The Da Vinci Code Explained by Jack Regan

Since the Da Vinci Code was released a few years ago it has been making waves all over the world, not to mention making it's author, Dan Brown, a shed load of cash.

Catholics reading the book may find that it shakes their faith to a degree and so it is worth asking whether or not what is written in the book is true. Did Jesus and Mary Magdelene have a child, whose descendents are still around today? Are there hidden codes and clues to a past that the Church has always tried to supress? Will you wake up with a horses head on your pillow if you try too hard to find these answers? And what is Opus Dei? And does it have an army of secret agents chasing those who would like to find 'the truth'?

Well no, not really.

When I was researching this, I found a few brilliant articles, the best of which as on the Catholic Answers Website. I have summarised a few points from these and other articles, but the full article from Catholic Answers is linked here:

Catholic Answers - http://www.catholic.com/library/cracking_da_vinci_code.asp

I have also summarised some of the main arguments, along with some sources and references:

Q. Is it true that before the Council of Nicea, many people believed that Jesus was just a man and not the Son of God?

There was a belief called 'Arianism' and the council was convened to sort this problem out as well as a few others. This belief began in the 4th century and was defeated pretty firmly at the council. The first thing to note is that, although they rejected the idea of the Trinity, the Arians did believe that Jesus was divine. In other words, they believed that he was created specially by God and was God's mediator on earth. They just didn't believe that he was 'coequal and co-eternal' with God. In other words, Christians today believe that Jesus has always existed and is equal to God the Father. Arians believed that he was specially created by God - a kind of junior God, I suppose! The second interesting thing to note is that the idea wasn't crushed by Constantine, but was defeated in a free vote. Of around 300 Bishops at the council, all but 2 voted against this as an idea. Hardly a widespread view.

Have a look at: the Wikipedia articles on The Council of Nicea and Arianism

Q. Does the Priory of Sion exist? What do they do?

The Da Vinci Code claims that the Priory of Sion has existed at least since the crusades and that they have always guarded the secret of the Holy Grail. In actual fact the Priory of Sion was founded in 1956 by 4 men as a hoax - one of whom had been to jail for fraud and embezzlement. It was never connected to the Church or Christianity. There is absolutely no evidence of it even existing at all before 1956 and no evidence of any link to anything to do with... well, anything really. There is even evidence that it was set up as a fraud to make money.

Have a look at: www.priory-of-sion.com and Catholic Answers article (cited above) and the Wikipedia Article about it

Q. What evidence is there that the siege of Jerusalem was simply a plan to get hold of the 'Holy Grail'?

None whatsoever. This part of the story is not taken seriously by anyone at all really.

Have a look at: Catholic Answers article (cited above)

Q. What evidence is there that Constantine rewrote the bible to suit his own agenda?

Again, none whatsoever. The current canon of works was pretty much decided before Constantine came into the picture and in any case, all scholars and historians maintain that, although he caleld the council together, his influence was minimal and he recognised the need to defer to the Pope and Bishops.

Have a look at: Catholic Answers article (cited above)

Q. What evidence is there that Mary Magdalene was not the person the bible says she is?

None. This is another part of the book for which there is little, if any evidence. The painting ot the Last Supper depicts St. John the Evangelist sitting next to Jesus. As he was the youngest of the Apostles, he is often painted without a beard, making him look a little feminine in many pictures of him.

Have a look at: Catholic Answers article (cited above)

Q. What about Opus Dei?

A quote from them says this:

The real Opus Dei was founded in Spain in 1928 by a Catholic priest, St. Josemaria Escriva, with the purpose of promoting lay holiness. It began to grow with the support of the local bishops there and was approved as a secular institute of pontifical right by the Holy See in 1950. Opus Dei's work has been blessed and encouraged by Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II. In 1982, John Paul II established it as a personal prelature of the Catholic Church after careful study of its role in the Church's mission. The culmination of the Church's support for Opus Dei and its message came with the 2002 canonization of its founder. Pope John Paul has called Opus Dei's founder "the saint of ordinary life."

Opus Dei is a latin phrase meaning 'the work of God.' While it is true that Opus Dei has a secretive past in some ways, there is again no evidence that they have been used to kill, torture and sabotage people or movements. This is a common accusation which is often levelled at large organisations with any history and secrecy. The practice of inflicting pain upon themselves - called 'corporal mortification' was practiced by Opus Dei members in the past, as it was by many Catholics and other Christians. the belief was that they would grow stronger in faith by uniting themselves to the sufferings of Christ. This may be viewed as misguided and a little odd, but it's hardly evidence of them shooting people! Opus Dei is a widespread and legitimate organisation which does a lot of good work for the Church. And incidently, it has no Monks!

Have a look at: Opus Dei have also launched their own refutation of the Da Vinci Code, which can be read on their website here