The Da Vinci Code film Threat or opportunity?

How much is true? How much of what DVC says about Opus Dei is true? How much of what DVC says about Opus Dei is true? Hardly anything How much of what DVC says about the Church is true? How much of what DVC says about the Church is true? Hardly anything How much of what DVC says about art, architecture, geography, literature, is true? How much of what DVC says about art, architecture, geography, literature, is true? Hardly anything THE DVC IS A WORK OF FICTION!

If its only fiction, why worry? Because it pretends to be factual and accurate, based on truth (page 3: FACT) Because it pretends to be factual and accurate, based on truth (page 3: FACT) It changes basic facts about major historical figures It changes basic facts about major historical figures It uses real organisations to do evil acts It uses real organisations to do evil acts Therefore it is not enough to say its just fiction

What the DVC claims Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalene: they had a child and their descendants are still around (in France) Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalene: they had a child and their descendants are still around (in France) The Catholic Church exists to keep this secret from people, and is ready to kill people to do this: the Church is a big lie The Catholic Church exists to keep this secret from people, and is ready to kill people to do this: the Church is a big lie Opus Dei is the Catholic group that does the dirty work (like killing or stealing) Opus Dei is the Catholic group that does the dirty work (like killing or stealing) The Christian faith is false, a delusion The Christian faith is false, a delusion

Turn it around Its a book about Christ Its a book about Christ Its a unique opportunity to talk about Christ! Its a unique opportunity to talk about Christ!

Priory of Sion according to the DVC A real organisation founded in 1099 to defend the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene A real organisation founded in 1099 to defend the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene Persecuted by the Catholic Church Persecuted by the Catholic Church Dedicated to the Sacred Feminine Dedicated to the Sacred Feminine

The Priory of Sion – in fact Invented by Pierre Plantard in 1956 (a conman recently out of prison) Invented by Pierre Plantard in 1956 (a conman recently out of prison) Planted documents in National Library of Paris Planted documents in National Library of Paris Admitted to be a hoax on TV by its founder Admitted to be a hoax on TV by its founder

Opus Dei according to the DVC Brainwashed killer monks Brainwashed killer monks Women second class Women second class Involved in financial wrongdoing Involved in financial wrongdoing Engaged in grotesque practices of corporal mortification Engaged in grotesque practices of corporal mortification

Opus Dei – in fact Ordinary Catholics seeking holiness in their daily lives Ordinary Catholics seeking holiness in their daily lives Women and men have the same status Women and men have the same status Members are adults who are in Opus Dei freely Members are adults who are in Opus Dei freely John Paul II was not for sale John Paul II was not for sale

Corporal mortification Context: prayer, fasting, good works Context: prayer, fasting, good works Traditional in the Church – and other religions Traditional in the Church – and other religions Most mortifications are very small Most mortifications are very small Examples of corporal mortifications: sackcloth and ashes, walking barefoot, hair-shirt, cilice, sleeping rough Examples of corporal mortifications: sackcloth and ashes, walking barefoot, hair-shirt, cilice, sleeping rough Motivation: reminder, moral training, solidarity Motivation: reminder, moral training, solidarity Secular motivation: dieting, sports training Secular motivation: dieting, sports training

Jesus Christ according to the DVC The early Christians did not believe Jesus to be God: this was invented by Constantine in Nicea (325) The early Christians did not believe Jesus to be God: this was invented by Constantine in Nicea (325) Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene The Bible (New Testament) was edited to support new invention The Bible (New Testament) was edited to support new invention

Did the early Christians believe Jesus to be God? Jesus is called Theos in the New Testament Jesus is called Theos in the New Testament Jesus revealed his divinity by his actions (miracles, prophecies) Jesus revealed his divinity by his actions (miracles, prophecies) His disciples believed he was God: so much so that they all gave their lives for it His disciples believed he was God: so much so that they all gave their lives for it Early Christian writings Early Christian writings Docetism: 2 nd Century heresy Docetism: 2 nd Century heresy

Were the Bible texts edited? No evidence of any instruction to edit (e.g. written order) No evidence of any instruction to edit (e.g. written order) No evidence of any editing process No evidence of any editing process Texts surviving from long before 325 AD Texts surviving from long before 325 AD Canon of approved gospels Canon of approved gospels Gnostic gospels: 3 rd -5 th Centuries Gnostic gospels: 3 rd -5 th Centuries

Was Jesus married? No wife is mentioned anywhere – *at all* No wife is mentioned anywhere – *at all* He entrusts his mother to the care of John He entrusts his mother to the care of John Jesus extols celibacy Jesus extols celibacy Being unmarried was unusual but not unheard of (St John Baptist, St Paul) Being unmarried was unusual but not unheard of (St John Baptist, St Paul) Even Gnostic gospels do not support this theory Even Gnostic gospels do not support this theory For Gnostics physical matter is evil For Gnostics physical matter is evil gospel of Mary Magdalene does not mention any union gospel of Mary Magdalene does not mention any union gospel of Philip is misquoted in DVC gospel of Philip is misquoted in DVC

Jesus Christ – in fact Jesus: a liar, a fool, or… God Jesus: a liar, a fool, or… God He challenges each person today He challenges each person today Weigel: Christ is the answer to the question that is every human person Weigel: Christ is the answer to the question that is every human person John Paul II: Christ is the one everyone is searching for even if they dont realise it John Paul II: Christ is the one everyone is searching for even if they dont realise it Benedict XVI: let ourselves be astonished by Christ Benedict XVI: let ourselves be astonished by Christ

If you are a Christian… YOU are the best answer to the film YOU are the best answer to the film Encourage people to read the Gospel: have copies to give away Encourage people to read the Gospel: have copies to give away CTS booklet and other booklets available CTS booklet and other booklets available Longer books Longer books Form study groups to study the matters brought up in the film Form study groups to study the matters brought up in the film Encourage many friends to watch a different film in the cinema during weekend May and to completely ignore the Da Vinci Code! Encourage many friends to watch a different film in the cinema during weekend May and to completely ignore the Da Vinci Code!