The Da Vinci Code

One of the most popular books of recent years was Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code." It was also made into a popular movie. The book is about a murder that takes place in the Louvre, and the books weaves together many themes having to do with the history of the Roman Catholic Church. According to Brown's take on history was the belief that Jesus was married to Mary Magdeline, and many a theory  involving secret societies, intrigue, and the various conspiracies that maintain power for the church. Brown made a ton of money on the book and the movie; he wrote other spin-offs on the same theme. A large number of fans bought into the book and the movie, most of whom are people who were raised as Catholics and have since fallen away. It is remarkable how strongly these believers feel about the book/movie. I have been involved in many discussions and debates regarding this book, and I am always stunned at how strongly believers feel about it. But the truth is that the book is riddled with inaccurate claims. There is no reason to believe any of this. The purported secret societies and conspiracies are essentially fabricated. Since the phenomenon of "The Da Vinci Code" became so popular, I have worked hard to track down the veracity of the book. I have no particular vested interest; I am not a Catholic, nor a defender of the Church, although many with whom I have argued about this have accused me of being brainwashed. Few, if any, actual scholars who have analyzed the book have bought the premise. I will also note that the biggest criticism of Brown is that he is a poor writer. The plot is week, and the style is boring. Stephen King called "The Da Vinci Code" the Kraft's macaroni and cheese of fiction. I don't think it's even that good.