Theologian Michael S. Heiser, PhD Challenges 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).
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.
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.