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Da Vinci Da Vinci Code Code Debunked Debunked May 15, 2006

Da Vinci Code Debunked

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Da Vinci Code Debunked. May 15, 2006. Introduction. Panelists Irene Mariana Adam Ann Why is there a problem; after all, isn’t it just fiction? Focus on errors about Scripture and early Church History (Ann) Focus on errors about Opus Dei (Irene, Mariana, Adam). - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Da Vinci Da Vinci Code Code

DebunkedDebunked

May 15, 2006

Page 2: Da Vinci Code Debunked

IntroductionIntroduction

• PanelistsPanelists– Irene Irene – MarianaMariana– AdamAdam– AnnAnn

• Why is there a problem; after all, isn’t it just Why is there a problem; after all, isn’t it just fiction?fiction?

• Focus on errors about Scripture and early Focus on errors about Scripture and early Church History (Ann)Church History (Ann)

• Focus on errors about Opus Dei (Irene, Mariana, Focus on errors about Opus Dei (Irene, Mariana, Adam)Adam)

Page 3: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Popularity and Impact of Popularity and Impact of Da Vinci CodeDa Vinci Code

• NYT Bestseller List for over 150 weeksNYT Bestseller List for over 150 weeks

• 25 million books25 million books

• 45 languages45 languages

• ““One of the most widely read books of all One of the most widely read books of all time”time”

• Dan Brown named one of the world’s top Dan Brown named one of the world’s top 100 influential people by TIME magazine100 influential people by TIME magazine

Page 4: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Problem: Problem: Pretense to Historical AccuracyPretense to Historical Accuracy

• According to Dan Brown:According to Dan Brown:

– 8/28/03HOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS BASED ON FACT?All of it. The paintings, locations, historical documents, and organizations described in the novel all exist. Photos of the paintings and locations can be viewed in art books or on my website.

– 1/17/04HOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS BASED ON FACT?The paintings, locations, historical documents, and organizations described in the novel all exist. Photos of the paintings and locations can be viewed in art books or on my website.

• www.danbrown.comwww.danbrown.com (currently one big commercial for the movie) (currently one big commercial for the movie)

Page 5: Da Vinci Code Debunked

The Da Vinci CodeThe Da Vinci Code Proclaims Itself Proclaims Itself Based on FACTBased on FACT

• First Page, before the Prolog is a page First Page, before the Prolog is a page entitled FACTentitled FACT

• Priory of SionPriory of Sion

• Opus DeiOpus Dei

• ““All descriptions of artwork, architecture, All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.”are accurate.”

Page 6: Da Vinci Code Debunked

But Errors Abound InBut Errors Abound In

• Art Art

• HistoryHistory

• Jesus ChristJesus Christ

• Canon of ScriptureCanon of Scripture

• The ChurchThe Church

• Man and WomanMan and Woman

• Opus DeiOpus Dei

Page 7: Da Vinci Code Debunked
Page 8: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Cottage Industry in Exposing Cottage Industry in Exposing Fallacies in Fallacies in Da Vinci CodeDa Vinci Code

• 60 Minutes, 30 April 30 2006, exposed the lies in 60 Minutes, 30 April 30 2006, exposed the lies in the DVC about the Priory of Sion and its the DVC about the Priory of Sion and its ‘ancient’ documents ‘ancient’ documents http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/27/60http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/27/60minutes/main1552009.shtmlminutes/main1552009.shtml

• Catholic Answers discusses in detail errors Catholic Answers discusses in detail errors associated with Church associated with Church http://www.catholic.com/library/cracking_da_vinchttp://www.catholic.com/library/cracking_da_vinci_code.aspi_code.asp

• Several books recently published highlighting Several books recently published highlighting errorserrors

Page 9: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Must Limit Discussion to a Few Must Limit Discussion to a Few Errors in DVCErrors in DVC

• Focus on Scripture and Early Church Focus on Scripture and Early Church History ErrorsHistory Errors

• In particular, Chapters 55-60 (30 pages)In particular, Chapters 55-60 (30 pages)– Jesus ChristJesus Christ– Canon of ScriptureCanon of Scripture– GnosticismGnosticism– Constantine the Great and the ChurchConstantine the Great and the Church

Page 10: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Jesus ChristJesus Christ

• DVC ‘HISTORICAL’ DVC ‘HISTORICAL’ CLAIMSCLAIMS

• Married to Mary Married to Mary MagdaleneMagdalene

• Church defamed Mary Church defamed Mary MagdaleneMagdalene

• No Jewish man would No Jewish man would willing accept celibacy in willing accept celibacy in first centuryfirst century

• HISTORICAL FACTSHISTORICAL FACTS• No documentation of time No documentation of time

makes any claims about makes any claims about Jesus being married to Jesus being married to Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene

• Mary Magdalene is the Mary Magdalene is the apostles to the apostles; apostles to the apostles; how is this defaming??how is this defaming??

