the da vinci code

With all the buzz surrounding The Da Vinci Code, (not to mention the fact it’s been the #1 bestseller forever), I finally borrowed a copy of the book and gave it a shot. I knew the book had messed with a lot of people’s faith, and I wanted to see what everyone was talking about it.

I’ll tell you what, I couldn’t put it down. If you like conspiratorial, sleuth-type books, then you’ll find it a really fun read. Without giving away too much, The Da Vinci Code is a story about uncovering the “truth” about Christ, the history of the Christian church, and the Holy Grail.

I was fascinated by Brown’s analysis of historical symbolism and religious icons. Oliver Stone couldn’t have woven together so many disconnected and disputed tidbits into a more stimulating story! I was even fascinated by the way he so smoothly turned history completely upside down by presenting the early Christians as a powerful business and political juggernaut whom Emperor Constantine had to appease in order to hang onto his empire, rather than as the small fringe minority that they were who had to meet in caves and homes in order to avoid persecution by the Roman Empire. I wasn’t sure if Brown actually believed what he was writing, or if he just needed to rewrite history for the sake of his story. Either way, he sure can spin a great story.

If you’re one of those people who read the book and found yourself asking, "Is this really true?", or, if you’d just like a better understanding of what early Christianity was really like and how the Bible was really put together, then check out some of the articles posted at http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/special/davincicode.html. I thought the "Breaking The Da Vinci Code" article was particularly insightful and helpful.

You know, to be honest, as I was reading The Da Vinci Code, I found myself asking God to give me an appetite to consume his Word that was way bigger than the appetite I had to finish the fictional story I found myself going to sleep to. That’s not a bad prayer...for me, or for anyone wishing to live well in the real word.