Distinguishing Fact from Fiction

 

"Devotees of The Da Vinci Code—like the fictional fans in Foucault's Pendulum—have trouble distinguishing fact from fiction. They visit places mentioned in the novel, and "Da Vinci Tours" are a booming business. With the upcoming film, interest in The Da Vinci Code will explode. Christians need to seize this teaching opportunity, preparing ourselves to answer questions readers are asking.

The first is: Are the historical events portrayed in Brown's story true? Brown claims to have done extensive historical research and gives his readers no reason to doubt the novel's accuracy. Since the average person knows almost nothing about Christian history, they're vulnerable. For example, when Brown says that Knights Templar were put to death by the Catholic Church because they knew the "true story" about Jesus, people have no basis to question it, never having heard of the Knights Templar. Or when Brown says that at the Council of Nicea, the Vatican consolidated its power, most people are unaware that the Vatican didn't even exist in A.D. 325."....

 

The above is a short extract from "The Da Vinci Hoax: A Tour de Distortion", by Chuck Colson

 

My opinion has always been that many people still, in spite of all their education, are prone to believing (sometimes unconsciously) in anything.  They should not forget that Dan Brown is a story teller, and a very convincing one at that.  But then again I would say that his novel tries to bring our awareness to certain facts of real life, in that even the world's 'holiest' and most reputable leadership are prone to power tussles and political maneuverings to keep in control.  This may be good to a certain extent in that it controls the masses and helps prevent chaos, but bad in that it keeps on deceiving the same masses.  Well, perhaps this is just a part of being human.  After all we did choose to have our freedom of thought and actions when our first parents ate that fruit of the forbidden tree (unless you don't believe in that story too).  I did live through that convincing tale for a while, and then I just dismissed it as another tale, like when one leaves the movie theatre after viewing a gripping, nail-biting, edge of the seat thriller.  It was just great entertainment, nothing more.