• Many Jews lived celibate Many Jews lived celibate life stylelife style– Philo and theraputae in Philo and theraputae in

EgyptEgypt– Qumran communityQumran community

Page 11: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Canon of ScriptureCanon of Scripture

• DVC ‘HISTORICAL’ DVC ‘HISTORICAL’ CLAIMSCLAIMS

• Christian philosophers Christian philosophers wrote Genesis to replace wrote Genesis to replace female creative power female creative power with male creative power with male creative power

• Qumran Scrolls are early Qumran Scrolls are early Christian worksChristian works

• Bible collated by Bible collated by ConstantineConstantine

• HISTORICAL FACTSHISTORICAL FACTS• Qumran Scrolls are NOT Qumran Scrolls are NOT

Christian, but Jewish Christian, but Jewish literature of 1literature of 1stst Century Century

• Genesis in part of Genesis in part of Hebrew, not New Hebrew, not New Testament, CanonTestament, Canon

• NT completed by 100; 2NT completed by 100; 2ndnd C Christians refer to it; C Christians refer to it; Canon of Scripture Canon of Scripture predates Constantine by predates Constantine by 200 years (Irenaeus)200 years (Irenaeus)

Page 12: Da Vinci Code Debunked

GnosticismGnosticism

• DVC DVC ‘HISTORICAL’ ‘HISTORICAL’ CLAIMSCLAIMS

• Nag Hammadi Nag Hammadi scrolls earliest scrolls earliest Christian Christian literatureliterature

• Gospel of Philip Gospel of Philip and Mary and Mary describe marriage describe marriage of Jesus to Mary of Jesus to Mary MagdaleneMagdalene

• Believed Jesus Believed Jesus was only humanwas only human

• HISTORICAL FACTSHISTORICAL FACTS• Nag Hammadi scrolls were written Nag Hammadi scrolls were written

well after NTwell after NT• Gnostics believed that Jesus was Gnostics believed that Jesus was

NOT human, he only appeared to NOT human, he only appeared to be humanbe human

• Gnostics thought the material Gnostics thought the material world (including flesh, sex) were world (including flesh, sex) were evilevil

• ‘‘Marriage’ is eschatological; Jesus Marriage’ is eschatological; Jesus marries the Church and initiates marries the Church and initiates spiritually marry Jesusspiritually marry Jesus

• See for example Robert Grant, See for example Robert Grant, “The Mystery of Marriage in “The Mystery of Marriage in Gospel of Philip”, Vigiliae Gospel of Philip”, Vigiliae Christianae, 1961; available on Christianae, 1961; available on line through MIT Librariesline through MIT Libraries

Page 13: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Church and Constantine the GreatChurch and Constantine the Great

DVC ‘HISTORICAL’ CLAIMSDVC ‘HISTORICAL’ CLAIMS

• ““Constantine turned Jesus into Constantine turned Jesus into a deity”a deity”

• Constantine shifted day of Constantine shifted day of worship to coincided with worship to coincided with worship of Sunworship of Sun

• Constantine ordered the Constantine ordered the writing of NTwriting of NT

• Constantine baptized against Constantine baptized against his will on his death bedhis will on his death bed

• HISTORICAL FACTSHISTORICAL FACTS• Earliest heresy (2nd C) was Earliest heresy (2nd C) was

that Jesus was not human, that Jesus was not human, only divineonly divine

• Earliest church Fathers Earliest church Fathers (Ignatius of Antioch, Ireraeus) (Ignatius of Antioch, Ireraeus) taught that Jesus was human taught that Jesus was human and divineand divine

• Sunday as day set aside for Sunday as day set aside for Christian worship goes back to Christian worship goes back to late 1late 1stst C; first day of week, C; first day of week, new creation, Easternew creation, Easter

• Common practice in 4Common practice in 4thth C not C not to be baptized until near deathto be baptized until near death

Page 14: Da Vinci Code Debunked

““Christ is being sold again, no Christ is being sold again, no longer to the leaders of the longer to the leaders of the

Sanhedrin for thirty denarii, but to Sanhedrin for thirty denarii, but to editors and booksellers for editors and booksellers for

billions of denarii.”billions of denarii.”

--Fr. Cantalamessa,--Fr. Cantalamessa,

Good Friday Homily Good Friday Homily 2006,St. Peter’s2006,St. Peter’s

Page 15: Da Vinci Code Debunked

243 Lexington Avenue, NY243 Lexington Avenue, NY

Page 16: Da Vinci Code Debunked
Page 17: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Opus Dei Opus Dei www.opusdei.orgwww.opusdei.org

• Opus Dei is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Opus Dei is a Catholic institution founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá in 1928. Its mission is to help lay Josemaría Escrivá in 1928. Its mission is to help lay people turn their work and daily activities into occasions people turn their work and daily activities into occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for improving society. improving society.

