Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, has been one of the blockbusters of the last few years. It has sold in its millions and has been translated into many languages and has made Dan Brown a millionaire.
The story starts as a murder mystery but quickly becomes the story of the hero and heroine solving clue after clue in their search for the Holy Grail whilst being pursued by the police who are trying to catch them and members of a hard-line Roman Catholic group (Opus Dei) trying to stop them finding the Grail before they do.
The book is a novel – no one is claiming that the storyline is anything but pure fiction but it does contain a number of anti-Christian statements about Christ, the Bible and its history and the Church. By the Church the book really means the Roman Catholic Church but most of what is said is also relevant to evangelical teaching about these things.
These statements include:
• "Almost everything our fathers taught us about Christ is false". He was a "mortal prophet … a man" and certainly not God.
• The Emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicea in order to have the human Jesus deified. That was achieved by a narrow vote.
• That done, Constantine "commissioned and financed a new Bible, which omitted those gospels that spoke of Christ’s human traits and embellished those gospels that made Him godlike."
The book centres on the search for the Holy Grail which is supposed to be the chalice used by Christ and the disciples at the Last Supper and into which some of the blood of Christ was gathered during the crucifixion. However, according to The Da Vinci Code, the Holy Grail was not a something but a someone, Mary Magdalene. Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene who was pregnant by Jesus at the time of his crucifixion (so making her the Holy Grail). She was intended by Christ to be the chief of the Apostles – in fact it was on her that Christ’s Church was to have been built - but was persecuted by the male Apostles who resented her status and portrayed her as a common prostitute. To complete the story, she fled to France with Joseph of Arimathea where, Sarah, her baby by Jesus, was born and her descendents are still around today.
Except for the story, there is very little new about many of these comments; they have been around for centuries in some cases, but most are fairly recent, but this is the first time that they have captured the public’s imagination and have really come to the notice of the man in the street.
THE TROUBLE
The trouble is people believe The Da Vinci Code. Despite the fact that it is riddled with errors and has been torn to shreds by both Christians and non-Christians alike, people seem to think that they are true.
These errors are easily refuted but, in order for us to do that, we need to know what those lies are and what the truth is. Fortunately that much has been written about the book’s errors.
REVIEWS
Below are reviews of some of the books that challenge The Da Vinci Code (TDVC). Only two do not come at TDVC from a religious angle: in fact, the vast majority of books which set out to expose Brown’s errors come from a religious angle of one sort or another.
As was mentioned last month, we ought not to ignore the claims of The Da Vinci Code (TDVC) and
fortunately, there are many books available which adequately expose the errors of the book: here are some of the more readily available with my own, very personal, opinion of them. None are definitive, all have their weaknesses and strong points and different uses. Only two do not come at TDVC from a religious angle: in fact, the vast majority of books which set out to expose Brown’s errors come from a religious angle of one sort or another.
TRUTH AND FICTION
Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code by Bart D Ehrman begins well. The first few chapters are excellent, really readable and persuasive.
Unfortunately, some of the second half is non-evangelical making the book as a whole of debatable value.
‘Truth and Fiction’ is pretty much what this book is. I cannot recommend it.
SUPPRESSING
One that stands apart from other books is The Books the Church Suppressed: Fiction and Truth in the Da Vinci Code by Dr Michael Green (published by Monarch Books). The title says it all: it is almost completely concerned with the documents,
i.e. how the New Testament came into being and why Gnosticism and Gnostic writings were rejected. It also includes a chapter on why we can trust the New Testament documents. There is an excellent assessment of ‘the Sacred Feminine’, and Gnosticism in its original form and today’s version.
Well-written, interesting, not hard-going and anyone would benefit from reading it but its is so narrow that I would, therefore, place other books criticising TDVC above it. It costs about £8.00.
BREAKING
Breaking the Da Vinci Code by Darrell L Bock (published by Nelson) majors on Mary Magdalene, her supposed marriage to Jesus, Jesus’ unmarried state, Constantine at Nicea and the Gnostic Gospels. Towards the end it becomes evangelistic although I felt that his explanation was a bit sentimental. Highly thought of by other authors on the subject.
