| Ted |
— |
Hey, I've been reading The Da Vinci Code. It's a real thriller with lots of art and culture in it. I couldn't put it down. But I've also heard it has really stirred up some controversy. |
| Dean |
— |
Why is it so controversial? |
| Ted |
— |
It seems that the Roman Catholic Church has been hiding the true story of Jesus. |
| Dean |
— |
What do you mean? |
| Ted |
— |
Well, the book claims that the more complete record of Jesus is recorded in the "lost books of the Bible." These books were apparently suppressed by the Catholic Church. |
| Dean |
— |
What is the source of the book's claims, Ted? |
| Ted |
— |
One of the characters in The Da Vinci Code claims that there were lost documents that were discovered in Egypt in 1945. These books show a more human side to Jesus. |
| Dean |
— |
Why do you think we should believe those materials instead of the New Testament? |
| Ted |
— |
I don't know, but it does seem that Dan Brown knows what he is talking about. He seems to know so much about art and history. He even says that Jesus was just a charismatic leader and was a lover of Mary Magdalene. |
| Dean |
— |
So you think that his novel is the best version of history? |
| Ted |
— |
I don't know. But maybe he is right! |
| Dean |
— |
You know, Ted, there are ways to find out whether or not things have happened in history. |
| Ted |
— |
What do you mean? |
| Dean |
— |
For a start, we should read the findings of recognized scholars in those fields. It is their business to assess historical fact. |
| Ted |
— |
That may be true, but who has the time to read an encyclopedia on the subject? |
| Dean |
— |
You don't need to read an encyclopedia. I've run across a helpful little booklet that answers many of the key questions about The Da Vinci Code. It does this by quoting some of the leading scholars in the field. It's called The Da Vinci Code: Separating Fact From Fiction. |
| Ted |
— |
Really? Is it very long? I'm kind of busy right now. |
| Dean |
— |
That's why the booklet is so helpful, Ted. It's only 32-pages long. |
| Ted |
— |
Wow! That's something I could finish in an evening. What's in it? |
| Dean |
— |
It begins by telling about a person from a Christian background who has begun to question their faith because of the claims of The Da Vinci Code. |
| Ted |
— |
So The Da Vinci Code is even making devout Christians ask questions? |
| Dean |
— |
Yeah, it is. But the booklet asks questions of its own. Some of them include: What is The Da Vinci Code plot line? Were there lost books of the Bible? Was Leonardo Da Vinci part of a secret society, and, did he leave secret clues about his beliefs in his artwork? |
| Ted |
— |
To be honest with you, I don't consider myself to be a religious person, but The Da Vinci Code has raised so many questions, I'd like to read that booklet. Where can I get one? |
