The danger of The Da Vinci Code

By -
While driving into town, I heard one typically annoying radio talk show host ask listeners what it was about The Da Vinci Code (TDC) that so frightened them. He kept saying things like "if Jesus had a baby with Mary Magdalene, what difference does it make? Isn't it just that you don't like the idea of Jesus 'doing it' with Mary Magdalene?" (As you may have guessed, this particular host tries to get ratings by saying outrageous things.)

Well, Mr. radio talk-show host, you are missing the point altogether. The problem that people like me have with TDC is that it pretends to be history and therefore leads people away from the truth. You see, while I have theological reasons for doubting that Jesus had a child with Mary Magdalene (on top of the fact that I have no historical reason to believe that he did), the central claim of TDC is that Jesus did nothing during his life that would have led him to be exalted as the one and only Son of God, but rather that such a mantle was placed on him in the Fourth Century by the Council of Nicea and the Emporer Constantine.

"So what?" you should properly ask. "It is a work of fiction, is it not?" Yes, it is. But here is the problem -- people seem to be having a difficult time in this area acknowledging that it is a work of fiction. For example, according to "The Da Vinci Code Intrigue" by Lisa Ann Cockrel:

in Canada, the National Geographic Channel commissioned a survey in 2005 in anticipation of a full day of programming inspired by The Da Vinci Code. It found that 32% of Canadians who have read the novel believe that the theories outlined in it are true.

In France, the same seems to hold true. According to an article from AFP "[n]early a quarter of French adults believe that the novel The Da Vinci Code is based on facts surrounding the life of Jesus Christ, according to a survey."

Twenty-four percent of respondents in the survey, published Tuesday, said they believed the work was "inspired by real facts" and another seven percent said it was a mixture of inspiration from facts and of "esoteric" literary sources.

I am certain that if polls were taken in other countries, similar results would follow since I have no reason to believe that either the Canadians or the French are more gullible than any other nation.

Over on the very fine blog The Dawn Treader (as well as other places, I am confident) much discussion takes place about how we should respond to TDC. Some suggest (as detailed in an article in Christianity Today -- the link for which I seem to have lost) that it is not a good idea to try to defend the claims of Christianity against this book. Rather, some advise that Christians should ignore the book, movie and furor altogether since it will soon blow over and be forgotten. I think that these polls show that it would be very unwise to simply hope it will blow over. Even before the release of the upcoming "blockbuster" movie, TDC is already influencing the general population's view of historic truth related to Christianity. It is this shift towards false claims about the life of the historic Jesus as faithfully recorded in the Gospels that we must defend. To not do so will leave thousands if not millions with unanswered claims about the truth of Christianity.

=========

Cross-blogged at Apologia Christi.

Comments

Tenax said…
BK,

this is a great post.

I agree that it really doesn't matter if Jesus married MM, had a baby, had ten babies; not as long as God raised him from the dead. But as you note, the real danger of the DVC is that it does its grand best to undermine orthodox Christian belief; it does this at the expense of history on page after page, and Christians can't ignore it simply because people really do believe it! Not historians or scholars, but millions of people.

A nice article, well-referenced and clear. Thanks.

t
5/11/2006 09:03:00 AM
Shaquira said…
"THE DA VINCI CODE IS ALL A BIG LIE"

This Movie and the Book is all a Big LIE... Is just a perfect way for the DEVIL to get People and the Whole World more Confused than we already are...

If you ever had read the Bible, it talks about how all of this was going to happen at the end of the days.

The false religions and false prophets,etc., and people are so Stupid they fall for anything easy that the DEVIL puts in there way.

The DEVIL is just having a Party and Laughing at the whole World. I wish you could see how much fun he is having in getting every one Confused and making lots of MONEY with this nonsense stuff, that we Humans fall for.....

Just Read the BIBLE and focus on the real thing that will never Confuse you or take you to HELL...

JESUS CHRIST, HE IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN....

AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THE BIBLE ARE GOING TO HELL..... ALL THEY WANT IS YOUR MONEY.

BECAUSE, THAT IS REALLY THE DEVIL USING THEM TO PRODUCED ALL THIS STUPID MOVIES, ETC.
"SO HE CAN HAVE MORE PEOPLE, BURNING IN HELL WITH HIM!!!!!

SEE, PEOPLE THAT HAVE JESUS IN THEIR HEART AND RESPECT FOR THE LORD KNOW THAT HE CAME HERE TO DIE FOR ALL OF US IN A CROSS, TO GIVE US SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE. THEY WILL NEVER FALL FOR THIS NONSENSE STUFF. I AM TALKING ABOUT THE SMART PEOPLE :)

NOT THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BURN IN HELL....

THE MOVIE PEOPLE SHOULD SEE IS THE FOLLOWING:

"THE BURNING HELL"
20,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
BY Estus Pirkle

This film is a scriptural interpretation of what the Bible has to say about a literal hell. The film seeks to portray in graphic terms all of the horror of hell and how to escape its flames. Of central importance in the film is the incident involving the rich man and Lazarus.

"THIS WILL BE AN EXCELLENT HOLLYWOOD HIT"

THIS IS THE MOVIE IS REAL AND IF YOU KEEP LISTENING TO ALL THE NEGATIVE STUFF THE DEVIL IS PUTTING OUT THERE, THIS IS WERE YOU ARE GOING TO END UP, IN “THE BURNING HELL” FOR EVER ;)

"PLEASE BE THE PART OF THE SMART ONES AND DON'T LET THE DEVIL CONFUSE YOU, BELIEVE AND READ THE ONLY THING THAT IS GOING TO TAKE YOU TO HEAVEN, THE BIBLE"
5/24/2006 09:44:00 AM
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