It's a NOVEL Not History

I just left the beginning of the Deborah Norville show on MSNBC. Tonight's topic is The DaVinci Code. She has two authors on tonight. They have both written follow-on books about The DaVinci Code. It looked like she had one that was a "defender of the faith," and one that was a "defender of the code." The faith defender was carrying on about how the book is an attack on the church and Jesus, etc. It's a novel first and foremost. It's not a theological tome (it's much to readable for that), it's not an atheist diatribe against religion. It's a who-done-it. I know, because I've read it.

Yes, it does take some legends about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and the Holy Grail and weave them together into a very good story. Yes, anyone could have read about these theories or legends with just a little looking on their own. I know that because I had already read them. What makes it unique is that it brings many of them together with a good mystery. The legends themselves already had their believers, and they didn't need Dan Brown to attract adherents. It is a good mystery, and it's even plausible; but that's what makes for a good story. People have always been intrigued by Jesus and to a lesser extent by Mary Magdalene. But, that interest is not an attack on the Church or Jesus. It's genuine interest.

The two authors would not have their books published, and they wouldn't be on Deborah Norville if it weren't for Dan Brown and his book. What they're really doing is making the obligatory TV appearance to promote their own books. I would be interested to find out who the publisher is, and if it has any business connections to NBC or General Electric. Now that's the story here, not whether Dan Brown is trying to undermine Christianity.
- posted by Marcos @ 8:14 PM