Jose Eugenio Borao

Some notes on

The Da Vinci Code

April- May 2006 SOME NOTES ON 2

1. The fabrication of The Da Vinci Code Meanwhile, he also tried to get rid of all of A novel packed with many misleading experts ’ progeny. He was successful in the former, but not in the latter, as some of It seems that the main intent of ’s Jesus’ descendants fled to France and, best seller is to come up with an appealing centuries after, even occupied the French and seemingly credible account about “the throne during the . real Jesus” that, in reality, only sows perplexity and suspicion in the minds of The Middle Age readers—Catholics in particular—as regards The history of the descendants during the a possible conspiracy in the Middle and the Modern Ages can be to hide a truth that would destroy the very summarized in their efforts to survive the foundations of its existence. Church’s constant persecution. For if this The times of Jesus truth were to come to light, then the Church’s authority would be demolished. In short, the novel’s linear narrative Thus the Church had successfully approach deals with Jesus Christ, a sage manipulated the Carolingian kings to exile who put forward devotion to “the lost sacred the Merovingians, which led them to form a feminine” and wished to reestablish it secret society called the through his supposed wife, . whose aim was to protect the survivors of Thus, Jesus Christ was not the God he Jesus’ lineage and their secret. The Knights claimed himself to be but a man who, in Templar that had connections with the Priory order to give back to the world the “sacred were persecuted and killed. Some of feminine”, wanted to found a church that history’s great artistic and literary figures would restore this form worship; which was were clandestine Masters of the Priory but why he entrusted it to Mary, and not to Peter, only one, , left clues to the as is commonly believed. If this story has not secret in his works. The Church carried on reached us until now, it is because, early on with its efforts to suppress the “sacred in the 4th century, or 300 years after Christ’s feminine” by spearheading, for instance, death, Emperor Constantine, the first Europe’s notorious and widespread Roman emperor to support and protect the witch-hunts, where millions of women were Church, abolished the “sacred feminine” persecuted. Nonetheless, Jesus’ lineage, from Christianity, denied Jesus’ humanity, the true , continued to live on in and decreed that Christ was God. To families, like the Plantards and the permanently establish this decree, Saint-Clairs. Constantine first manipulated the Council of Nicea (325 AD) wherein a patriarchal, The present time authoritarian, and anti-feminist ideology was Brown’s novel then moves on to the third imposed after a contentious voting process. period, which is set in present times. The Next, the Emperor chose as “canonical” four Priory has finally decided to reveal the gospels among the existing ones that were secret to the world through the Great Master considered “safe” and suppressed those Jacques Saunière, curator of the that contained any references to the Museum and an expert in goddesses and marriage of Jesus and the Magdalene. 3 SOME NOTES ON THE DA VINCI CODE the sacred feminine. Saunière is found grandfather was the Great Master of the dead—probably assassinated. However, Priory of Sion and that she is last in the line before he died, Saunière left a series of of Jesus’ descendants, and that Mary mysterious codes that he drew on the floor Magdalene’s tomb lies beneath the entrance with his blood. His niece, Sophie Neveu, a of Louvre’s crystal , which was a cryptologist who works for the Paris police, project of the esoteric, Mason, and former steps into the picture. Saunière had given French President Francois Mitterrand, The her an urgent call before he died because he novel closes with Langdon returning to the wanted to tell her something important about Louvre. He reverently kneels as he listens to their family. The primary murder suspect is a woman’s voice transmit to him the Wisdom Langdon, a professor of religious of the Times. symbolism in Harvard who happened to be Fiction and reality in the scene of the crime. Sophie, however, believes that Langdon is innocent and helps The Da Vinci Code is certainly a work of him escape. She, with the help of Langdon fiction and so one cannot expect to draw any and the scholar Sir Leigh Teabing, amid historical truth from it. However, the author surrounding crimes and persecutions, confuses his readers in the section entitled immerses herself in studying goddess “The Facts” wherein he states, “All worship, leading her to decode Leonardo’s descriptions of