THE DA VINCI CODE RESPONSES
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown has become a bestseller. Although a work of fiction, in the story Brown suggests or speculates that Jesus married Mary of Magdalene and that Mary later had a child and went to France. This alleged marriage was known among secret groups, including a supposed group that had Leonardo Da Vinci as a member. In addition to this suggestion, which has no supporting historical or credible evidence, the Gnostic gospels are suggested as being suppressed by the Church and kept from being in the Bible. These allegations have been around before and are nothing new. Many have ably refuted them. Below are some excellent responses to and refutations of the ideas in The Da Vinci Code and some resources regarding the Gnostic gospels.
Excellent critique, "Not InDavincible," by James Patrick Holding http://www.answers.org/issues/davincicode.html
Excellent and thorough article, "Dismantling the Da Vinci Code," by Sandra Miesel http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-religion/974643/posts
Brief article by Al Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY http://www.crosswalk.com/fun/1212187.html
Article by Collin Hansen, "Breaking the Da Vinci Code," that addresses the issues of the deity of Christ and where the canon of scripture comes from -- issues raised in The Da Vinci Code http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/144/52.0.html
"The Da Vince Code -- Seriously" by Jim Snapp II points out 30 inaccuracies in Dan Brown's book, with helpful links www.curtisvillechristian.org/DaVinciCode.html
Article that especially discusses the historical errors in Brown's book: Fantasy, Faith, and History, by Viola Larson http://www.naminggrace.org/id65.htm
Helpful page loaded with information and resources on The Da Vinci Code http://www.apologeticsindex.org/d50.html
A good link to a lot of info on the errors of Dan Brown's book from a site for teens on how to defend the faith http://www.davinci-code-breaker.com
Links and Resources Added April, 2006:
Links
If you want to know what the book and the issues are about, and its impact, read this brief overall view http://www.arcapologetics.org/da-vinci.htm
Materials from Campus Crusade (includes a companion movie guide) http://www.campuscrusade.com/DaVinciquest/
From the Research Center for Theological Resources, a list of Christian books and other resources http://www.rctr.org/davinci.htm
From Leadership U. (a great site with lots of info) http://www.leaderu.com/focus/davincicode.html
Addresses the deity of Christ, whether Jesus was married, the "lost books of the Bible," and the Sacred Feminine (these are all topics from Brown's book) http://www.thetruthaboutdavinci.com/is-jesus-god.html
Errors in the Da Vince Code from Defending the Faith site: http://www.davinci-code-breaker.com/davincicode-errors.htm
Books
There are many books out there responding to Dan Brown's book. Here are a few:
Breaking the DaVinci Code: Answering the Questions Everybody's Asking, by Darrell L. Bock
The Da Vinci Code Breaker, by James L. Garlow (easy to find alphabetical topics)
The Truth Behind the Da Vinci Code, by Richard Abanes (listed by topics as presented in Brown's book, which allows an easy way to respond to specific statements from the book)
Reinventing Jesus: What The Da Vinci Code and Other Novel Speculations Don't Tell You, by Ed. J. Komoszewski, M. James Sawyer, and Daniel B. Wallace
Cracking the Da Vinci Code, by James Garlow and Peter Jones
Gnosticism
Two books addressing the "lost" gospels include The Counterfeit Christ of the New Age Movement by Ron Rhodes and Jesus in an Age of Controversy by Douglas Groothuis.
"Gnosticism and the Gnostic Jesus" by Douglas Groothuis http://www.equip.org/free/DG040-1.htm
"The Gnostic Gospels: Are They Authentic?" by Douglas Groothuis http://www.equip.org/free/DG040-2.htm
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