Fairly readable, leaning slightly towards the scholarly and needs close attention in places. Price, about £12.00 which strikes me as expensive for a book with 167 pages of large print and surprisingly large spaces between each line. It may be hardback but it seems a lot for what you get. Read it by all means but, from a price-angle, there are other books I suggest you get.
A ROUGH GUIDE
One book that reflects one of the ways that TDVC has taken hold on the public’s imagination is The Rough Guide To The Da Vinci Code by Michael and Veronica Haag (published by Penguin).
The book divides itself into four sections of which the second and third are the most important. The second has rebuttals of Brown’s attacks on Christianity. The errors are generally adequately tackled but there are some non-evangelical remarks but it is basically sound. The authors go into the background of some topics far more deeply than is necessary.
The third section is, undoubtedly, where the books scores over the others. It covers the locations found in Brown’s book: places such as the Church of St Sulphice and its gnomen in Paris, and Rosslyn Chapel just south of Edinburgh. The books reviewed here, except for Cox’s, rarely, if at all, mention this aspect of TDVC. However, this section – if not the others – is not without its own errors: there are at least two that are easy to spot.
I have mixed feelings about this one. Not my first choice despite the useful third section. Easy to read and, at £4.99, reasonably priced.
CRACKING
I found the original edition of Cracking Da Vinci’s Code by James L Garlow and Peter Jones (published by Victor) irritating and confusing with too much concentration on the sexual, pagan and feminist views of TDVC. It ends up with being a very messy book. Very little on Gnosticism which surprises me given the tenor of the book.
I was, therefore, delighted to see that a new version has had most of those irritants removed though I feel that it still pays a little too much attention to the sexual, pagan and feminist aspects. It is an abridged version of the first, though there is little rewriting: more a case of omitting material. There ought, though, to have been more pruning. The original version can still be obtained. The cost, about £7.00.
The abridgement it, like the original, slightly pretentious and a bit messy but its critique is done competently. The print is a bit small. The cost of the new edition is £2.99 and is good value. It could be used evangelistically. Recommended, particularly in its abridged form, despite its faults.
Do not confuse this book with Cracking The Da Vinci Code by Simon Cox. Although claiming to reveal "how much of the novel is true and what is fiction", it is largely non-committal. It is a glossary of things mentioned in TDVC. The only thing that is not bettered by any of the other books reviewed are its good illustrations. Definitely not recommended.
THE TRUTH
I can recommend The Truth Behind The Da Vinci Code by Richard Abanes (published by Harvest House Publishers). It is short, only 96 pages in total of which 18 are notes, and covers most of the theological aspects and takes in some Church History and a few other errors not mentioned by others. Except for one long rebuttal, each is capably exposed in short, pithy ones.
Concise, no nonsense, to the point: excellent. It will acquaint you with the major errors in TDVC and give you a rebuttal of them. Cost, about £5.95 (a tad expensive but it is American). It is not evangelistic and does not pretend to be. Recommended.
ON TRIAL
The Da Vinci Code On Trial by Stephen Clark published by Bryntirion Press, (distributed by Evangelical Press) does a masterly demolition of TDVC. Clark’s explanation of why Christ was not married is excellent.
The author may have intended it as a vehicle for presenting the Gospel: a quick glance through its 94 pages suggests this. Ten pages are devoted to a summary of Brown’s book (very useful if you have not read it and the only one of all the books reviewed here that does so), three on why it is a best-seller, thirty-one are actually devoted to exposing Brown’s errors and thirty-two to a presentation of the Gospel, an explanation of why we can trust the Bible and an apology of true Christianity. In all this it is very good, though the odd, scholarly (and negative) comment ought to have been edited out.
It could be given to a serious enquirer after the truth about Christianity and TDVC. It costs £4.50. Recommended.
