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Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code: A Historian Reveals What We Really Know about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Constantine

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Bart D. Ehrman is the chairman of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a recognized authority on the early Christian church and the life of Jesus Christ, has appeared as an expert on the History Channel, the A&E Channel, and other broadcast venues, and has authored a number of books within his area of scholarship. In response to the popularity of "The Da Vinci Code," a bestselling novel by Dan Brown, which claims to be based on "historical truth," Dr. Ehrman has written "Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code" as a means of setting the known historical record straight. Brown's novel is in fact not at all accurate in most of its basic religious assertions. That is, Brown's claim that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married, produced a child, and created a royal ancestral line which still exists is "fiction" not "fact," and is not supported by historical records. In my opinion, this book by Professor Ehrman is absolutely essential reading for anyone who has read Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code." It challenges the alleged historical "facts" upon which Brown's novel is based and clears the air, so to speak, about the many controversies which "The Da Vinci Code" has initiated.

In the interest of full disclosure and in case some reader may be critical of this review, let me make the following declarations. Yes, I have read Dan Brown's novel and, being an aficionado of mystery thrillers, I thoroughly enjoyed it and, like Professor Ehrman, found it to be a real page-turner and I would recommend it to all who enjoy this genre. Yes, I have read "Holy Blood, Holy Grail," by Michael Baigent, et al, the book which Brown seems to have used for much of his "historical" information, and I was fascinated with the theory presented there about Jesus and Mary Magdalene and the existence of a secret society, the Priory of Sion, which has allegedly protected the secret of the Holy Grail down through the centuries. Furthermore, I formally studied Christian theology and history for four years as an undergraduate at a religious college and know at least something about early Christianity and the beliefs and practices of the various Christian sects in existence at the time. I have also taken Professor Ehrman's course in "Lost Christianities: Christian Scriptures and the Battles over Authentication" and had the pleasure of reading and reviewing his recent book entitled "Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew" (see it here on Amazon.com). And I have done extensive research on my own into the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi documents. So I was in a position to read Brown's controversial novel without any problem, simply as a piece of exciting fiction to be enjoyed for its own sake, while dismissing the author's historical claims as the invention of an imaginative novelist.

It is all too true, unfortunately, that most people get their knowledge of historical events from motion pictures, television, and, of course, fictional books. But when it comes to novels which have a religious theme, particularly a novel which claims to be historically accurate but isn't, the misinformation generated can be particularly deadly, both intellectually and emotionally. Understandably, many traditional Christians will be upset with the allegations put forth by Brown's novel. Professor Ehrman's book addresses the historical inaccuracies in Brown's novel directly, providing the facts and insights of scholarship without demeaning the novel itself as a source of leisure enjoyment for those of us who like to read fictional works of mystery and international intrigue. Dan Brown's primary mistake, in my opinion, was to make the claim at the outset that his novel was based on historical fact. Had he not done that, I suspect there would be no problem or controversy over the content of his work. I have read a number of his novels and enjoyed them immensely. I certainly won't desert him as a reader just because of this single faux pas.

The basic questions that Professor Ehrman answers in his analysis of "The Da Vinci Code" include: What role did the emperor Constantine play in early Christianity and was he responsible for the formation of the New Testament canon?; What role did women play in the development of and practices of early Christianity and was there a feminine factor which was suppressed in later Christianity?; Were the Dead Sea Scrolls a collection of Christian documents (which Brown claims)?; Was Jesus married and were Jewish men in antiquity "condemned" for being celibate?; Was Jesus married to Mary Magdalene?; Did they have a child which was born after Jesus was crucified?; Is there a royal line of descent from Jesus and Mary Magdalene, perpetuated by the birth of their daughter, which has come down to us after almost two thousand years and still exists today?; Is Mary Magdalene indeed the real "Holy Grail," being the font of the seed of Jesus?; Has a secret society, called the Priory of Sion, created in antiquity and still in existence today, fought to protect this secret of the "Holy Grail? These are merely a few examples of the many questions that Professor Ehrman deals with in his book.

If you have read or intend to read Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" or "Holy Blood, Holy Grail," by Michael Baigent, et al, I really suggest that you have a copy of Bart Ehrman's "Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code" by your side. Its presentation of the real historical truth will not detract from your enjoyment of Brown's novel or Baigent's historical "speculation." It will, I guarantee, allow you to evaluate properly the "facts" offered in both Brown and Baigent and help you to place the historical realities about early Christianity and attitudes within early Christianity in the appropriate context to which they are entitled. This book is highly recommended!

Bart Ehrman is one of the most lucid scholars around on the New Testament. He is very good at making the events of the first and second century AD both intelligible and interesting. If you've read other Ehrman books much of what this book says is recycled -- and somewhat simplified -- from his other writings.

