Unlocking the Da Vinci Code

The Holy Spirit & Truth (Session 4)

Rationale

The issue with Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" is not, ultimately, its truth or falsehood, but the question, "Why are people so captivated?"

This novel is, without a doubt, a cultural phenomenon that needs to be appreciated for its impact and addressed in regard to its inherent issues. Postmodern people enjoy watching an authority challenged, and they like secret knowledge and direct experience. Christians must respond appropriately and primarily to these concerns, as well as the truth claims of Brown's novel.

Scripture Focus

Galatians 5:16-25

Theme

The Spirit and Truth

Sermon Summary

At the end of the day, “The Da Vinci Code” is, unquestionably, a good read. As a novel, however, is its facticity essential? Arguments can be made convincingly either way, but, in the case of this novel, the answer would have to be, “yes”, precisely because, both in the novel itself and during interviews, the author claims factual integrity.

In this final session, we will look at the nature of Truth and consider the postmodern challenge to truth claims. In the case of Christianity, this investigation necessarily involves an understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit.

Surprisingly, we will discover that the key point, that both undermines and discredits Dan Brown’s religious convictions, is portrayed in the novel itself.

 Introduction

Truth is such a precious commodity, yet eminently useful and completely necessary.

Dan Brown claims, both in his book and on his website, that, while the opinions and theories of his book are offered for debate, “the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in this novel all exist” or “are accurate”. We have already exposed the falsehood of Brown’s Christian history, in regards to Mary Magdalene, Jesus, the Bible, the Council of Nicaea, etc. But what about the accuracy of these so-called “descriptions”?

An atheist by the name of Tim O’Neill, who also happens to be an academic specialising in medieval history and literature, has taken the time to expose many of Brown’s “descriptions”. Consider these examples:

1.   In chapter six, Brown claims that the planet Venus traces a perfect pentacle across our sky

      a.   false: “The pattern it traces could be best described as a lop-sided, crooked, or truncated semi-pentacle”

2.   Also in chapter six, Brown claims that the ancient Olympic games were held in honour of the female god Venus

      a.   false: “The Greeks held the Olympics in honour of Zeus [...] There is no evidence [either] to back the assertion that ‘a five pointed star’ was to become the original modern Olympic symbol or that it was ‘modified at the last moment’. The five linked rings were first used at the Athens in 1906”

3.   In chapter nineteen, Brown claims that the Parisian church of Saint-Sulpice was built on the ruins of a temple to the Egyptian goddess, Isis

      a.   false: the church, built in 1646, was built as a replacement for an earlier 12^th century church

4.   In chapter twenty-two, Brown claims that the original longitudinal meridian passed through Saint-Sulpice

      a.   false: the line in Saint-Sulpice was used to mark time, after the fashion of sun-dials, was never called “the Rose Line”, and the original meridian passes nearby the church, but not within it

5.   In chapter twenty-eight, Brown claims that the Roman Catholic church published a manual for witch-hunters titled, Malleus Maleficarum, and subsequently murdered nine million women in the Middle Ages

      a.   false: this book was published by two German friars and rejected by church authorities; records of the infamous witch-hunts are available and quite detailed, being actually held after the Middle Ages, and a more accurate assessment is that 100 000 people (comprised of only 80% women) were tried and executed by secular authorities in largely Protestant countries

Columnist and author Amy Welborn describes Dan Brown’s lack of factual credibility this way:

Within the framework of this novel, author Dan Brown presents many assertions about history, religion and art. He presents them as truth, not as part of his fictional world [...]

He puts these assertions in the mouths of scholar characters, and frames them with phrases like "Historians say" and "Scholars understand". In addition, Brown presents the titles of real, albeit unreliable, sources within his book, as well as in a bibliography offered on his Web site.

Further, author Dan Brown has repeatedly said in interviews that part of what he is doing in this book is presenting a heretofore "lost history" to readers, and that he is glad to be doing so.

So, certainly, "The Da Vinci Code" is a novel, but the author makes assertions about history within the novel, presents them as fact and widely accepted, and it is this element of the novel that has disturbed some readers and requires a response.

Yet, if as Brown says, his intent was only to spark debate on big ideas, then why should we consider this novel subversive? The reason that we should consider it subversive is because truth is precious, and this book ravages truth, and us, indiscriminately.

Truth is Not Ice-cream!