• In 61 Countries. In 61 Countries.

• Africa 1,800Africa 1,800Asia and the Pacific 4,800Asia and the Pacific 4,800The Americas 29,400The Americas 29,400Europe 49,000Europe 49,000

Page 18: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Message of Opus Dei Message of Opus Dei

• Holiness is not something for the Holiness is not something for the privileged few… but for everyone.privileged few… but for everyone.

• Work, family life, and other ordinary Work, family life, and other ordinary activities are occasions for spiritual union activities are occasions for spiritual union with Jesus Christ.with Jesus Christ.

Page 19: Da Vinci Code Debunked

What Does Opus Dei Do?What Does Opus Dei Do?

• Opus Dei complements the work of local Opus Dei complements the work of local churches by offering classes, retreats and churches by offering classes, retreats and spiritual direction. spiritual direction.

• These activities are held in Opus Dei These activities are held in Opus Dei centers or in a church, office or private centers or in a church, office or private home.home.

Page 20: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Opus Dei Opus Dei

• DVC CLAIMSDVC CLAIMS

• Head of Opus Dei afraid it will Head of Opus Dei afraid it will be ejected from Churchbe ejected from Church

• Members are fixated on painMembers are fixated on pain

• Women members are Women members are repressedrepressed

• FACTSFACTS

• ““Personal prelature” initiative Personal prelature” initiative of Vatican IIof Vatican II

• Members struggle to become Members struggle to become persons for others, in their persons for others, in their work, family and social lifework, family and social life

• Men and women centersMen and women centers and programs are independent and programs are independent

of each other of each other

Page 21: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Opus Dei Opus Dei

• DVC CLAIMSDVC CLAIMS

• SecrecySecrecy

• Brain-washingBrain-washing

• Interest in moneyInterest in money

• ConservativeConservative

• FACTSFACTS

• Respect for privacy, Respect for privacy, interior lifeinterior life

• Loyal to teachings of the Loyal to teachings of the Church; freedom of Church; freedom of opinion in all elseopinion in all else

• Use money at the service Use money at the service of doing goodof doing good

• Preserving doctrine and Preserving doctrine and liturgy but open to all liturgy but open to all noble initiativesnoble initiatives

Page 22: Da Vinci Code Debunked

TRUTHS ABOUT OPUS DEITRUTHS ABOUT OPUS DEI

• Ordinary lay peopleOrdinary lay people

• Sanctifying their daily livesSanctifying their daily lives

• VirtuesVirtues

• Spiritual life: Prayer, Study, Presence of Spiritual life: Prayer, Study, Presence of God, Spiritual direction, SacramentsGod, Spiritual direction, Sacraments

• Ethical workEthical work

• Joy and Peace in everyday tasksJoy and Peace in everyday tasks

Page 23: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Receiving Formation at Opus Receiving Formation at Opus Dei CenterDei Center

• I am not a memberI am not a member• Weekly Circle (formation class- scripture and Weekly Circle (formation class- scripture and

catholic virtues)catholic virtues)• Confession and meditationConfession and meditation• Helps me to live out my catholic vocation as a:Helps me to live out my catholic vocation as a:

– StudentStudent– WifeWife– DaughterDaughter– FriendFriend– MotherMother

Page 24: Da Vinci Code Debunked

Opus Dei CooperatorsOpus Dei Cooperators

• Not members of Opus Dei but support the Prelature Not members of Opus Dei but support the Prelature with prayer, donations, etc. and share in certain with prayer, donations, etc. and share in certain spiritual benefitsspiritual benefits

• Cooperators often friends or family of members, but Cooperators often friends or family of members, but not necessarily… do not even have to be Catholic!not necessarily… do not even have to be Catholic!

• Reasons one might want to be a Cooperator; find Reasons one might want to be a Cooperator; find the spirituality helpful, esp. for students:the spirituality helpful, esp. for students:– Sanctification of work/studiesSanctification of work/studies– ““Unity of life” and contemplation in the worldUnity of life” and contemplation in the world– Divine filiationDivine filiation– Desire to encourage or support the apostolic work of OpusDesire to encourage or support the apostolic work of Opus

Page 25: Da Vinci Code Debunked

ResourcesResources

• Planet EnvoyPlanet Envoy

• Catholic AnswersCatholic Answers

• www.jesusdecoded.comwww.jesusdecoded.com

• Uncommon FaithUncommon Faith

• www.opusdei.orgwww.opusdei.org

• www.opusdeiblogs.orgwww.opusdeiblogs.org

• www.stjosemaria.orgwww.stjosemaria.org

Page 26: Da Vinci Code Debunked

TestimonialTestimonial

• Chris Blunt, member of Opus DeiChris Blunt, member of Opus Dei