Additional Information and Reading Regarding "The Da Vinci Code" (posted May 17, 2006)

As a follow up for more information and resources related to The Da Vinci Code, I would recommend the following sources and articles. Most of which you can get on line. Perhaps one of the best treatments of the historical basis of faith that the Da Vinci Code challenges was written by Nicky Gumbel, who is one of the primary presenters in the "Alpha Course" program. "Good News: the Magazine for United Methodist Renewal" contains his article in the January/February 2006 edition. You can also find this link by going to www.goodnewsmag.org and click on the subtitle "Pure Fiction" under the heading of "Faith Engaging the World." 

In addition, another excellent online source to facts that address the questions the Da Vinci Code raises can be found on www.beliefnet.com/davinci. Both of these sources give wonderful and accurate understandings of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the scrolls found at Nag Hammadi in 1945. Plus they address very well the issues of the Gnostic Gospels, and Gnosticism.

Jackie Young will be teaching a class on the Da Vinci Code this summer on Wednesday nights. Stay tuned, but let me know if you have questions that arise from checking the resources above. If you are planning on seeing the movie, I would suggest gleaning the above sources before doing so. The www.beliefnet.com/templechurch/ link provides a on-line interview by Rev. Robin Griffin-Jones, the Headmaster of the Temple Church in London, England.

Peace,

Steve