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The Priory of Sion
The author, Dan Brown, claims before he begins his novel that the following is fact: “The Priory of Sion-a European secret society founded in 1099-is a real organization. In 1975 Paris’s Bibliotheque Nationale discovered parchments known as Les Dossiers Secrets, identifying numerous members of the Priory of Sion, including Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Further research into the origin of the Priory of Sion:
-The Priory of Sion was created in 1956 by an eccentric, Pierre Plantard.
-Plantard and associate, Philippe de Ch?risey, fabricated a series of documents, including Les Dossiers Secrets, and planted them in various French libraries.
-The false documents created a false history for the Priory, including a false inception date of 1099 and a false list of members, including Sir Isaac Newton.
-Ch?risey publicly admitted the documents were forgeries in 1971.
-Plantard subsequently admitted they were forgeries as well.
-In 1989 Plantard fabricated a new history of the Priory of Sion, now founded in 1681, and supplied a new list of Grand Masters.
-Plantard ended up in court in 1993, where he admitted his hoax.
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The Inspired Word of God
The Da Vinci Code claims:The Bible is not the Word of God
?The Bible is a product of man, my dear, not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book?the fundamental irony of Christianity! The Bible, as we know it today, was collected by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine the Great.? (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code p.231)
Christianity responds:
The Scriptures themselves claim to be the inspired Word of God (2 Tim 3:16). Peter explains that the Spirit of God came upon apostles and prophets and filled them with His revelation (2 Peter 1:16-21). Paul adds his experience (1 Cor 2:9-13).
But there weren?t additions or revisions; we have over 5,000 ancient New Testament manuscripts dating back into the second century affirming the present New Testament. Constantine had nothing to do with creating the New Testament. These books were recognized and used by general consensus of Christians since the birth of the church.
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He Has Risen!
So they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe. The women were startled, but the angel said, “Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body. Now go and give this message to His disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died!” The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk.
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The Gospel of Judas
National Geographic has recovered the gospel of Judas and announced yesterday that they believe that Jesus asked Judas to betray him. This definitely will have an effect on the story of Jesus’ crucifixion. Read more about this.
Did the Resurrection Happen?
The resurrection, it is said, was a divine endorsement of Jesus? teachings, God?s confirmation that Jesus? teachings were true. If this is correct, then there can be no doubt as to which of the three positions concerning above is the correct one. If there is significant evidence for the resurrection, then we have to take Jesus seriously.
Many have claimed that the Christian doctrine that Jesus rose from the dead is too fantastic to be true. Interestingly, the resurrection of Jesus has led people to conversion when they have sought to analyze it historically. The accounts of the resurrection of Jesus in the New Testament has been subjected to rigorous historical analysis more than probably any other aspect of the Bible. What exactly, then, have these historical analyses revealed about the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus? A careful examination shows that the conclusion that Jesus rose bodily from the dead is the best explanation for the evidence surrounding these substantiated facts from history: Jesus died, His tomb was found empty, over 500 people witnessed Him after His resurrection.
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The Jesus Papers.
Micheal Baigent was recently interviewed on NBC about his latest book, The Jesus Papers. Baigent is one of the authors suing Dan Brown claiming he took material from an earlier publication.
The Jesus Papers is based on factual information that disputes some teachings of the Bible. Baigent even claims Jesus survived his crucifixion and calls it the greatest cover up in history.
In the NBC interview, there is an excerpt from his book and also a video interview with Baigent about his book, along with a rebuttal from a NBC correspondent/priest.
Does Baigent come across as trying to be a real life Robert Langdon? Anagram Baigent and you get Teabing. Or is this all just a giant marketing facade meant to boost sales for both authors?
YHWH
The Da Vinci Code claims: God the Father has a wife
?Early Jews believed that the Holy of Holies in Solomon?s temple housed not only God but also his powerful female equal, shekinah?the Jewish tetragrammaton YHWH?the sacred name of God?in fact derived from Jehovah, an androgynous physical union between the masculine jah and the pre-Hebraic name for Eve, havah.? (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code p.309)
??The star of David?the perfect union of male and female?Solomon?s seal?making the Holy Of Holies, where the male and female deities Yahweh and shekinah were thought to dwell.? (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code p.446)
Christianity responds:
Remember the Gnostics believed in two gods, a father god and a mother goddess. The word Shekinah isn?t even found in the Bible. The word is used to refer to the divine presence of God seen in his glory (Ezekiel 1:28). Other Gnostic writers even believe the term Holy Spirit was actually the mother goddess.
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Proactive or Foolishness?
I’ve been thinking about this and wanted to get your comments on it. This is partly my thoughts and partly inspiration from the comments below in this blog (BTW, thanks so much for everyone commenting — this site is Alive!)
Anyway, here’s the quick and blunt question: Are Christians being proactive or foolish in regards to the Da Vinci Code?
On the one hand, I know the book and movie paints Jesus, Christianity, and the Church in a light that has not been the historical belief of millions.
On the other hand, the book is a novel. Get over it.
Full disclosure: I have not completed the book yet.
Personally, I’m sitting on the fence but leaning to proactive. Well, really I’m standing on the proactive side while leaning on the fence with one arm hanging over on the foolish side.
It’s just a novel. It’s entertainment. But boy have I not understood actual truth because I trusted a novel or movie. I need more coffee before I can think of an actual example. Maybe you have one?
Anyway, what are your thoughts on this. Say what you want…but play nice. I’d sure hate to have to give someone a “Time Out”. ;-)
Stumbling Block
Will this movie be a stumbling block to new believers and seekers? What can we do as individuals to ensure that this doesn’t happen?
Reading About Jesus
Wow! There’s already been quite the discussions about Jesus, DaVinci, and Dan Brown.
Cool that!
I wanted to take this opportunity to invite everyone to join me in reading the stories of Jesus. On Ash Wednesday, a group of us started reading the 4 stories of Jesus from the Bible. We’re using a blog to give us the daily reading assignment (about 2 chapters a day) and are invited to leave commentary if you like.
We just started Luke and still have John left to read. Want to join us?
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Media
What Do You Fear?
What do you fear, and why? Is it holding you back from realizing your full potential?
>Watch
Do you crave destiny? (Part 2)
Destiny? Is this really me? Was I really born for great things?
>Watch