe it is more loving to call homosexuality a sin. To do any less is to compromise the Word of God.
Nature sides with the view that homosexuality is sin. Otherwise reproduction and disease point in the wrong direction.
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