artwork, architecture, paintings. Teabing also explains to her that documents, and secret rituals in this novel Constantine built the Vatican as a new are accurate.” In other words, he tries to power base. expound on historical concepts within the context of a fiction novel. Thus, as far as the In the meantime, the reader is led to critical reviews are concerned, the novel is believe that the Catholic organization Opus superficially written. Objectively speaking, Dei, which is ridden with juridical problems, Brown tends to make many claims without is behind the murders. Moreover, a any solid basis and commits numerous “progressive Pope” is thinking of breaking factual errors and inaccuracies. Here comes Church ties with . This moves the a short list: (1) Christian writings from the Opus Dei prelate to accept the offer of a first century already state that Jesus is God. mysterious Master to buy for a huge sum the For instance, the Muratori Canon (190 AD) proofs of the existence of the Priory. The already says that there were only four Prelate could then use these proofs to canonical gospels and excludes almost all of blackmail the . The said Master is the Gnostic gospels; (2) there was no form actually a wealthy English and anti-Catholic of contention or controversy in the Council of professor who wants to reveal the Priory’s Nicea and only two of the 300 participating secret to the world. In fact, he chides the bishops cast dissenting votes; (3) the Priory for keeping silent out of fear of the Vatican did not become the Pope’s official Church and even hires an Opus Dei monk to residence until the 14th century; (4) the carry out the above-mentioned crimes. Priory of Sion did not exist in the Middle The novel inevitably winds up with a Ages: it was a neo-chivalric organization that romance between Sophie and Langdon, was founded in Paris in 1956 by the French Sophie’s discovery that her Saunière esoteric ; (5) many supposed SOME NOTES ON THE DA VINCI CODE 4 witches, indeed and unfortunately, were of special knowledge. Time and again burned at the stake in 17th-century Europe; shows up alongside ways of but the figures did not reach millions at all thinking that are in vogue at the moment and, and not all who were killed were women. due to its extremely eclectic quality, it is What’s more, it was the Protestant countries difficult to render a precise definition of it. that registered the largest numbers of such Claims to possessing esoteric knowledge deaths; (6) Harvard University offers no usually emerge in periods of crisis, usually course on religious symbolism; (7) Opus Dei with the promise of acquiring a better has no monks in the organization. The list understanding of reality, of enlightenment can go on and on. that transcends current realities and, consequently, of a presumedly higher level Estrange success of wisdom that would lead one to consider A final question: How could such a novel sell himself untrammeled by the norms of millions of copies? It’s difficult to say but we established authority. It is this gnostic may consider the fact that, three years foundation that’s behind the huge success of earlier, Dan Brown published Angels and the novel The Da Vinci Code. Demons, a novel of a similar vein and even Modern gnosticsm with a character like Langdon. It was a flop. What made the difference between the two? Nowadays, gnosticism is seen in such On one hand, Brown toned down his movements as the New Age and in other anti-Catholic stance in Da Vinci to gain more forms of occult, neo-pagan, and radical credibility; on the other hand, he threw in a feminist groups. The first signs of gnosticism mix of the forgotten world of the Gnostics, may be traced to some concepts of Plato’s radical feminism, and occultism to give a philosophy, Irani theology, and Judaic new and provocative image of Jesus that tradition, before and after Christianity came gels very well with the New Age trend that is to be. Small wonder that in the second, third, very much in vogue in the USA and and fourth centuries AD, gnosticism should throughout the world, being introduced by also penetrate primitive Christianity with the teachers with an air of “Oxford-Harvard intention of explaining the figure of Jesus snobbishness”; in other words, a Christ in a manner different from the four “harrypotter” for adults. Lastly, the author biographies whose authors, incidentally, capitalizes on the poor religious instruction took pains to compose in the first century of many Christians to bring them to take and who either had personally known Jesus seriously a cleverly spun tale that passes off or met the first Apostles. Today, the majority tons of fantasy as history or reality. of serious Christian (Catholic and non-Catholic) researchers agree that the

