is the da vinci code novel based on facts?
373455
it only claims that it is based on facts that doesn't even exist.  like for one, in the book's fact page, the priory of sion was being mentioned as an organization in the early 1099. in 1975, the Les Dossiers Secrets was discovered in Paris's Bibliotheque Nationale identifying Leonardo Da Vinci as member of the org. this is the major basis of the novel.  but the truth of this is that the Priory of Sion did not exist until 1957.  How can Leonardo Da Vinci be a member or a grandmaster for that matter he has already rotten?  Everything that Dan Brown has written about the Priory of Sion was based not on historical facts but rather on claims found in the Priory of Sion documents – all bogus works of historical fiction stemming from Plantard's fertile imagination (and what gave them a deeper ‘esoteric’ flavour was Philippe de Chérisey's input, who tried to decorate the fantasies in a surrealist fashion).\n\nit has misrepresented the church as a murderous institution and that Christian faith is utterly false.  \n\nIt isn't a defense to say that The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction. Fiction can't change the basic facts about major historical figures without being subject to criticism. People would be outraged if Doubleday printed a novel portraying Adolph Hitler in a positive light. Christians have a right to be outraged when the basic historical facts about Christ are falsified. The criticism will be even more intense when a publisher releases a book parodying the most sacred beliefs of others in this fashion.\n\nFurther, as we have seen in this special report, the book takes great pains to create the appearance of factuality, including placing the infamous "fact" page at the beginning of the novel. Brown has stressed the ostensible accuracy of the book on his web site and in interviews. This is not a case where an author and a publisher have produced an ordinary novel. They have gone to great lengths to mislead people into thinking that the novel has a historical basis. They deserve especially sharp criticism for this, and when criticism is made they cannot hypocritically hide behind the "It's just fiction" allegation after having made such extensive efforts to convince the reader that it is not "just fiction."
568228
All the hype around the Da Vinci Code makes me laugh.  The book is listed as SPECULATIVE FICTION.  That means that there is some historical facts but the basis is fiction.  I haven't read it, nor will I see the movie.  I have my own theories on Jesus and him being married.  I have more of a chance of being accurate than the book.  You see Jesus was jewish and became a rabbi.  Rabbinical law back then stated that a rabbi HAD TO BE MARRIED.  So the wedding at Caanan was his to Mary Magdelen.  He probably did have kids and that was the Medici line of rulers that claimed "divine right of rule".
686351
There are many facts in it and there are many hoax's weaved in with it.  Don't believe anyone saying that "it's all a lie" and don't believe anyone saying that "it's all true".  Pick a part that you have doubts about or interest, and then do your own research.\n\nFor starters though, most items related to the Knights Templar and what happened to them is true.  Their final fate is the subject of legend.\n\nThe Catholic church has apologized and admitted to the 2000 year old smear campaign against Mary Magdaline.  She was not a prostitute, and was in fact one of Jesus' most favored companions.  Suppositions after this fact have no concrete record, such as that he was married to her or had children by her, but are open to translation and interpretation.\n\nThe claim that there were three competing sects of Christianity at the time of Emporer Constantine's death is true.  The fact that one sect (Orthodox, modern Catholic) with royal backing had the other two (Aryanism and Gnosticism) hunted down and slaughtered is true.\n\nIn the book several word origins and translations were presented as a fun lesson, and these are true.\n\nEverything else is either part of a hoax or subject to interpretation.
1017173
Really?  I think the Da Vinci Code is a fictional work of Dan Brown's.
117495
The da Vinci code as far as the book goes is a work of fiction.  However, da Vinci did have a way of coding his works on engineering and invention.  Like many others of his time, he would alter a key step in building or using his inventions, in order to keep others from being able to copy his work.  This is because there were no patent laws during his time, so there was no legal way of protecting his ideas.
274688
The Da Vinci Code is a novel written by American author Dan Brown and published in 2003 by Doubleday Fiction (ISBN 0385504209). It is a worldwide bestseller with 36 million copies in print (as of August 2005) and has been translated into 44 languages. Combining the detective, thriller and conspiracy theory genres, the book is part two of a trilogy that started with Brown's 2000 novel Angels and Demons, which introduced the character Robert Langdon. In November 2004, Random House published a "Special Illustrated Edition", with 160 illustrations interspersed with the text.\n\nThe plot of the novel involves a conspiracy by the Catholic Church to cover up the true story of Jesus. This implies that the Vatican consciously knows it is living a lie, but does so to keep itself in power. The novel has helped generate popular interest in speculation concerning the Holy Grail legend and the role of Mary Magdalene in the history of Christianity. Fans have lauded the book as creative, action-packed and thought-provoking. Critics have attacked it as inaccurate and poorly written, and decry the many negative implications about the Catholic Church.\n\nThe book opens with the claim by Dan Brown that "all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate"; but this claim is disputed by academic scholars in the fields the book discusses (see Criticisms of The Da Vinci Code and the further reading list below). As widely noted in the media, there has been substantial confusion among readers about whether the book is factual. Numerous works have been published which explain in detail why any claim to accuracy is difficult to sustain.
