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The Da Vinci Code: A Biblical Response

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Da Vinci Code: Dull to Critics, a Challenge to Christians

By Paul Strand
CBN News

CBN News -- WASHINGTON - Christian leaders and authors have been warning for months that The Da Vinci Code could cause a massive wave of backsliding and falling from the faith.

Dan Brown's book that the movie is based on, mixes fiction, facts, and half-truths to argue the Bible was a man-made invention, and that early believers thought Jesus was only a mortal prophet, but later church leaders decided by a vote to make Him divine.

Christian author Lee Strobel took all this on in his book, Exploring the Da Vinci Code.

Strobel said, "Dan Brown has cleverly brewed fact and fiction together in a way that has some people believing that the historical claims he makes are true."

The movie version -- with big names like Tom Hanks and Ron Howard behind it -- seemed like a sure blockbuster, possibly even more convincing than the book. It sticks with the book's wildest charges, including that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, had children with her, and planned for her to head up his new feminist pagan religion.

Anger over all this brought out Christian protestors at places like the Cannes Film Festival, where the movie premiered.

A French priest called the film's release a "dreadful occasion to unleash hatred against Jesus Christ and his disciples."

But probably the most surprising reaction has been the way an overwhelming number of movie critics have been ripping the film, especially for its dullness and boring length - two and a half hours.

The New York Times critique summed it up with this headline: "A 'Da Vinci Code' That Takes Longer to Watch than Read."

The Washington Post said, “No Masterpiece Here; The Biggest Mystery of The Da Vinci Code: Why Is It So Dull?”

The Washington Times review headline was, “Howard's Code an Unholy Mess.”

The cinema Web site CHUD labeled it "retarded, ridiculous, and crushingly dull."

If such reviews don't keep the crowds away, some Christian groups are trying other tactics.

One headed up by Hollywood screenwriting coach Barbara Nicolosi has recommended that believers protest not by boycotting, but by putting their bucks down instead for the new animated family film Over the Hedge.

"We have power -- we showed it in The Passion of the Christ, so we want the Christian audience to get together and go support something that isn't trashing our faith," Nicolosi said.

Meanwhile, other Christians say believers should arm themselves with facts from one or more of the four-dozen books and websites that answer the charges of The Da Vinci Code and engage those that see the film.

Prof. William Edgar of Westminster Theological Seminary said, "Obviously, a movie like this is going to be dangerous because people are going to be drawn in, but I think, like The Passion of the Christ, it will provide an amazing opportunity -- churches shouldn't miss it."

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