four gospels were written during the second 2. Jesus Christ according to present-day half of the first century—that is, in the few gnosticism decades after Jesus’ death and, therefore, a The main ingredient in the Da Vinci Code mix century before the emergence of the first gnostic gospel according to Thomas. These More than a trend of thought, gnosticism is scholars may disagree as to which of the basically an attitude that claims possession four gospels was first and whether or not 5 SOME NOTES ON THE DA VINCI CODE one had influenced the writing of the others. been translated and studied. Nevertheless, not one has suggested any At best, such material can make for other possible way of depicting the life of interesting literature because it offers a very Jesus. good description of the gnostic groups. Classical Gnosticism However, they are far cry from the antiquity, solidity, and quality of the four canonical The first news we have of the gnostics are gospels. Of late, gnostic literature has found in the writings of the Fathers of the gained greater resonance because, as Church who waged battle against them. It is University of Pennsylvania professor Philip only lately that attempts have been made at Jenkins in his book Hidden Gospels (Oxford systematizing the esoteric writings that have University Press, 2001) declares, they seem reached our time. The recent resurgence of to respond to a pervading desire to gnosticism was propelled by the discovery of challenge the teachings and authority of the a number of gnostic texts in 1945 in Nag Catholic Church and to present a Hammadi (Upper Egypt). These were modernized version of Jesus. Information written in the fourth century even if some are that morever has been distorted by the copies of texts that were written one or two media through exaggerations and centuries earlier. Bentley Layton compiled presenting partial truths, if not at times total these into the The Gnostic Scriptures, lies, as the truth. These writings have found bringing together 46 works wherein one may a major sounding board as Dan Brown’s trace the different schools of gnostic thought, historical sources for The Da Vinci Code, for instance, that of the north of offering a new image of Christ that concurs Mesopotomia, Basilides, and Hermes--the with the “requirements” of today’s world. In most radical of which was that of Valentin his work, Brown divulges that different forms and his followers. Of these, only three are of Christianity began to evolve after Jesus classified as gospels, or works that make died, with each Christian community living some reference to the life of Jesus. However, out what it had understood about Jesus; as researcher Craig Blomberg states, if we thus each one enjoys some form of put together all the documents that claim to legitimacy. However, in the Councils of the be gospels from the first 500 years of human fourth century, the Church, under the history, we would come up with 24, since patronage of Roman Emperor Constantine, most of these texts are mere compilations of managed to impose its own inspired books Jesus’ esoteric sayings and do not directly and condemn as heretics those that rejected deal with his life. In other words, they are not them. Nevertheless, “official” Christianity really gospels. The oldest known gnostic was only partly successful in its conspiracy gospel is that of Thomas, which must have to hide these books. While some had been written around 150 AD, or 100 years vanished for good, others have remained after Mark’s gospel. The rest, like those of semi-hidden or, at best, discredited. “Truth,” “Philip,” “Egyptians,” “Mary,” and “Peter” were of the second, third, or fourth Gnostic eccleticism century. Others have been dated as totally According to Brown, the modern world’s or partly of the 19th century, which is why, rediscovery of the gnostic world would bring from the 20th century onwards, these have SOME NOTES ON THE DA VINCI CODE 6 back the gospel’s real message, which is married to Jesus; lastly, that Peter takes on precisely progressive, egalitarian, and a menacing stance against her because he feminist. Some passages of these gospels considers her a rival. This monograph shall seem to suggest this possibility, while others, attempt to demonstrate the inconsistency of like the last paragraph of “Thomas,” the the said assumptions. most respected among the gnostic gospels, Misunderstanding The Last Supper does not at all fit the idea of gnosticism as a basis for feminism: “Simon Peter said to Dan Brown's novel is based on the premise them: ‘Let Mary leave us, for women are not that Leonardo's "The Last Supper" is worthy of life.’ Jesus said. ‘I myself shall lead actually a code that, when broken, would her in order to make her male, so that she reveal a secret that has been guarded for too may become a living spirit resembling centuries--a secret that would surely be you males. For every woman who will make damning to Christianity and to the Vatican in herself male will enter the kingdom of particular. This could happen, thanks to heaven.’” As regards references to Jesus Leonardo da Vinci who, as one of the few and Mary Magdalene as a couple, the only keepers of the secret, left a record of it while source is the gospel according to Philip painting the said mural in the refectory of which, as expert Massimo Introvigne says, is Santa Maria de la Gracia in Milan. The a kind of catechism written late in the mystery begins to unveil by Brown when his second or early on in the third century by the main characters start questioning the Valentinian school, a gnostic faction which, absence of the chalice or the Holy Grail that at that time, practiced a religion different and contained the blood of Jesus. Any one who separate from Christianity’s “Great Church.” had seen other paintings of the Last Supper, One then must not wonder that the harshest like that of Juan de Juanes, would have critics of Dan Brown’s “de-mythification” of asked the same question because the Christianity had been mostly specialists in chalice is highlighted in the entire exegesis—the critical explanation or composition. Why does it not then figure in interpretation of Scripture--who consider him Leonardo's work? Could there be another as nothing more than a nuisance predator in reading of the Last Supper other than the a difficult field of research. traditional?

Dan Brown says "yes." The Apostle 3. Iconography of Leonardo's "The Last John, who is rendered with rather feminine Supper" & "The Da Vinci Code" features, is actually Mary Magdalene who Deconstructing a deconstruction was married to Jesus and, at that moment, expecting their child--Jesus' blood--which "The Da Vinci Code's" iconography of makes Mary the chalice that contains it. This Leonardo's "The Last Supper" implies three idea was to be encoded in Leonardo's things: First, that the absence of a chalice painting. That is why the space between suggests that Leonardo is conveying a Jesus and the Magdalene takes a hidden message about the real nature of the chalice-like V form whose base points Holy Grail; second, that the figure we directly at Mary's womb. Thus the Holy Grail assume to be the Apostle John is really would no longer be an object but a person: Mary Magdalene, who is supposedly 7 SOME NOTES ON THE DA VINCI CODE

Mary Magdalene. On the other hand, Mary the scene: from left to right, Andrew is Magdalene and Jesus seem to mirror each followed by Peter, then Judas, and John. No other, for instance, in their symmetrical one can doubt their identities here. positions and the color of their garments, to Steinberg explains that this grouping is signify their union, a composition that would based on the roles that the apostles were even allow us to discern a letter "M"--which going to play in the Passion: one denies, the stands for Mary Magdalene--between the other betrays, while the other stays by two figures. If this theory were to be Jesus' side. Steinberg even indicates other accepted, then this would mean, not only the significant pairings in the painting, as seen in deconstruction of the image that Christianity the proximity of the heads of the figures in it. has about itself, but also a return to the For example, Peter and John, who often world of pagan mythology where goddesses appear together, signify the active life and recover the important role that had in the the contemplative life. And so as Peter mythology of the former Olympus. energetically hoists himself up, John calmly takes in the sad news. And what of John's Understanding The Last Supper effeminate aspect? This is more due to the However, is this theory well founded? Let us Florentine style of painting that was popular start by saying that "The Last Supper" has in the early 15th century and which can also been so extensively studied for years and be observed in Leonardo's other paintings, such studies have yielded more convincing two of St John the Baptist which are kept in theories, all of which affirm that, more than the Louvre and which were executed 20 depicting the institution of the Holy Eucharist, years after the Last Supper. this painting shows the Apostles' reaction to Brown confuses himself Jesus' declaration that someone was going to betray him. This is why the chalice does In his novel, Dan Brown insists that Peter's not appear