1109699
its a BOOK..a FICTIONAL BOOK! Its not meant to be taken as TRUTH! I am Catholic, I know what I believe in, and I read the book. It doesn't go against the Bible, it just suggests possibilities that maybe someone in history altered the truth. Dan Brown is an incredible writer because of the fact that he can write FICTION and make people believe that it is the honest to God truth! Its a wonderful book & he NEVER says that it is the truth...he says the CHARACTERS in the book believe it is the truth! \n\n**steps off soapbox**
452557
No, the Bible, nor any other manuscript says that they were married. The Da Vinci Code is a lie, and attempts to undermine the Christian faith. Jesus came for one reason, to save mankind!
563098
ALL LIES! Da Vinci Code is all lies!
441915
it's fiction.  dan brown did a great job of interweaving facts with fiction, but it is fiction.  i really enjoyed the book, but man have you seem all the study guides and extra paraphanalia at Barnes and Noble.  It's getting rediculous.
619937
Dan Brown talks about the controversy surrounding the movie.\n\nHOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS TRUE?\nThe Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction. While the book's characters and their actions are obviously not real, the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in this novel all exist (for example, Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings, the Gnostic Gospels, Hieros Gamos, etc.). These real elements are interpreted and debated by fictional characters. While it is my belief that some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations. My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history.
480865
The secret behind the Da Vinci Code is that it's claims are flat wrong and that the major basis of has already been proven bogus and manipulated.  \n\nIt tried to disprove the bible.  Dan Brown claims that:\n\n-"The Bible is a product of man...not of God." (Page 231)\n-"The New Testament is false testimony." (Page 345)\n-"The New Testament is based on fabrications." (Page 341)\n-"The Bible... has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book." (Page 231)\n\nIs there a woman in Leonardo’s Last Supper?\nLet’s do the math. Jesus and twelve apostles (all men) = 13 people. That’s how many people are in the picture. If Leonardo wanted Mary Magdalene in there, he would have to paint 14 people. \n\nLet’s do the history. The Last Supper was painted to decorate a dining room of a group of Dominican friars. Anyone of them was surely capable – especially when the painting was fresh and new – of noticing and asking why a woman was in the painting. But there is no record of anyone thinking that the figure to Jesus’ right was anyone but St. John because St. John was usually portrayed as a beardless, “pretty” rather than handsome youth. This “prettiness” was the artist’s way of highlighting his youth.\n\nLog on to www.wga.hu, click on Enter Here, click on “B” under “Artist Index,” scroll down and click on Bassano, Jacopo, scroll down his paintings and click on his Last Supper to get an enlarged view and see another young and “pretty” St. John.\n\nOr just think of Jeffrey Hunter playing Jesus in the “King of Kings” for a modern counterpart.\n\nAllow me to refer you to websites that would provide answers to your questions.
674335
BASIC SYNOPSIS OF THE DA VINCI CODE:\n\nThe Da Vinci Code directly challenges many essential Christian beliefs, claiming the Bible is unreliable; the resurrection of Jesus is mere mythology; Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and they had a child; descendants of Jesus are still alive today; and a secret society guards this “truth” about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and their descendants.\n\nClaims of this magnitude certainly need solid evidence to support them, something not found in The Da Vinci Code.  As a matter of fact, historical evidence serves to refute these claims.  For example, Dr. Bart Ehrman at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill states, “Not a single one of our ancient sources indicates that Jesus was married, let alone married to Mary Magdalene.”\n\nDespite the fact that The Da Vinci Code belongs squarely in the category of fiction, there is a very real danger that with millions of people either reading the book or viewing the movie, many will accept the story’s theories about Jesus as truth.  Skeptics are already using these conspiracy theories to support their arguments that the Christian faith is founded on mere myth.
325835
I don't think everything he writes about is true, of course. The author himself admitted to this. The only thing that I'm starting to be sure of is Jesus' relationship with Mary Magdalene and her being present in Da Vinci's "The Last Supper". We shouldn't believe everything the book tells us, but we might be able to read between the lines.
246491
All of the artwork and architecture is true and the Priory of Sion really was a secret society of which Leonardo da Vinci was a member, but the underlying story is fiction.  Read the fact page at the beginning of the book (it's right after the title page and before the prologue).
534151
Its a Fiction movie!\n\nThe Da Vinci Code challenges Jesus' identity and deeds, the content of the Bible, the origin of the church, the motives of early Christian leaders and the relevance of the church today — but it does so without any historical, logical or theological credibility.
435169
I believe that both are fiction. However, The da Vinci Code is more believable in my mind, because I'd have an easier time believing that a professor searched for the Holy Grail and believed that he'd found that it was a person than believing in an invisible man in the sky that flooded the world.