Pat,

I have read "the Da Finci Code."  It's a nice piece of fiction. Hoewver, you 
are right that it's not based on the Bible at all.  Dan brown quotes the 
gnostic gospels, and he doesn't even get the quotes from these correct.  
What he says about Jesus is that he was married to Mary Magdolene and that 
they had a baby named Sarah.  There are other wild claims, but that's the 
gist of it.

As for books refuting it, I read a comprehensive one called "Truth and 
Fiction in the Da Vinci Code" by Bart Aerman.  Not sure of the spelling fo 
the author's name, but the book is available on Audible and probably through 
most bookstores.




JulieMelton
visit me at
www.heart-and-music.com
Keep smiling!





>From: Pat Ferguson <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Electronic Church <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Fwd: April 27, 2006 - Da Vinci decoded - Daily Devotional
>Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 19:45:24 -0500
>
>Hi Julie and Everyone,
>
>I would really like everyone's thoughts on the book, The Da Vinci Code. My 
>sister, Sherilyn is reading it, and I told her it was not quite Biblical, 
>and I have not read it, so perhaps I shouldn't have said that, as I have 
>not read the book, but only for the knowledge as to whether it is or not, I 
>should probably read it, knowing that it is not based on the Bible, so I 
>have been told.
>
>I hope that someone has written a book telling us why the Da Vinci Code is 
>not based on the Bible and backing it up with evidense, and then I'll 
>purchase that and send it to my loving Sister Sherilyn. She is not saved.
>
>Thanks, and I'm looking forward to everyone's thoughts.
>
>Love and Blessings,
>Pat Ferguson
>
>
>
>At 11:55 AM 4/27/2006, you wrote:
>>Pat,
>>
>>thanks for passing on those good thoughts.  I think it's easy to get more 
>>concerned about being right than about winning people to Christ.  Good 
>>reminder of that.
>>
>>
>>
>>JulieMelton
>>visit me at
>>www.heart-and-music.com
>>Keep smiling!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>From: Pat Ferguson <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Reply-To: The Electronic Church <[log in to unmask]>
>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>>Subject: Fwd: April 27, 2006  - Da Vinci decoded - Daily Devotional
>>>Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 10:28:18 -0500
>>>
>>>
>>>>April 27, 2006
>>>><http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/sendtoafrienddevo.aspx?articleid=1742>
>>>>[]
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Da Vinci decoded
>>>>by John Fischer
>>>>
>>>>Well, I’m on page 243 of The Da Vinci Code and it certainly is a 
>>>>page-turner. I’m reading it because I want to be able to speak 
>>>>intelligently to the interest that will surely be on the rise as this 
>>>>blockbuster novel becomes a major motion picture with a high-profile 
>>>>team of actors including Tom Hanks in the leading role. More than 40 
>>>>million copies of the novel have been sold, and the movie will most 
>>>>certainly drive that number higher.
>>>>
>>>>The controversial nature of its theme recalls the movie The Last 
>>>>Temptation of Christ taken from the book by Nikos Kazantzakis that 
>>>>presents a confused Christ and an offensive dream sequence from the 
>>>>cross involving his relationship with Mary Magdalene. The intense 
>>>>reaction of the religious community against that movie amounted to a 
>>>>call to arms. Theaters were picketed and boycotted, and a march was 
>>>>organized on Universal Studios. (I still wonder why Christians would 
>>>>expect unbelievers to get the story right in the first place.)
>>>>
>>>>It is my understanding that The Da Vinci Code has similar controversial 
>>>>interpretations of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Christ, and 
>>>>the Catholic Church. Still, it would be better if cooler heads prevailed 
>>>>if only for the opportunity to present another more accurate version of 
>>>>the biblical account as over and against becoming entangled in yet 
>>>>another culture war.
>>>>
>>>>Though the story is clearly fiction, it will raise questions in people’s 
>>>>minds about the validity of the sources through which the story of 
>>>>Christ and his disciples has come down to us. In other words: We have 
>>>>homework to do. I suggest we turn this cultural event into an 
>>>>opportunity for dialogue, not a call to battle. Here are some things I 
>>>>think would be appropriate.
>>>>
>>>>1) Let’s not try and be experts about something we haven’t read or seen. 
>>>>If we’re going to have an opinion, make sure it’s an informed one.
>>>>
>>>>2) Bone up on the origin of our information about the Scriptures and why 
>>>>we can trust them as reliable historical documents and as God’s Word. 
>>>>[See below for some recommended material to help you do this.]
>>>>
>>>>3) Use this information to bolster our own faith, not fight a battle of 
>>>>wits with unbelievers we are eager to disprove.
>>>>
>>>>4) Use the information gained to address the doubts of those who are 
>>>>genuinely seeking the truth.
>>>>
>>>>5) Above all, let’s use this interest in the historicity of religion as 
>>>>an opportunity to get people thinking about the possibility of a real 
>>>>relationship with Christ ­ something we have found to be our own 
>>>>personal validation of the truth.
>>>>
>>>>We don’t have to defend God or win a culture war. God is perfectly 
>>>>capable of taking care of himself. Dan Brown, and our culture in 
>>>>response, has brought up the subject of Christ and the early days of 
>>>>church history. By making our conversation positive and seasoned with 
>>>>grace, we can point people toward the truth instead of driving them away 
>>>>from us.
>>>>
>>>>“But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, 
>>>>whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of 
>>>>this I rejoice.” (Philippians 1:18 NIV)
>>>>
>>>>----------
>>>><http://www.purposedriven.com/en-US/Resources/SmallGroupMinistry/Curriculum/DaVinciCode.htm>
>>>>[]
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>REMINDER: If for some reason you do not receive your devotional on any 
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>>>><http://www.purposedrivenlife.com>www.purposedrivenlife.com, to read the 
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>>>>[]
>>>>
>>>>John Fischer is the Senior Writer for Purpose Driven Life Daily 
>>>>Devotionals. He resides in Southern California with his wife, Marti and 
>>>>son, Chandler. They also have two adult children, Christopher and Anne. 
>>>>John is a published author and popular speaker.
>>>>
>>>>[]
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>>>>[]
>>>>
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