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Da Vinci Code: making your mind up - an online resource

8 May 2006

A new section of the Church of England website is launched this week, inviting people to consider the facts and fiction of the Da Vinci Code for themselves. 

Aimed at the casual browser or the curate devising a compelling event, it pits the ‘facts’ of the Dan Brown novel with the story of Jesus accepted by the Church for generations.

The dilemma is simply set out at www.cofe.anglican.org/info/davinci, which says:

“According to Dan Brown’s novel, Jesus married Mary Magdalene, they had children and their blood line continues today.  The Church of England believes that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit, fulfilled a ministry on Earth, died on a cross and rose again three days later. He left behind a new church that has spread throughout the world.

“These are very different beliefs about Jesus. What do you think?”

Keen Da Vinci enquirers can click through to the Christian Enquiry Agency, Lambeth Palace, the Church Army Sheffield Centre and other links such as:

  • Ten frequently asked questions:

Would it have been wrong for Jesus to be married?

Has the church excluded women?

Is sex evil?

And how to run a ‘Da Vinci event’ in your church.

  • An online ‘fact or fiction’ poll.
  • Consider whether the Church has been covering things up for 2000 years.
  • Find out what the Archbishop of Canterbury thinks of it.
  • Visit Winchester Cathedral to find out more.
  • Find out more about what the Church of England believes.

The Revd Dr Richard Burridge, Dean of King’s College London, which was featured in the book, said:

“The Da Vinci Code is a cracking good read, a real page-turner of a novel. One of its appeals is that we all like secrets.  But its claims about Jesus are cracked.  In fact, sometimes the real truth is stranger than fiction.  Get exploring!”