BROKEN
My final book (or rather booklet) is Da Vinci: A Broken Code by Brian Edwards (published by DayOne). With only one departure from the religious aspects of TDVC – to look at Leonardo’s Last Supper – it gives a very readable and a competent 32-page challenge to the book. However, it is not as detailed or as broad as many of the books reviewed. The attempt to give something of its plot is a bit of a waste of time.
It is not evangelistic but that would not prevent me from giving it to any non-Christian. It costs £2.50. Recommended.
FICTION TO FAITH
Garry Williams’ booklet, The Da Vinci Code: From Dan’s Brown Fiction to Mary Magdalene’s Faith (published by Christian Focus) covers much the same ground as Williams’ book both in material and argument but it is much shorter, only 62 pages with larger print and is, in consequence, not so detailed.
It is gentler than Clark’s book which makes it more suitable for non-Christians and it has a warmer evangelistic feel about it. As the title suggests, it challenges its readers as to whether they have the same faith as Mary Magdalene. Cost: about £1.90. Recommended
A RESPONSE
There is a small booklet on the market: The Da Vinci Code: A Response by Nicky Gumbel (published by Alpha International). It is only 27 pages long and is a quick and easy read. Given its size, it is, as one would expect, very limited but it is does its job well.
A good publication for someone who just wants to know something of where TDVC goes wrong. A very easy read and, at only £1 (though I have seen it at twice the price!), a good buy. Could be used for evangelistic purposes rather than for one’s own education. Recommended.
As was mentioned last month, we ought not to ignore the claims of The Da Vinci Code (TDVC) and
fortunately, there are many books available which adequately expose the errors of the book: here are some of the more readily available with my own, very personal, opinion of them. None are definitive, all have their weaknesses and strong points and different uses. Only two do not come at TDVC from a religious angle: in fact, the vast majority of books which set out to expose Brown’s errors come from a religious angle of one sort or another.
TRUTH AND FICTION
Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code by Bart D Ehrman begins well. The first few chapters are excellent, really readable and persuasive.
Unfortunately, some of the second half is non-evangelical making the book as a whole of debatable value.
‘Truth and Fiction’ is pretty much what this book is. I cannot recommend it.
SUPPRESSING
One that stands apart from other books is The Books the Church Suppressed: Fiction and Truth in the Da Vinci Code by Dr Michael Green (published by Monarch Books). The title says it all: it is almost completely concerned with the documents,
i.e. how the New Testament came into being and why Gnosticism and Gnostic writings were rejected. It also includes a chapter on why we can trust the New Testament documents. There is an excellent assessment of ‘the Sacred Feminine’, and Gnosticism in its original form and today’s version.
Well-written, interesting, not hard-going and anyone would benefit from reading it but its is so narrow that I would, therefore, place other books criticising TDVC above it. It costs about £8.00.
BREAKING
Breaking the Da Vinci Code by Darrell L Bock (published by Nelson) majors on Mary Magdalene, her supposed marriage to Jesus, Jesus’ unmarried state, Constantine at Nicea and the Gnostic Gospels. Towards the end it becomes evangelistic although I felt that his explanation was a bit sentimental. Highly thought of by other authors on the subject.
Fairly readable, leaning slightly towards the scholarly and needs close attention in places. Price, about £12.00 which strikes me as expensive for a book with 167 pages of large print and surprisingly large spaces between each line. It may be hardback but it seems a lot for what you get. Read it by all means but, from a price-angle, there are other books I suggest you get.
A ROUGH GUIDE
One book that reflects one of the ways that TDVC has taken hold on the public’s imagination is The Rough Guide To The Da Vinci Code by Michael and Veronica Haag (published by Penguin).
The book divides itself into four sections of which the second and third are the most important. The second has rebuttals of Brown’s attacks on Christianity. The errors are generally adequately tackled but there are some non-evangelical remarks but it is basically sound. The authors go into the background of some topics far more deeply than is necessary.
