The Da Vinci Code …definitely fiction
Yes , Dan Browns book is a work of fiction but its spectacular rise to popularity was based on readers faith in the authors statement ‘that all of the books background is based on reality,in terms of things that actually occurred. All of the art,architecture,secret rituals and secret societies are historical fact’.
This claim to credibility has now been shot full of holes.
In the years since the Da Vinci code hit the headlines a number scholarly and well researched books have come onto the market debunking its authors claims.
One of the best of these is The Da Vinci Hoax by Carl E Olsen and Sandra Miesel. Both are practicing catholics and their book is largely a response to Browns casting of the Catholic Church as a sinister organization . They do include researched facts on other parts of the code and the result is a convincing blow to Browns claims of authenticity. All criticisms come with page numbers from the Da Vinci code and references that the reader can follow up if desired.
As I worked my way through their book I was surprised to find that virtually everything in the Da Vinci code is inaccurate,untrue or just plain bunkum.
A lot of Dan Browns ‘facts and carefully researched resources’ are information and ideas taken directly from a couple of other books pushing the same the same message, which are themselves inauthentic and mostly fantasy.
I don’t want to appear to be Dan Brown bashing!!!but I think if you publish a volume that purports to be based on historical fact and that challenges the authenticity of the Catholic Church,The basic message of New Testament Christianity and important details about historical manuscripts,art,notable historical characters,societies and organizations you should expect to be subjected to scrutiny.
One can’t help thinking that Dan had an agenda and the truth was not going to be an obstacle!
Read more articles by Ross Thompson or search for articles on the same topic or others.