as a central element in the hand takes on a menacing gesture, painting. Moreover, there is no reason to suggesting his harassment of Mary assume that Jesus used a special vessel for Magdalene, his rival to future supremacy in consecrating the wine. In the painting, Jesus the Church. However, a plain, unbiased look and all the other apostles, has a drinking at the painting easily shows a gesture that vessel by his left hand. It must be suggests trust and intimacy between Peter remembered that this tempera painting was and John, denoting the immediate and done at the end of the 15th century, while necessary conversation that ensued that of Juan de Juanes was done during the between them upon hearing Jesus' words. years of the Council of Trent, which Lastly, even more provocative are the promoted art that defended and exalted the questions that Olson and Miesel pose to Sacraments like the Eucharist. debunk the theory that Mary Magdalene occupies the place traditionally reserved for In their book, "" John. According to them, if John, whom the (2004) Carl Orson and Sandra Miesel offer Gospel describes as the Apostle Jesus new analyses to demolish the theory behind loved was absent in the painting, then where "The Da Vinci Code." They cite the great art could he have gone? And if that calm and critic Steinberg's description of the figures in reserved person at Jesus' right were indeed SOME NOTES ON THE DA VINCI CODE 8 a woman, why immediately conclude that it mangling his thigh by clamping a nasty is Mary Magdalene and not Mary, the Mother spiked chain around it. This scene, which of Jesus? Finally, why is it often presumed appeals to viewers’ apparent taste for that Mary Magdalene was a young and sadomasochism, is relentlessly depicted in beautiful woman--the perfect partner for the film version, again, painting a distorted Jesus, who was then in his early 30s? Could picture of Opus Dei. she not have been middle-aged, if not old Mortification in Christian tradition and even unattractive? Is it calumny to say that members of

Opus Dei actually use whips and ? 4. Opus Dei and The Da Vinci Code One can easily get an answer through the What the novel’s success tells us Intenet. It takes just 10 seconds to get to the web page of a certain Willy Vazquez, a Rabidly anti-Catholic novels like those of numerary member of Opus Dei in Peru, who Dan Brown’s try to show that the Catholic says, yes, some members , but not all, use Church is, among others, a misogynist them and not in the way Silas in The Da institution, governed by the scheming and Vinci Code uses them. Vazquez further the ruthless. Brown also rather gleefully clarifies, “Just like all Christians, the denigrates Opus Dei, depicting it as a members of Opus Dei seek to offer small perverse group that has nothing to do with sacrifices in order to unite themselves with what the Gospel teaches. Anti-Catholic Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. The Church, authors have always been around but why in turn, reminds everyone during Lent that do they so plague the western world today? Jesus fasted and offered sacrifices for 40 And how could Opus Dei, an institution days in the desert before he launched into recognized by the Church, whose founder his public life. During Lent, the Church was declared a saint by the late John Paul II, invites the faithful to also do penance and be so maligned in this book? offer up sacrifices to prepare themselves for Opus Dei is far from how the book Holy Week. The members of Opus Dei presents it through the figure of the monk perform acts of self-denial in ordinary Silas, an albino with blood-shot eyes and a ways--in what they eat and drink, in the way bizarre past. The author resorts to they deal with people, in their work, and in stereotype villains portrayed, for their struggle to become better persons. The instance, in Vincent Price’s The Fall of the celibate members of Opus Dei, in addition, House of Usher (1960) and by the Twins in use traditional modes of penance that are The Matrix Reloaded (2003). Silas’ father, a recommended by the Church, like the tough longshoreman, used to beat him up as and the discipline. Opus Dei did not make a child. This eventually leads to Silas them up, as they have been part of the murdering a stevedore that reminded him of Church’s 2000-year-old tradition. Opus Dei his father. He spends time in jail and reforms is not the only institution that uses them. In but soon resumes his killing sprees. Brown fact, the cilice and the discipline used in also seems to take pleasure in describing Opus Dei are so innocuous and perfectly Silas indulging in bloody self-flagellation and adapted to the members’ condition as ordinary men