I didn't like Dan Brown's novel, "The Da Vinci Code." It was too far-fetched, too anti-Catholic (and I'm not a Catholic), and the plot was too mechanical. Notions of 2000 years old conspiracies are just too far outside the bounds of reality. But "Da Vinci" did inspire in me a desire to learn more about early Christianity.

Ehrman debunks 10 errors which Brown makes as they relate to the New Testament. Ehrman is persuasive. For example, he says there is no assertion in any ancient source -- of which there are quite a number in addition to the books of the New Testament -- that Jesus was married and had children. Ehrman opines that Jesus was probably single and celibate, as were many Jewish mystics in his day. Ehrman doesn't attempt to go outside his area of expertise to discuss the medieval and modern day conspiracies described in "The Da Vinci Code." Thus there is little in this book about "Sion" and "Knight Templars" and the "Grail" and other people and organizations that figure in the Brown book.

So, if you choose to read "The Da Vinci Code" don't swallow it whole, but also read this book to get a more accurate picture of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and early Christianity. Truth, or at least the informed speculation of Ehrman, is more interesting than the fiction of Dan Brown.

Smallchief

As with his other histories of the time periods that were crucial for the development of the New Testament, Bart Ehrman gives us a balanced and persuasive analysis of the historical facts. Some might question why such a book is needed. After all, the Da Vinci Code was meant to be fiction. Are we just beating up on a fiction author who takes "poetic license" with history? Few people were particularly concerned that some of the charcters in "Braveheart" actually lived years apart. In the case of the Da Vinci Code, though, it is necessary. The popularity of the Da Vinci Code or The Passion of Christ (ironically, another Mel Gibson project), make these works more than mere pieces of fiction. Such a calm consideration of actual history should be required reading for anyone who will base their religious opinions upon the fictional works. While we're at it, someone also please send copies of all Dr. Ehrman's work to Mr. Gibson.

The author, Bart Ehrman, acknowledges right at the beginning of his book that he liked Dan Brown's thriller, describing it as "a terrific page-turner". And he has not been alone in his praise. The book has everything - good guys, bad guys, murder, police pursuits, even a hint of romance - that a mystery thriller requires, including a surprise ending that reveals the identity of an unlikely villain.
Still, Ehrman, the Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, felt that he should separate fact from fiction in Brown's book and present what is known about early Christianity from an intellectual and historical perspective.
Ehrman's book requires more concentration than the escapist fiction of The Da Vinci Code. However, it presents a fascinating account of what historians have compiled about the early Church. It covers a wide range of subjects, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, the role of the Emperor Constantine (much different from Brown's account), the sources of various gospels and the role of women in the earliest days of Christianity.
Ehrman points out that "people who read a book like The Da Vinci Code have no way of separating the historical fact from the literary fiction. The author himself won't help you out by telling you which historical claims are just as fictional as the characters and the plot of the novel. And in many places, he himself may not know. He's a novelist, not a scholar of history".
Ehrman's hugely informative book is no "terrific page-turner". But it puts the Da Vinci Code in perspective

I enjoyed the Da Vinci code. But the amateur Bible historian in me didn't buy into the so-called historical truths proffered by Dan Brown. I was certain that Dan Brown got a lot wrong, particular his assertions on how the books for the Bible were chosen. On other assertions derived from the Gnostic Gospels such as the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, I doubted he got it right. But I was not familiar with the source material from which he claimed to have gotten those facts.

The historical assertions in the Da Vinci code have proven to be sensitive for many Christians. Bart Ehrman's approach is straightforward, concise, and in-offensive. He applies his impartial and experienced eye to an analysis that unravels the mess Dan Brown made of history. Proceeding with academic rigor, Ehrman presents each of Dan Brown's assertions and aligns the historical record and documents to make sense of it all. Erhman's analysis and conclusions never step beyond what can be supported by objective research.

Bart Ehrman is never boring and always informative. I recommend this book, particularly if you plan on seeing the movie. Many people are bound to accept what they see on the big screen as fact. It might be nice to have the facts right.

This is a clear, sensible analysis refuting the sensational claims of the DaVinci Code. This book is not geared toward Biblical scholars. It is geared toward the layman who wants a better understanding of how our modern Bible came to exist in its present form. It tells how the different books that constitute the Bible were selected for inclusion, and the criteria used to exclude certain writings.

The book also discusses the Dead Sea Scrolls and more recent text discoveries. The author examines what light these new texts shed on the intentions of the original selection process, as well as their relevance to Brown's contentions in The DaVinci Code.

Ehrman sometimes seems to repeat and review previous chapters of his book a little too much. But actually, this isn't bad because it makes for easy reading. If you forget what he said earlier about the implications of one text or another, about different authors' motives and affiliations - you will find a summary of those previous chapters coming handily at the turn of the next page.

This is an effective, reasoned counterpoint to the conspiracy theories of DaVinci Code adherents. It will take you out of the swirling clouds of conjecture and put you back on solid ground.

