The Da Vinci Code

Through Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code, you discover a lot of shocking facts about history and Christianity . . . Or do you?

The title Dan Brown used says it all. No-one in the art world calls him 'da Vinci'. That means "of Vinci" - he was Leonardo, who came from Vinci, an Italian town near Florence.

The Code: The pentagram (five pointed star) originated as a symbol for Venus as this is the path mapped by Venus through the night sky over the year.

The Truth: A five pointed star can only be seen in the movements of Venus if you carefully select which dates to look, and only observe on those dates. Otherwise it traces an irregular an zig-zagging pattern which does not resemble any shape let alone a star.

The Code: There is a secret society known as Priory of Sion that has a long and illustrious history dating back to the First Crusade starting with the creation of the Knights Templar as its military and financial front. The order is led by a Grand Master, at one time Leonardo Da Vinci.

The Truth: The Priory of Sion has been proven to be a hoax created by Pierre Plantard in 1956. Most of the evidence presented in support of claims pertaining to its historical existence, let alone significance, has not been considered authentic or persuasive by established historians, academics, and universities and are considered fraudulent.

The Code: Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, whom he named leader of the church before his death.

The Truth: This claim has no support even from the Gnostic Gospels mentioned in Brown's book, let alone from historical data.

The Code: During 300 years of Witch Hunts, the church burned an the stake five million women.

The Truth: The 'Witch Hunts' occured over 400 years (1400-1800) and more like 30,000-50,000 men and women were executed by many different methods rather than just burning at the stake. If the 5 million women figure were true, more than 45 women per day would need to have been burned at the stake, killing more than 40% of Europen women during the period.

The Code: As a "Priory" leader and pagan goddess-worshiper, Leonardo Da Vinci coded secret knowledge about Jesus and Mary into his paintings.

The Truth: Da Vinci had no known ties to any secret Societies. Any obscure images in his paintings likely reflect his personal creativity.

The Code: The 'V' symbol known as the 'chalice' is an ancient symbol for the sacred feminine or goddess.

The Truth: A 'V' symbol has never been used in any time to represent the goddess or femninity.

The Code: The name "Mona Lisa" comes from the combination of two Egyptian god's names, Isis and Amon. Isis, whose ancient pictogram was once called L'ISA (Mona Lisa) is an anogram of the sacred union of male and female.

The Truth: Leonardo never titled any of his works. As far back as the 1525 inventory of the estate of the painter Salai, Leonardo's pupil, the painting is reffered to simply as "A Portrait of a Lady". The correct Italian spelling of Mona is Monna, a shortened version of madonna or Madame so this painting is simply titled Madame Lisa.

The Code: Roman Emperor Constantine called the council of Nicea, there he influenced the attending bishops to declare Christ as divine.

The Truth: While Constantine did in fact host the council of Nicea there is no evidence that he actually contributed to it at all. In fact there is documentary evidence that COnstantine was in favour of the Arian heresey, the belief that Jesus Christ was NOT divine, which was voted against almost unanomously by the 300+ attending bishops. Constantine did not invent the divinity of Jesus.

The Code: Holy Blood, Holy Grail is quoted as a meticulously researched histrical document.

The Truth: Holy Blood, Holy Grail was not written by historians. Its co-authors were Michael Baigent, an author and conspiracy theorist; Richard Leigh, a novelist and short story writer; and Henry Lincoln, a writer who also co-wrote several Doctor Who serials in the 1960s. This book of psuedo-history was based on Pierre Plantard's Priory of Sion hoax. It is generally presumed the authors knew these claims to be, at best, unprovable. In fact, Richard Leigh has stated on television that they only set out to offer a plausible hypothesis, but "never believed it to be true."

There are over 100 historical, architectural and descriptions of art in the Da Vinci Code which are incorrect or fabricated. If Dan Brown cannot even get his 'histoical' facts correct then we should not believe what he says about the church, or Jesus either. There is no consiquence of believeing a wrong date or incorect account of European History. There is Eternal consequences if you do not know Jesus.

Why does this matter, it's only a novel after all?

The problem is not the Da Vinci Code itself. The problem arises when people who either are unable or unmotivated to do any research cling to the Da Vinci Code as a historical and reliable document. People will believe anything if it discredits the Church, even a poorly researched fiction based on a fraudulent account of history.

If you are looking for a reasonable, page-turning novel, or a no-brainer movie pick up or go to the Da Vinci Code.

If you are wanting to learn about history pick up a text book or at least something from the non-fiction section.

If you want to learn about Jesus, click here or pick up a Bible.

Dan Brown's the Da Vinci Code does not contain history, but the Bible does contain HIS-story.

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Reading or watching the film adaptation of the Da Vinci Code may cause you to ask some of the following questions. Please follow the links if you are curious.

What is the Nag Hammadi library?
Who were the early church fathers?
Is the deity of Christ Biblical?
Who was Mary Magdalene?
Was Jesus married?
What are the lost books of the Bible?
What are the Gnostic gospels?
What does the Bible say about the holy grail?
What occurred at the Council of Nicea?
Did Constantine decide what books belonged in the Bible?
What is Opus Dei?
What is the Priory of Sion?
What is the Desposyni / Rex Deus?
What is Holy Blood, Holy Grail?
What was the Merovingian dynasty?
Who were the Knights Templar?
Did Constantine change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday?
What is the sacred feminine?
What is the gospel of Mary (Magdalene)?
What is the gospel of Philip?