Greg Koukl, founder and president of Stand to Reason Ministries, uses an illustration comparing ice-cream and insulin as a metaphor for describing truth

1.   ice-cream represents preferential truth

2.   insulin represents reliable truth

3.   a quiz:

      a.   Coffee far surpasses tea as an enjoyable drink! (ice-cream)

      b.   AFL will be played in heaven! (ice-cream)

      c.   “Slip, slop, slap” when spending time at the beach! (insulin)

      d.   Drink 8 glasses of water a day! (ice-cream)

      e.   Everyone has a right to their own opinion! (insulin)

      f.    No one goes to the Father except through Jesus! (insulin, although some may like to think ice-cream)

The prevailing postmodern worldview regularly and purposely confuses the two (i.e. “truth is relative”).

Dan Brown’s acceptance of an alternative-history of Christianity falls into the category of preferential truth, as the credibility of his sources is negligible.

His theories are not the kind of truth that one can rely on for anything more than interesting chatter in a café.

The Bible, however, does have some interesting things to say about the importance of Truth, especially in reference to our present discussion:

1.   Despite the belittling of truth in our world, it matters to God

³¹To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

2.   Knowing truth, in all its forms, sets us free —Is this a true statement?

^15:26“When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me [...] ^16:8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; ¹⁰in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned ¹³But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 15:26, 16:8-11, 13a).

3.   It is the Spirit of God who will help us to distinguish between deception and truth

The Critic is the Deceiver is the Murderer

¹⁶So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ¹⁷For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. ¹⁹The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25).

It is always true that there should be a noticeable difference between the fruits of deception and the fruits of truth.

While Brown would have us believe that the Church is the villain of a conspiracy to hide the truth, the real villain of this story is Sir Leigh Teabing:

1.   Teabing, a rich historian, is passionate and has committed his time and resources to “exposing” the ‘secret alternative-history of Jesus’

Langdon: “Teabing’s life passion is the Grail [...] He’s written some books on the keystone and the Grail” [...]

Teabing had approached the BBC with a proposal for a historical documentary in which he would expose the explosive history of the Holy Grail to a mainstream television audience.

2.   Bishop Aringarosa, leader of Opus Dei, a Roman Catholic lay order, discovers that the Vatican is going to withdraw their support

3.   He is then approached by a man, calling himself The Teacher, who offers to partner with him in retrieving the Holy Grail from those who would use it against the Church, thereby restoring the honour and legitimacy of Opus Dei

4.   The bishop, fearful for his faith and religion, enlists the assistance of his protégé, Silas, a naïve and trusting ex-drifter, thief, and killer

Silas: Jesus’ message is one of peace ... of nonviolence ... of love. This was the message Silas had been taught from the beginning, and the message he held in his heart. And yet this was the message the enemies of Christ now threatened to destroy. Those who threaten God with force will be met with force.

5.   The bishop discovers that the Teacher never intended to ‘rescue’ the Holy Grail

Silas glanced down [at the bleeding body of the bishop, who he had just shot], his face contorted in anguish. “I am so very sorry, Father.” He seemed almost too pained to speak.

“No, Silas”, Aringarosa replied. “It is I who am sorry. This is my fault.” The Teacher promised me there would be no killing, and I told you to obey him fully. “I was too eager. Too fearful. You and I were deceived.” The Teacher was never going to deliver us the Holy Grail.

6.   The Teacher had enlisted a servant, named Rémy, to do his dirty-work

“I know I promised you freedom”, The Teacher said, his voice now sounding regretful. “But considering your circumstances, this is the best I can do.”

The swelling in Rémy’s throat came on like an earthquake [...] I’m being murdered!

7.   Langdon and Sophie are confronted by The Teacher, who turns out to be Teabing

Teabing: “If I had wanted to harm you, you would be dead by now [...] I am a man of honour, and I vowed in my deepest conscience only to sacrifice those who had betrayed the [Holy Grail].”

The one who most represents the ideals of Dan Brown’s theories, Sir Leigh Teabing, is the one who lies, cheats, spies, steals, manipulates, and murders others, while justifying his actions by accusing the Church of doing those things themselves

While Silas and the bishop are accountable for their actions —even though their fears and naïveté were manipulated— they repent. Being genuine seekers of the Truth, they succumb to deception, which plays on their sinful fears, finally killing them —and, sadly, there is no freedom in the end of their story. Are they to be thought of as villains?

Conclusion

The Holy Spirit is a real and powerful force in the Christian's faith and lifestyle. The Spirit leads us into all truth, truth that both enhances our life and saves us for eternity.

We can set aside the sinful motives, the false history, and the lack of factual integrity endemic to this novel. The real test of the worth of Dan Brown’s theories will be revealed by analysing its fruit, by considering its lack of positive contribution to both society and people’s lives. And the novel itself reveals the evidence that condemns it.

sermon delivered by Ian Forest-Jones
at Hurstville Church of Christ
on Sunday, 2 July 2006 at 6pm
[email]

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