and women. They are used for 9 SOME NOTES ON THE DA VINCI CODE short spans and do no harm to the wellbeing Magazine (22 March 2006), journalist Bryan of those who use it, considering the damage Curtis explains that the “big ideas” would be that excessive drug or alcohol use, questions, like “Is the Vatican good or evil?” high-cholesterol food, or even laziness does or “Is the NSA for or against us?” Finally, the to people. Coming down to it, I must say that hidden treasures in his stories would include people in these times do need to practice items, like a meteorite, anti-matter, a gold some form of self-denial for their spiritual ring, and the Holy Grail. Brown mixed all good. Those interested to learn more about these elements to come up with a veritable Opus Dei but who do not wish to hear it from bomb, which we shall try to analyze now. a member or even an ex-member, may We could start with the “what-if” method. check out John L. Allen, Jr.’s book, Opus Dei. In the book The Da Vinci Hoax, Olson and An Objective Look Behind the Myths and Miesel state: “Imagine a novel based on the Reality of the Most Controversial Force in premise that the Holocaust had never the Catholic Church ( 2005). It is happened but was the invention of a ironic that this book was published by the powerful group of Jewish leaders who have same house that released The Da Vinci used that ‘myth’ to garner themselves power Code in the USA. and fortune. Or consider a theoretical novel The Brown’s inspiration claiming that Muhammad was not a prophet at all but a drug addled homosexual who Why did Dan Brown attack Opus Dei in such married multiple wives in order to hide his an unrealistic way? Around the middle of deviant behavior and who killed March 2006, Brown faced a London court as non-Muslims in fits of rage against a witness when the authors of the book Holy heterosexuals.” Massimo Introvigne, a Blood, Holy Grail sued on scholar on religions, suggests another grounds that The Da Vinci Code what-if scenario. Imagine a book that says substantially plagiarized one of their works. that, “after being enlightened, Buddha did There, Brown revealed a document that not lead the presumed chaste life but had a contained clues to his work. He said he was wife and children. After he died, the Buddhist going to write a thriller that would take a community encroached upon the rights of punch at the National Security Agency his wife, his rightful heir. Or what-if a famous (NSA). The hero would be an Everyman Buddhist saint who died in the last century, besieged by evil powers beyond his like Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki 鈴 木大拙 comprehension. In no time, he realized that (1870-1966), was really the ringleader of a he managed to sell novels that contained band of hoodlums? To perpetuate these lies, three basic elements: a mysterious power of the Dalai Lama and other international sorts, like a secret society or a government personalities involved in Buddhism actually agency; a “big” idea with a vague moral resorted to all kinds of schemes, including foundation; and a hidden treasure. Further, the murder of thousands, or millions, these mysterious powers would involve evil throughout history.” The authors conclude conspirators within the NSA, the Catholic that critics would be unanimous in censuring Church, or Opus Dei, who would wage battle such a novel as politically incorrect. It would against the “good guys,” like the Masons, be banned from libraries and bookstores the Illuminatti, or the priory of Sion. In Slate SOME NOTES ON THE DA VINCI CODE 10 and everyone would approve. And perish 5. Jesus, According to The Da Vinci Code the thought of it having a film version. The critics’ take on the novel

The Christian tradition under threat After its initial impact on the consciences of Christians and on the culture scene in If we continue to ask ourselves why the general, the novel The Da Vinci Code (2003) latter scenario would happen, but not so in is starting to get the raw end of its attempt at the case of The Da Vinci Code, the answer de-mythifying Christianity. For using fiction probably lies in the present moral decline of as a mode for imparting history lessons, it the West, which began decades before Dan has received due response from offended Brown’s works would even enjoy such a groups, among which include the Catholic following. Their publication then would have Church, Protestant groups, and even albino generated a huge scandal. Moreover, the associations. The citizens of Seville likewise western world’s all-out defense of the are embarrassed by the way the author respect that the other creeds, like Buddhism unrealistically describes their city. Among