Da Vinci Code: Fact or Fiction

Conspiracy theories can be interesting, but many of them are simply untrue and based on twisted facts. Dan Brown's book, The Da Vinci code, is a perfect example.

The writer is evidently familiar with classic historical writing as he tries to adapt it in his story, and even though the work is fiction, it gives one a presupposition that the story is based on actual facts.

However, the facts used in The Da Vinci Code were not only flawed, they were very much distorted; confusing those who are not as learned in bible scripture while casting doubt as to the authenticity of the New Testament.

The fact sheet given at the beginning of the book is stated as being actual facts when they are not real facts at all. Dan Brown twisted history and relied on falsified documents to create a work of fiction which he presented to the public as truth.

Many Christians believe that The Da Vinci Code attacks the real Jesus Christ and His church. The book states that the Priory of Sion was organized in 1099. False! It was organized in 1956 by the Grand Master, Pierre Plantard- an anti-Semite with a prior conviction for fraud!

The Knights of Templar were not what Dan Brown paints them to be. They were a true order and many legends and folklore circulated, even unto the King Author legends. The truth is that they did become very wealthy and were quite powerful in Europe. King Phillip accused them of worshiping Satan in order to get their wealth, but Pope Clement saw through the attempt and dismissed the trial. The Knights of Templar were found innocent. This is all is well documented.

The Opus Dei is a prelature of laymen, not priests, as Dan Brown would have you believe. It was, however, founded by a priest. They are indeed very secretive and it is true that their headquarters is in New York. Due to the secretive nature of this organization it would be difficult to check the facts about them; which he very well knows.

The legends of the Holy Grail are based on Celtic superstitions and can be traced beyond the ninth century in France; where it escalated into a legend of Mary Magdalene being linked with Jesus and the pagan god Isis. There were even legends about her and John the Baptist.

There were a number of women named Mary in the first century and in Bible scriptures, many have been confused as to which Mary is being talked about. Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus, is often confused with Mary Magdalene. In any event, the gospel of Phillip, the Gnostic gospel on which Dan Brown bases his absurd heresy, was written in the third century- 200 years after the fact!

Contrary to what The Da Vinci Code proposes, the Merovingian line is not the results of a union between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. There is no credible evidence whatsoever to support such an absurd notion. There is, however, a possible link with the powerful families of Europe to the Merovingian line.

As for the painting of the Last Supper, the men in the first century reclined at meals on the floor or cushions so the painting didn't really convey the real picture. The person to Jesus' left was not Mary Magdalene but John, who was portrayed in a feminine way which; for whatever reason, is how all the French painters did in those days.

The Da Vinci Code was also incorrect concerning the emperor Constantine. First of all, Constantine did not make Christianity the state religion. He granted Christians the right to worship and he himself became a Christian and was baptized just before his death. It was the next emperor, Theodosius, who made Christianity the state religion.

According to Dan Brown, The council of Nicaea chose the books of the New Testament and decided on their own to make Jesus divine. Not true! Two men argued the case of Christ's deity. One, Arius, said that Jesus was a great man, but just a man. The other, Athanasius, argued that Jesus was the Christ with full deity. Ultimately, the work of Arius was considered to be erroneous and was burned.

The deity of Christ was already understood very well by the early Christians and contrary to what The Da Vinci Code portrays; out of the 318 bishops at the council at Nicaea, only five voted against it. Furthermore, the Bible was basically complete at Nicaea. It had been in circulation long before that.

The Gnostic gospels were written during the third and fourth centuries- three to four hundred years after Jesus was born. Yet Dan Brown acknowledged them as gospel truths. There were a number of these floating around and the authorities at the time were able to recognize them for what they were.

Teabing, a character in the Da Vinci Code movie, said, "The Bible is a product of man," and that is just not true. There are 66 books in the Bible, which were written over a period of around 2,000 years by 40 different authors over three different continents and it all fits together perfectly. The prophecies alone should be enough to convince even the worse skeptic. A scribe, writing by hand, couldn't have fabricated the codes found in the Bible. It even stumps our modern computers!

"If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Gal. 1:9)

Dan Brown and others like him try to hide the truth about the perfect Savior. They try to twist the facts and confuse those who are biblically challenged and weak in the faith. God is very protective of those who are young in the faith.

"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."

"it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God". (Heb. 10:31)