The third section is, undoubtedly, where the books scores over the others. It covers the locations found in Brown’s book: places such as the Church of St Sulphice and its gnomen in Paris, and Rosslyn Chapel just south of Edinburgh. The books reviewed here, except for Cox’s, rarely, if at all, mention this aspect of TDVC. However, this section – if not the others – is not without its own errors: there are at least two that are easy to spot.
I have mixed feelings about this one. Not my first choice despite the useful third section. Easy to read and, at £4.99, reasonably priced.
CRACKING
I found the original edition of Cracking Da Vinci’s Code by James L Garlow and Peter Jones (published by Victor) irritating and confusing with too much concentration on the sexual, pagan and feminist views of TDVC. It ends up with being a very messy book. Very little on Gnosticism which surprises me given the tenor of the book.
I was, therefore, delighted to see that a new version has had most of those irritants removed though I feel that it still pays a little too much attention to the sexual, pagan and feminist aspects. It is an abridged version of the first, though there is little rewriting: more a case of omitting material. There ought, though, to have been more pruning. The original version can still be obtained. The cost, about £7.00.
The abridgement it, like the original, slightly pretentious and a bit messy but its critique is done competently. The print is a bit small. The cost of the new edition is £2.99 and is good value. It could be used evangelistically. Recommended, particularly in its abridged form, despite its faults.
Do not confuse this book with Cracking The Da Vinci Code by Simon Cox. Although claiming to reveal "how much of the novel is true and what is fiction", it is largely non-committal. It is a glossary of things mentioned in TDVC. The only thing that is not bettered by any of the other books reviewed are its good illustrations. Definitely not recommended.
THE TRUTH
I can recommend The Truth Behind The Da Vinci Code by Richard Abanes (published by Harvest House Publishers). It is short, only 96 pages in total of which 18 are notes, and covers most of the theological aspects and takes in some Church History and a few other errors not mentioned by others. Except for one long rebuttal, each is capably exposed in short, pithy ones.
Concise, no nonsense, to the point: excellent. It will acquaint you with the major errors in TDVC and give you a rebuttal of them. Cost, about £5.95 (a tad expensive but it is American). It is not evangelistic and does not pretend to be. Recommended.
ON TRIAL
The Da Vinci Code On Trial by Stephen Clark published by Bryntirion Press, (distributed by Evangelical Press) does a masterly demolition of TDVC. Clark’s explanation of why Christ was not married is excellent.
The author may have intended it as a vehicle for presenting the Gospel: a quick glance through its 94 pages suggests this. Ten pages are devoted to a summary of Brown’s book (very useful if you have not read it and the only one of all the books reviewed here that does so), three on why it is a best-seller, thirty-one are actually devoted to exposing Brown’s errors and thirty-two to a presentation of the Gospel, an explanation of why we can trust the Bible and an apology of true Christianity. In all this it is very good, though the odd, scholarly (and negative) comment ought to have been edited out.
It could be given to a serious enquirer after the truth about Christianity and TDVC. It costs £4.50. Recommended.
BROKEN
My final book (or rather booklet) is Da Vinci: A Broken Code by Brian Edwards (published by DayOne). With only one departure from the religious aspects of TDVC – to look at Leonardo’s Last Supper – it gives a very readable and a competent 32-page challenge to the book. However, it is not as detailed or as broad as many of the books reviewed. The attempt to give something of its plot is a bit of a waste of time.
It is not evangelistic but that would not prevent me from giving it to any non-Christian. It costs £2.50. Recommended.
FICTION TO FAITH
Garry Williams’ booklet, The Da Vinci Code: From Dan’s Brown Fiction to Mary Magdalene’s Faith (published by Christian Focus) covers much the same ground as Williams’ book both in material and argument but it is much shorter, only 62 pages with larger print and is, in consequence, not so detailed.
