The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown has stirred up a lot of controversy since it was released in 2003. What should you think about when deciding the religious merits of the book? Here are just a few things to consider.
1. 'The Da Vinci Code' is fiction
This is not a history book, a research book or a book on religion. Some things in the book may be based on reality, but at the end of the day this novel is meant to be a thriller. It should be treated as such.2. The "Fact" page at the beginning of the novel has limited implications
Some have interpreted the Fact page at the beginning of the novel to mean that Brown is asserting the religious theories in the novel to be true. Not so, according to Brown's Web site: "If you read the FACT page, you will see it clearly states that the documents, rituals, organization, artwork, and architecture in the novel all exist. The FACT page makes no statement whatsoever about any of the ancient theories discussed by fictional characters. Interpreting those ideas is left to the reader."3. This is a good starting place for thinking about spiritual issues
Perhaps The Da Vinci Code raised questions in your mind about Christianity and religion. Whether the theories in the book are true or not, anything that engages readers in a spiritual conversation has the potential to be life-changing. This is not, however, the place to stop. Rather than believing claims at face value (or wallowing in doubt), why not dig deeper and learn more about religion and what you believe.Books for Thinking about Your Spiritual/Religious Beliefs:
