Davinci Coda Conference

Mike Heiser, PhD Academic Editor for Logos Bible Software addresses many of the theological claims presented by The Da Vinci Code.

Ancient of Days Press Release

Theologian Michael S. Heiser, PhD To Challenge Claims of The Da Vinci Code

Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code has become an international phenomena with 45 million books in print, and is coming to theaters May 19 in the major motion picture starring Tom Hanks. While presented as fiction, the novel makes claims of extensive research that are, at best, challenging to traditional Christian teachings.
Among the ideas presented as fact in The Da Vinci Code are that Jesus fathered a child by Mary Magdalene (a bloodline that allegedly continues today), that the early Catholic church concealed this and invented the doctrine of Jesus' divinity,
and that the church intentionally rejected any texts that hinted at this history from inclusion in the Bible, in part to suppress the role of women.
"The novel relies primarily on the teachings of Gnosticism, an early Christian sect," according to Bellingham-based theologian and Academic Editor for Logos Bible Software Dr. Michael S. Heiser, Ph.D. Heiser holds advanced degrees in Ancient History, Semitic Languages, and Hebrew Bible, and says he is very familiar with the Gnostic texts and the "conspiratorial" version of history The Da Vinci Codeis based upon.

He plans to examine, and where appropriate, to rebut, the claims of Brown's novel from both historical and theological perspectives via a one-day conference held at Hampton Inn's Fox Hall in Bellingham, Saturday April 22nd. Heiser will present a series of 45-minute lectures targeted at specific claims of the book. Scheduled sessions include an overview of Gnosticism, an examination of the evidence for Jesus' alleged marriage, a historical view of the idea that Jesus is God prior to Constantine's third-century declaration of such, the Gnostic view of women, and a working overview of how texts appearing in modern Bibles were selected.

Dr. Heiser discussed the claims of The Da Vinci Code for three hours in December before a national audience on the popular late-night radio show Coast to Coast AM with George Noory. At the request of an out-of-state sponsor* who heard the program (and is working with Faith Reformed Church in Bellingham, where Mike attends), he agreed to present the one-day conference to record for DVD.

www.MichaelSHeiser.com
Dr. Michael S. Heiser holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an M.A. in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania (major fields, Ancient Syria-Palestine and Egyptology). Mike is a member of The Evangelical Theological Society, The Society of Biblical Literature, & The Near East Archaeology Society. Mike's Academic Honors include: Scholarship recipient: Wisconsin Society for Jewish Higher Learning (1995, 1996, 1998)
The National Dean's List (1996) Selected to: Who's Who Among America's College Teachers (1996) Fellowship recipient: James L Weinstein Fellowship in Hebrew Studies (1995) Scholarship recipient, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Ancient History (1992)
DVDs Descriptions

Disc 1

 1) “Introducing Gnosticism: Understanding the Worldview Behind The DaVinci Code”  An overview of the beliefs of ancient Gnosticism as a backdrop to the claims in The DaVinci Code. 
2) “Manuscripts of the New Testament vs. The Gnostic Gospels from Nag Hammadi” Examination of the claims of The DaVinci Code that since the Gnostic gospels are the oldest, unaltered gospels, they should have been included in the New Testament canon.
3) “Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene Married?”  Discussion of who Mary Magdalene was and wasn’t, as well as an evaluation of the alleged evidence put forth by Dan Brown and his sources that Mary was the wife of Jesus.
4) “Enlightened Gnostics and Misogynistic Christians? The New Testament Attitude Toward Women” A critique of the notion that Gnosticism elevated women while the New Testament writers and the early Church did everything they could to oppress them.

Disc 2

 5) “Neither Lord nor Christ? The Belief in Jesus as God before Nicea and the Exalted Christ of Gnosticism”  A refutation of two ideas put forth in The DaVinci Code: That Constantine invented the idea that Jesus was God at Nicea, and that the Gnostic texts portray Jesus as only a mortal man (hint: they do not).
6) “What Really Happened at Nicea?” An examination of Constantine’s spiritual commitments and the documentary evidence left to history concerning the proceedings at the Council of Nicea.
7) “The Conspiratorial Logic of The DaVinci Code and Jesus Bloodline Theorists” An exposure of the muddled thinking and illogic of Dan Brown and his sources.
8) “Jumping the Shark from the Newsroom to the Ivory Tower: Assessing the Gospel of Judas Frenzy” A continuation of # 7 with special attention to the contents of the newly-published Gospel of Judas.

Davinci Coda
2-DVD Set

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