It is gentler than Clark’s book which makes it more suitable for non-Christians and it has a warmer evangelistic feel about it. As the title suggests, it challenges its readers as to whether they have the same faith as Mary Magdalene. Cost: about £1.90. Recommended
A RESPONSE
There is a small booklet on the market: The Da Vinci Code: A Response by Nicky Gumbel (published by Alpha International). It is only 27 pages long and is a quick and easy read. Given its size, it is, as one would expect, very limited but it is does its job well.
A good publication for someone who just wants to know something of where TDVC goes wrong. A very easy read and, at only £1 (though I have seen it at twice the price!), a good buy. Could be used for evangelistic purposes rather than for one’s own education. Recommended.
None of the books mentioned are definitive, all have their weaknesses and strong points and different uses.
TRUTH AND FICTION IN THE DA VINCI CODE
Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code by Bart D Ehrman begins well. The first few chapters are excellent, really readable and persuasive. Unfortunately, some of the second half is non-evangelical making the book as a whole of debatable value.
‘Truth and Fiction’ is pretty much what this book is. I cannot recommend it.
THE BOOKS THE CHURCH SUPPRESSED
One that stands apart from other books is The Books the Church Suppressed: Fiction and Truth in the Da Vinci Code by Dr Michael Green (published by Monarch Books). The title says it all: it is almost completely concerned with the documents,
i.e. how the New Testament came into being and why Gnosticism and Gnostic writings were rejected. It also includes a chapter on why we can trust the New Testament documents. There is an excellent assessment of ‘the Sacred Feminine’ and Gnosticism in its original form and today’s version.
Well-written, interesting, not hard-going and anyone would benefit from reading it but it is so narrow in its subject that I would place other books that challenge TDVC above it. It costs about £8.00.
BREAKING THE DA VINCI CODE
Breaking the Da Vinci Code by Darrell L Bock (published by Nelson) majors on Mary Magdalene, her supposed marriage to Jesus, Jesus’ unmarried state, Constantine at Nicea and the Gnostic Gospels. Towards the end it becomes evangelistic although that this was a bit sentimental. Highly thought of by other authors on the subject.
Fairly readable, leaning slightly towards the scholarly and needs close attention in places. Price, about £12.00 which strikes me as expensive for a book with 167 pages of large print and surprisingly large spaces between each line. It may be a hardback but it seems a lot for what you get. Read it by all means but, from a price-angle, there are other books I suggest you get.
A ROUGH GUIDE TO THE DA VINCI CODE
One book that reflects one of the ways that TDVC has taken hold on the public’s imagination is The Rough Guide To The Da Vinci Code by Michael and Veronica Haag (published by Penguin).
The book divides itself into four sections of which the second and third are the most important. The second has rebuttals of Brown’s attacks on Christianity. The errors are generally adequately tackled but there are some non-evangelical remarks but it is basically sound. The authors go into the background of some topics far more deeply than is necessary.
The third section is, undoubtedly, where the book scores over the others. It covers the locations found in Brown’s book: places such as the Church of St Sulphice and its gnomon in Paris, and Rosslyn Chapel just south of Edinburgh. The books reviewed here, except for Cox’s, rarely, if at all, mention this aspect of TDVC. However, this section – if not the others – is not without its own errors: there are at least two that are easy to spot.
I have mixed feelings about this one. Not my first choice despite the useful third section. Easy to read and, at £4.99, reasonably priced.
CRACKING DA VINCI’S CODE
I found the original edition of Cracking Da Vinci’s Code by James L Garlow and Peter Jones (published by Victor) irritating and confusing with too much concentration on the sexual, pagan and feminist views of TDVC. It ends up with being a very messy book. There is very little on Gnosticism which surprises me given the tenor of the book.
I was, therefore, delighted to see that a new version has had most of those irritants removed though I feel that it still pays a little too much attention to the sexual, pagan and feminist aspects. It is an abridged version of the first, though there is little rewriting: more a case of omitting material. There ought, though, to have been more pruning. The original version can still be obtained. The cost, about £7.00.
