Counterfeit Code: Responding to the Da Vinci Heresies

The subject of more than 70,000 biographies, Jesus retains a significance unmatched in human history. However, despite this ocean of ink, every generation debates that ancient question-who is Jesus? Both The Da Vinci Code and Mel Gibsons controversial film The Passion have created a new round of debate about the carpenter from Nazareth. Who is Jesus? -- that single query leads anyone, Christian or otherwise, to a host of other questions about the Gospels, history, miracles, and revelation. Dan Brown's rather eclectic picture of Jesus in his novel The Da Vinci Code arises out of the forces that have shaped him personally. He is obviously affected by the Christian heritage in America but he has also been influenced by both skeptical philosophies and popular anti-traditional views of Jesus. In keeping with his professed Christian faith, Dan Brown treats Jesus with great respect saying Jesus Christ was a historical figure of staggering influence, perhaps the most enigmatic and inspirational leader the world has ever seen Sadly, the reverent treatment for Jesus is beside the point when contrasted with Brown's overall view of Christ and the church. The key assertions that undergird the novel destroy classical Christian convictions about Jesus Christ. Jim Beverley is a well known author and theologian who challenges fact-by-fact and the statements made by Dan Brown and unveils the fact that most of Dan Brown's theories are heresies of the early centuries that renowned academics have long ago dismissed as bad theology and history.…