THE DA VINCI CODE, based on the bestseller novel, opened May 19/06 in theaters worldwide. People do have a thirst for conspiracy theories and the controversial so while movie critics are calling it a dud I imagine the lines will stretch down the block awhile until the novelty wanes.

I will not be one of them. Nor do I intend to read the book. It isn't the kind of detective mystery that interests me. And I can find better use for my time and money. I have read much and listened to many interviews and therefore feel I can write about it with some knowledge and conviction.

Movies and books have a way of molding our thinking. Is what's presented true, not just the facts but the ideas underlying the fiction that is told as true? In Dan Brown's doublespeak he claims it to be fiction and yet repeatedly attests to its factual and historical authenticity. Scholars and historians of notable worth debunk his claim as baseless and inaccurate. It is a covert attempt to rewrite history, to reinvent Jesus Christ.

History cannot be rewritten; nor can the life of Jesus. What has been is! One can better understand history but it cannot be altered. I have no problem coming to a better understanding of Jesus Christ, who he was, what he did, and his influence upon the world today. We can discuss and debate but some things have inalienable rights to its historicity.

Because of Brown's desire to rewrite the past and recreate Jesus into a more palpable image I find such undertakings unprofessional, scandalous, blasphemous, and sacrilegious. Countless seekers will unknowingly and unwittingly buy into this line of lies on the assumption that Dan Brown is credible, which he isn't.

This is my concern. And it is to these truth seekers that I address my comments.

The Da Vinci Code is an unusual brew of a little bit of true and a lot of falsehood. Presented as a novel it contains statements as fact. We need to recognize that just because some of the statements are true not everything is true. There are a lot of errors. It is based on unhistorical assertions, falsehood, and in some cases manufactured and fraudulent documents.

While purporting to be a novel it does claim to be communicating truth. That is just not true. Spiritual opinions are being changed by it. A recent poll indicate that 1 out of every 3 Canadians has bought into what it teaches. Two million Americans had their beliefs about Jesus changed by it. Two-thirds of people in England who read the book now believe that Jesus and Mary Magdalene fathered a child.

And this is the real danger. It isn't so much about the novel or movie. It's the anti-Christ, anti-Christian, view of Jesus Christ that is being portrayed that is the crux of the matter. It isn't about coming up with theories on Jesus. It is discovering the real Jesus, the Jesus of history, the Jesus of faith, the One who holds the keys of life and death. Faith is taking a step in the direction where the evidence points.

To know more about Jesus please read my other postings. And because of the scope of Da Vinci I invite you to link into www.discussdavinci.com and www.haventoday.org/archives.php

Six things you should know before reading the book or seeing the movie are:

* Dan Brown's portrayal of the Church's understanding of women is wrong. The Church didn't do a smear campaign against women.
* His portrayal of the Church's understanding of sex is wrong. The Church did not demonize sex.
* His portrayal of Jesus as not divine, a later invention of the Church, and His alleged marriage, is wrong. There's no evidence in the New Testament, the Church Fathers, or even the Gnostic writings for such an idea.
* His portrayal of the Church is wrong, as the oppressor of people's histories.
* His view of how the New Testament came together, in the 4th century under Constantine, is wrong.
* His definition of God is wrong. Scripturally God is transcendent, being above and beyond with His personality. Brown has Him within ourselves, within the created order; a Pagan origin, the worship of Mother Earth.

Even his art history concerning Leonardo da Vinci is dead wrong.

We need to change wrong thinking shaped by a work of fiction. I hope these things will help you through the confusion into the light of day.