The Da Vinci Code

The best-selling book by Dan Brown is a work of FICTION - and that is what readers of the book and viewers of the film need to remember!

Often readers or viewers may be inclined to think that they contain the truth about Christianity - this page presents the other side of that argument!

The book contains many assumptions that are historically inaccurate. The book claims that Jesus did not die as the Bible proclaims but instead married Mary Magdalene. It says that their 'bloodline' is the 'Holy Grail' and that a secret organisation has covered up the secret.

So how should Christians respond?
We need to understand the issues and know what the book is about so we can speak to our friends, neighbours and work colleagues about the book and show them the historical and factual errors and explain the real message of the gospel.

Some groups have protested and campaigned against the movie but didn't do that! We need to understand the issues and address them. 

Reading the book or seeing the film?
We recommended that Christians do not see the movie or read the book. Of course, that doesn't mean that Christians can't or even shouldn't read the book. However, reading a book or viewing a film can mean wrong ideas are absorbed it they are not carefully analysed!

Our first concern is that the film promotes messages that are in direct opposition to the Christian gospel. We don't need to fill our heads with Dan Brown's false messages. One does not need to gamble or watch pornography to know that these things are bad for us!

Secondly we don't want to give them our money and support such films and books!

Thirdly there are elements in the book that are morally unacceptable. One particular scene has been highlighted by Ted Baehr of MovieGuide, a Christian group that analyses movies from a Christian perspective. It is a pagan sex scene where this occurs in a ritual with others watching.

Prior to the film's release the Director said the film would be 'faithful' to the book - as it turned out, the film actually left out some of what were considered the more controversial scenes.

The film was rated M in Australia.

For those who choose to see the film or read the book, the following resources will provide information to assist you in discerning what is true and what is false in The Da Vinci Code...

Resources
Some excellent books and resources have been prepared to help everyone use the film to engage in discussion with friends and neighbours about the errors and flaws in the movie and the true gospel message... Here are a few...

Articles
The Gospel according to Dan Brown
By Bill Muehlenberg
A great article explaining the claims of the book, and then refuting them.
Also on Bill's website - click here.

The Da Vinci Code: Fiction masquerading as fact
by Russell Grigg, Creation Ministries.

Decoding the Da Vinci Code
Bishop N.T. Wright (Durham), Response Magazine, SPU, Summer 2005.

Not InDavincible - A Review and Critique of The DaVinci Code
J. P. Holding, Tektonics Apologetics Ministry.

What's wrong with The Da Vinci Code?
One page flyer, Tektonics Apologetics Ministry.

The Da Vinci Decode
A book available to download. From Seventh Day Adventist ministries.

E-News 18 May 2006: The Da Vinci Code - how to respond... from Salt Shakers.

Websites:

Truth About Da Vinci
This site www.thetruthaboutdavinci.com is being hosted by Westminster Theological Seminary and went live on Good Friday, April 14, 2006.
It includes contributors such as renowned author and speaker Os Guinness; Redeemer Presbyterian Pastor Tim Keller; authors of the best-selling Cracking Da Vinci's CodePeter Jones and Jim Garlow; Dallas Theological Seminary Professor and author Darrell Bock; and many others.
It is engaging, well presented and is a great resource to help you.

Endorsing the site is MOVIEGUIDE®'s publisher Ted Baehr, commenting, "This site is both for the people wanting to go to the film so they can talk about it with their friends, or for those who choose not to support the film financially. Whatever your position, this site adds accuracy, credibility and scholarship to the discussion. It is an excellent on line resource. Bravo!"
Click here for the website.

The Da Vinci Code - A Biblical Response
Christian Broadcasting Network website.
This is very helpful because it has with two lists:
"The Da Vinci Code Says" and "History Says" with BRIEF sections on 'Jesus', 'The Dead Sea Scrolls', 'Gnostic gospels', 'bloodline of Jesus', 'the Bible', 'Leonardo da Vinci' etc.
It also has a great list of resources, websites etc....
Click here.

Da Vinci Quest
Campus Crusade for Christ produced a range of resources to coincide with the release of the movie. They have a book about The Da Vinci Code written by Josh McDowell called The Da Vinci Code - a quest for answers. Click here for the website with information about the book.

They produced a 20 page companion guide to the movie. We have some of these in the office - free but we ask you to contribute $2 for postage please - stamps will be fine!)

A FREE downloadable 30 page booklet with a series of study guides suitable for small groups, Sunday school etc is available. It has been written by Josh McDowell. Click here.

Word-on-the web Bible Studies
Church Army evangelist, Andrew Wooding (UK), published seven daily emails looking at aspects of The Da Vinci Code in bite-sized 300-word chunks.
They were available through Word-on-the-web. Click here for website.
Click here for Andrew's review of the film.

Challenging da Vinci
An innovative website has been set up by Sydney Anglicans to counter the stories told in the Da Vinci Code movie and book. Anglican Media Sydney ran 20-second ads on 250 screens in 15 multiplexes in Sydney, Wollongong and Shellharbour during the screening of the movie The Da Vinci Code to promote the website. Click here for the website.  

Media articles:

Movie release media reports: 18 May 2006
Critics slate The Da Vinci Code
From AFP, 17/05/2006

Media Release: Summarising the critics comments
Da Vinci Code' Bombs With Critics
Christian Wire Service, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, 18 May 2006.

Media prior to movie release:
Church spends $50K to debunk Da Vinci claims
By Sarah Price, April 30, 2006, Sydney Morning Herald.

Movie raises ire across the globe
By Sarah Price and Annabel Crabb, April 30, 2006, Sydney Morning Herald.