and Islam, deserve seems to be but mere the Catholic organizations reacting, the posturing and probably an unconscious Catholic Prelature of Opus Dei felt move toward self-destruction. particularly offended for the unrealistic way expresses the same idea in another way in in which is portrayed, and she had asked his column in L’ Espresso (30 July 2005). He Sony that at least include a disclaimer in the first points out that critics were right in movie saying that the story is fictional, riddling holes into the novel for committing something that was not accepted. gross historical errors as regards issues like, “Jesus’ relationship with Mary Magdalene, The book’s more offensive affirmations their descendants’ flight to France, and the touch on its negative and mistaken views of founding of the Merovingians and the Priory Jesus Christ: (1) that the first Christians did of Sion. Brown simply collected trash that not think he was God; (2) that he married has been circulating for decades among Mary Magdalene and sired a son with her; (3) worthless books on the occult.” Secondly, that Jesus and the Magdalene symbolized Eco is concerned that Brown and company’s the masculine-feminine duality in the ploy has succeeded, given that the manner of pagan deities like Mars and numerous attempts to debunk the work have Athena or Isis and Osiris; (4) that Christian only served to boost its sales and push it history was written by political further into the spotlight. Eco, an atheist, conquerors—that is, it was “Peter’s party” therefore hits the nail on the head: “I think that made up the tale of Mary Magdalene as what unsettles the Catholic Church is that a repentant sinner; and (5) that Jesus ‘credence to the Code’ (and, consequently, Christ’s divinity was established afterwards, to another Jesus) is symptomatic of at the instigation of Emperor Constantine in de-Christianization… (for), as Chesterton the Council of Nicea (325 AD), with the end once said, when people no longer believe in of creating a patriarchal society. All these God, it is not that they have stopped are estrange affirmations, because not only believing—they just end up believing the gospels but also the first documents of anything.” the Church say just the opposite. 11 SOME NOTES ON THE DA VINCI CODE

The previous assumptions serve as a documented sources, he only gives credit to springboard for even more absurd ones to the guesswork of writer in describe the Church: (a) that the Church the book, The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: turned misogynist and later developed a Mary Magdalene and the Holy Grail. Starbird, machinery that resorted to criminal acts to however, she clearly points out, “Of course, I suppress feminism; and (b) that to remain in cannot prove that the dogmas of the ‘heresy power, it has for 20 centuries deceived of the Holy Grail’ are true: that Jesus was mankind about the figure of Christ. The list married or that Mary Magdalene was the of errors as regards historical events can go mother of his child. Neither can I prove that on and on, but I shall now focus on how the Mary Magdalene was the woman with the novel presents Jesus Christ, based in the alabaster jar who anointed Jesus in work of some experts in exegesis and Bethany… But, yes, I can verify that these history, debunking the many assertions and dogmas were part of a widely-believed innuendoes that the novel wishes to pass off heresy during the Middle Ages and that its as fact, causing even some agnostic traces may be found in numerous works of intellectuals to distance themselves from the art and literature that survived despite work. constant and violent suppression on the part of the Church of Rome.” This statement is Exegetical misconceptions likewise debatable, refers to a heresy and is The Da Vinci Code affirms that Jesus definitely a far cry from Brown’s assertions. Christ was married, with Brown saying that Besides it is good to recall that scholar the said union was “documented,” even as Phillip G. Davis had asserted in his book he does not say where the documents are, Goddess Unmasked: The Rise of Neopagan which puts his statement to doubt. Moreover, Feminist Spirituality, that the roots of there are more powerful reasons to believe Goddess spirituality lie not in prehistoric that Jesus was indeed celibate. In one hand, matriarchal societies, but rather in Western the evangelists mention his “mother” and his esoteric traditions and in the Romantic “brethren,” but not a wife. On the other hand, movement of the 19th century. if we presume that someone wanted to do Some historical errors away with elements that would put Jesus “on the spot,” then why affirm the truth of other Everyone