The abridgement is, like the original, slightly pretentious and a bit messy but its critique is done competently. The print is a bit small. It could be used evangelistically. Recommended, particularly in its abridged form, despite its faults. The cost of the new edition is £2.99 and is good value.
Do not confuse this book with a book of a similar title, Cracking The Da Vinci Code by Simon Cox. Although claiming to reveal "how much of the novel is true and what is fiction", it is largely non-committal. It is a glossary of things mentioned in TDVC. The only thing that is not bettered by any of the other books reviewed are its good illustrations. Definitely not recommended.
THE TRUTH BEHIND THE DA VINCI CODE
I can wholeheartedly recommend The Truth Behind The Da Vinci Code by Richard Abanes (published by Harvest House Publishers). It is short, only 96 pages in total of which 18 are notes, and covers most of the theological aspects and takes in some Church History and a few other errors not mentioned by others. Except for one long rebuttal, each is capably exposed in short, pithy ones.
Concise, no nonsense, to the point: excellent. It will acquaint you with the major errors in TDVC and give you a rebuttal of them. It is not evangelistic and does not pretend to be. Recommended. Cost, £5.95 (a tad expensive but it is American).
THE DA VINCI CODE ON TRIAL
The Da Vinci Code On Trial by Stephen Clark published by Bryntirion Press, (distributed by Evangelical Press) does a masterly demolition of TDVC. Clark’s explanation of why Christ was not married is excellent.
The author may have intended it as a vehicle for presenting the Gospel: a quick glance through its 94 pages suggests this. Ten pages are devoted to a summary of Brown’s book (very useful if you have not read it and the only one of all the books reviewed here that does so), three on why it is a best-seller, thirty-one are actually devoted to exposing Brown’s errors and thirty-two to a presentation of the Gospel, an explanation of why we can trust the Bible and an apology of true Christianity. In all this it is very good, though the odd, scholarly (and negative) comment ought to have been edited out.
It could be given to a serious enquirer after the truth about Christianity and TDVC. Recommended. It costs £4.50.
DA VINCI: A BROKEN CODE
A very recently published booklet on the subject is Da Vinci: A Broken Code by Brian Edwards (published by DayOne). With only one departure from the religious aspects of TDVC – to look at Leonardo’s Last Supper – it gives a very readable and a competent 32-page challenge to the book. However, it is not as detailed or as broad as many of the books reviewed. The attempt to give something of its plot is a bit of a waste of time.
It is not evangelistic but that would not prevent me from giving it to any non-Christian. It costs £2.50.
FROM DAN BROWN’S FICTION TO MARY MAGDALENE’S FAITH
Garry Williams’ booklet, The Da Vinci Code: From Dan’s Brown Fiction to Mary Magdalene’s Faith (published by Christian Focus) covers much the same ground as Williams’ book both in material and argument but it is much shorter, only 62 pages with larger print and is, in consequence, not so detailed.
It is gentler than Clark’s book which makes it more suitable for non-Christians and it has a warmer evangelistic feel about it. As the title suggests, it challenges its readers as to whether they have the same faith as Mary Magdalene. Recommended. Cost was £1.90 but as it is being reprinted, that may increase.
THE DA VINCI CODE: A RESPONSE
There is a small booklet on the market: The Da Vinci Code: A Response by Nicky Gumbel (published by Alpha International). It is only 27 pages long and is a quick and easy read. Given its size, it is, as one would expect, very limited but it is does its job well.
A good publication for someone who just wants to know something of where TDVC goes wrong. A very easy read and, at only £1 (though I have seen it at twice the price!), a good buy. Could be used for evangelistic purposes rather than for one’s own education. Recommended.
There are other books on the market but those above are probably the main ones you are likely to come across.
Scripture tells us that we must "be ready to give a defence to anyone who asks [us] for a reason for the hope that is in" us. (I Peter 3 v 15) In the months ahead, the profile of TDVC will be raised. We ought, therefore, to be able to give some response to the lies that we find in the book along with an effective presentation of the Gospel. Many of these books will help us to do that.
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