I've noticed a notice on many signs that next Sunday at these churches there will be a passel of preachers pontificating about the novel written by Dan Brown called The Da Vinci Code.  Every single one of their signs say something to the effect that if you come to their church and listen to their sermon you will find out the "truth" about The Da Vinci Code.

It's really quite hilarious.

Back in 2003, Sandra Miesel wrote an article titled "Dismantling The Da Vinci Code" which was published in the Sept. 1 issue of Crisis.  Here's what she wrote:

"So error-laden is The Da Vinci Code that the educated reader actually applauds those rare occasions where Brown stumbles (despite himself) into the truth. [...] In the end, Dan Brown has penned a poorly written, atrociously researched mess."

Ho, ho, ho!  I thought the book was quite well-written, rather engaging and great fun, even if a bit predictable.  And I know Mr. Brown was crushed by Ms. Miesel's review.  His book sold only 40 million plus copies!  He wept all the way to the bank.

If you check out the Websites of the Christian Right in these days before the official release of the movie based on the book, you will find a gargantuan amount of goofiness regarding what is universally feared to be a heretical horror and a threat to the godliness of Christians everywhere!

With regard to the latter statement, these fundys may have a point.  According to Lee Strobel, a writer of much Christian fiction (well, he thinks its good "historical" writing--actually it's more hysterical than historical), "Dan Brown so cleverly mixes fact and fiction, people are getting spiritually confused.  One out of every three Canadians who have read the book now believes that there are descendants of Jesus walking among us today."

"Strobel also claims that 53 percent of Americans who have read the book say it has been `helpful in their personal spiritual growth and understanding.'"  Oops!

The fundys are very, very worried.  Evidently Canadian Christians are really dolts to be so easily shunted off their faith foundations, and obviously most other Christians are not nearly as "grounded" in their beliefs as they should be.  It's simply amazing what one little NOVEL can do!

The fundys aren't the only one's that are worried, however.  In the United Kingdom, a few Roman Catholics leaders along with members of the secretive (love that word!) Opus Dei "have formed a group to respond to the negative impact the Da Vinci Code film is expected to bring."

It's called The Da Vinci Code Response Group, and also includes a Benedictine abbot and two priests.  The group pompously and piously condemns "Brown's book as `fiction trading as fact.'"

This "response" group is especially concerned that "many people without a good understanding of the Catholic Church and its history have been understandably deceived by Dan Brown's claim that the Da Vinci Code is based on facts and respectable theories."

Opus Dei's communications director Jack Valero is frustrated because "The book is obviously trying to present fictional things as factual, and trying to deceive people in that way."

Well, if there's any group that ought to know about presenting fiction as fact it's the Catholic Church!

What a fascinating flailing about!  You've got fundys of every description, Catholics representing various organizations, and Christian Reconstructionists in an uproar!  

D. James Kennedy, a Reconstructionist (they're the ones who want to make the U.S. into a theocratic society based upon biblical laws), the big cheese at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, where they are actively engaged in "reclaiming America for Christ," has also gotten involved in the Da Vinci Code fray.

He has produced a "new one-hour television documentary, `The Da Vinci Delusion,' which will air on May 13 and 14 on The Coral Ridge Hour."  It features a bunch of ultra-conservative hide-bound fundamentalists and so-called Biblical "experts" who will try to refute the so-called "facts" presented in the novel.

For example, Darrell Bock, who teaches New Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary (a cornerstone of the far-right), says that Brown is wrong in suggesting that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married.  "We don't have any evidence anywhere in any kind of document of any sort that Jesus was married."  Actually, Mr. Bock, you don't have any "real" evidence in any document anywhere (other than the Gospels--and you can't use those) that Jesus existed.

Erwin Lutzer, a writer, takes on Brown's contention that the notion Jesus was "divine" was decided in Nicea in the fourth-century.  "That is bunk," says Lutzer.  "...what happened at Nicea is because the early Church believed in the deity of Jesus."  Well, the question is, what "early church?"  You're talking over 300 years and the "church" consisted of all kinds of groups and people who believed all kinds of things about Jesus for a long time.  Even in the fourth century, there were many groups who disavowed the "orthodoxy" that was asserting itself.  

Kennedy, in his usual erudite fashion, claims that that "Da Vinci myth" is an attempt to discredit Christ.  Nevertheless, he says, it won't happen.  Kennedy believes that the Gospel truth will win out, but "The tragedy is that in the interim, some people will miss salvation because they reject the Gospel truth and believe the Da Vinci myth, or something like it."  

Oh boy, now Dan Brown is responsible for a bunch of folks who will "miss salvation" and spend their eternity in hell!  How could you, Mr. Brown?

Lee Strobel, mentioned earlier, has written several books attempting to prove that Jesus was a real person.  His "proofs," however, don't hold up under the scrutiny of real Biblical and historical scholars.  But Strobel is prolific, and he has written another book called Exploring the Da Vinci Code to go along with a "DVD-driven discussion curriculum kit called "Discussing the Da Vinci Code."  He thinks all good Christians should buy his book, go see the movie and then "engage" one's "unsaved friends or family members" in dialog so that they might come to know the "truth."  

One of the most interesting twists on The Da Vinci Code business comes from the pen of Dr. Chris Leland, the Director of College & University Outreach for the Focus on the Family Institute and author of the Truth Lab.

He has devised a fanciful interpretation of I Samuel 17 to help true believers deal with the questions raised by The Da Vinci Code.

I Samuel 17 contains the familiar story of David and Goliath.  It was Leland's favorite Bible story while growing up.  It's the story of how the armies of Israel engaged the Philistines in the Valley of Elah.  Goliath was a "giant" on the Philistine side.  He and David had some words at a distance and then David, basically unarmed, charged the Phillies and used a slingshot to knock ol' Goliath dead.  The Philistine army hightailed it back to wherever they came from.

David, though, standing over Goliath's body, isn't satisfied with just killing the giant, so he cut off Goliath's head with Goliath's own sword.  Talk about being hoisted by one's own petard!

This is a fairy tale with many of the components of a typical fairy tale.  It is also a confusing story because there are a number of inconsistencies.  Material in chapter 17 doesn't follow from the previous chapter.  For example, David and family, who appear in chapter 16, are introduced as new characters in chapter 17; in chapter 17 David is living with his family in Bethlehem, whereas in chapter 16 David is encamped with Saul; and Saul, in chapter 17, inexplicably does not know David.

But that's all kinda beside the point.  Here's what Leland does with this.  Goliath represents all the bad "claims" that appear in The Da Vinci Code, such as the claim that the New Testament was "canonized" by Constantine in 325 C.E.; or the claim that other gospels (e.g. Gnostic gospels) were more historically and theologically accurate than the four chosen by the church; or the claim that Jesus was not a god and that he married Mary Magdalene with whom he had a child.

So, the "giant" that threatens Christians and their faith is this movie with all these false claims.  Leland says "This giant is armed with huge screens and surround sound and a darkened place where we are whisked away to another life, another story, another set of truth claims."

What in the world can real Christians do when confronted with such a "giant?"  Well, says Leland, "...let's seek the truth.  Let's stand up when the `giant' of The Da Vinci Code scares everyone else away.  You may feel alone, but you will be armed with the truth of God.  May your stones include `being prepared,' `being challenging,' `being loving,' and `being bold.'"

Okay all you little "Davids," go get him!  (Don't you just love when the Bible comes "alive" like this?)

A final observation:  All of this publicity has greatly increased interest in the movie and you can bet it will be one of the great "blockbusters" of all time:  thanks largely to the efforts of the Christian right.