knows that it is hard to be events and incidents, like Jesus’ baptism by objective when writing history but it is also John? Finally, Celibacy in Israel was rare, true that history, as a social science, but some did practice it. Therefore, it should observes certain standards to allow it to not be surprising that Jesus Christ would come as close to the truth as possible. Take want to highlight his unique mission in this the case of four witnesses to an accident. All way. While he did not demean matrimony or four would narrate what they saw, each one demand that his followers be celibate, he with his or her own version of the truth. In emphasized nonetheless that love for God the end, all four accounts will help the judge ought to be above everything else. get down to what really happened. Such is the case of the four gospels that only do not When Brown affirms that the marriage contradict, but also complement each other. of Jesus and Mary Magdalene has Brown’s construction of Jesus’ life does not SOME NOTES ON THE DA VINCI CODE 12 use as sources the gospels or the writings of Although Emperor Constantine was not the Fathers of the Church or the liturgical or baptized, he facilitated the gathering after historical documents, but only the so-called having again united the Empire (324 AD) Gnostic gospels that date one or two because he also wanted to see a united centuries after the canonical gospels and Church in the light of a new heresy that was which were written by a non-Christian sect spreading like wildfire: Arianism, which that was influenced by Christianity. As denied the divinity of Jesus Christ. In 318 Thomas Williams, Dean of Theology of the AD, Arius presented strongly his views to the Regina Apostolorum University in Rome bishop of Alexandria (north of Egypt), which said in an interview published by Zenit News was why the synod of bishops of Egypt Agency, “One of the major differences excommunicated him and which led to his between gnosticism and Christianity is the in flight. There were bishops in the Council, like the way they understand the of evil. Eusebius of Cesarea, who were friends of Christians believe that God is an infinitely Arius. Eusebius later became a famous good being that created a world that is good Church historian whose books exaggerated and that it was man’s abuse of freedom that Constantine’s influence on the Council. But sin and corruption stepped into the picture comparing Eusebius’ History with other and brought about disorder and suffering. Council documents, historians conclude that Some Gnostics, on the other hand, say that Constantine had no influence on the God is the source of evil because he created formulation of the Creed that was approved a disordered world and that it should not be there. This was for two reasons: he did not surprising that to set things right, Cain had to have enough theological know-how to murder his brother Abel, Esau had to sell his impose upon questions being debated there birthright to Jacob for a plate of lentils, and and he personally leaned towards Arianism. Jesus had to betray Jesus. The recently Thus, contrary to Brown’s claims, the discovered Gnostic gospel of Judas semi-convert Constantine considered Jesus presents a good Judas but this theory is Christ, not as God, but only as an exalted certainly not new. For example, it is enough creature. to recall the 1973 rock opera Jesus Christ In the 2003 Philadelphia Inquirer, Superstar where Judas sings ‘I haven’t Brown said, “When you put down the book, come of my own device…’ and the 1977 you will have learned a lot of great things. I Taylor Caldwell Novel, I, Judas. In other had to do a lot of research for it.” No one words, the method used by Brown to portray denies that Brown really worked a lot on his primitive Christianity it is something similar book but three years of preparation (Angels like to write about the disintegration of the and Demons was published in 2000) do not Han dynasty, based only in the 14th century seem enough to tackle such an ambitious novel of Romance of the Tree Kingdoms. project. Yet we have learned a lot, not from As regards the proceedings of the Brown, but from the expertise of the critics Council of Nicea, it is easy to find who have assessed his book. These are information about history’s first ecumenical men and women who have worked long and council. It brought together 300 bishops, hard in their fields of specialization through some of who had suffered persecution. which Brown so superficially tread. We can 13 SOME NOTES ON THE DA VINCI CODE conclude that Brown attempt of de-mythifying Christianity, had rise too much criticism against him that the only thing de-mythified was his novel.