Ehrman proceeds with grace and generosity regarding the fictional work `The Da Vinci Code' - readily reminding readers that it is a novel, which Brown intended as a novel. However, regarding the historical claims from the book Ehrman proceeds with clarity and precision as he focuses on 10 areas of concern.

I didn't see that Ehrman is not concerned with theology. His 10 areas of concern all have significant theological implications. That is, if Ehrman is concerned with truth, which he obviously is, then his New Testament scholarship has theological consequences. The difference is, he appears to limit his bias in his historical analysis.

In short, while Ehrman is quick to give the `story' of the Da Vinci Code high marks he is quick to point out numerous factual errors as he systematically debunks the books claims. He points out that...

1. The Dead Sea Scrolls were not early `Christian' documents - but were rather copies of Old Testament books by a Jewish fringe group.
2. Not all of the Jewish men in the first century were married, but rather many chose to remain celebate.
3. Gnostic gospels were late documents which didn't have an enormous impact on Christian thought.
4. The role of women in the early church was distinct from the cultural norms.
5. Constantine didn't choose the four canonical gospels from a vast number of competing `gospels'.
6. There is not a strand of historical evidence suggesting Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene.
7. Nor did the church suppress `gospels' that told of a secret marriage.
8. Jesus was considered divine from the earliest stages of Christianity - far earlier than the fourth century.
9. There are not thousands or even hundreds or even dozens of documents, which suggest the New Testament isn't historically reliable. Thos documents simply don't exist.
10. The New Testament documents which do exist have withstood intense scholarly scrutiny.

I don't mean to imply that Ehrman only focuses on the errors of Brown's book. Ehrman also includes much captivating analysis on how good scholarship of early Christian writings proceeds with caution in order to ensure clarity, reliability, and exactness.

When I read the Da Vinci Code, I found its short chapters and fast-moving, interwoven plot kept me tuning the pages. The story was vividly entertaining. Too bad, however, it fell far short of its promise to be a great book.

In the prologue of the book, Dan Brown (the author) stated that all of the historical facts presented by the characters in the book were true. Then, Brown seemingly goes on a campaign to test the naiveté and ignorance of his readers. I found this insulting, and it detracted from my enjoyment of the book.

This is where Ehrman's book comes in. As someone who's read previous work by Ehrman, I was curious to see what he had to say. I was hoping Ehrman would once again provide his rock-solid analysis, rather than be one of the shrill voices we readers contend with so often. I was not disappointed: Ehrman delivered.

As I read The Da Vinci Code, a question began to gnaw at me. Was Brown merely playing a prank by stating several historical "facts" a reasonably well-read person would know to be false, or was there more to it than that?

Ehrman answered that question in his own admirable way--and he presented much more answer than I expected. It was, in classic Ehrman style, a complete answer that leaves no doubt. The key to that answer is in another book--one that The Da Vinci Code draws heavily from.

When you read an Ehrman piece, you have to understand something about this author. What he writes is devoid of personal opinion. He writes with authority. He backs everything he says--with logic and the actual evidence. Ehrman is the consummate scholar, whose only interest is the truth. He has no axe to grind with Dan Brown, and he makes that clear--he's recommended The Da Vinci Code to others. And, he stays within his scope of expertise (something else other authors would do well to emulate). He doesn't analyze the whole book, doesn't go into a religious rant, doesn't defend or advocate any particular viewpoint, doesn't and doesn't get emotional. He simply writes what is. And he does so in a clear and compelling manner.

In this book, Ehrman counters the "facts" Dan Brown's characters gave us on Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Constantine. But, he doesn't throw a laundry list of errors at the reader. Instead, Ehrman first explains how historians look at information sources and how they determine which ones are accurate. He fully explains the methodology, so you--as the reader--can follow along and draw your own conclusions as the evidence is presented. And then he walks you through the various statements presented as "fact" by the characters in the book. I found it a rather pleasant walk, myself.

My suggestion is to read The Da Vinci Code, if you like a well-crafted thriller. But, keep in mind that Dan Brown is no Tom Clancy or James Michener. Consequently, this is not an historical novel (a novel that correctly conveys historical fact). Rather, it is completely a work of fiction. It's great for entertainment, but not for education. If you do read it, get a "knowledge correction" afterwards, courtesy of Bart D. Ehrman.

This book by a noted historian of early Christianity summarizes historical material in Dan Brown's book "The Da Vinci Code" that is misleading or incorrect. It draws heavily on Bart Ehrman's previous publications "Lost Scriptures" and "Lost Christianities". Much of the historical material and summaries of early Christian writings are directly from these previous works. There is little new for the reader with considerable knowledge of early Christian history, but this book is a gold mine for those who would read "The Da Vinci Code" without such knowledge and would be mislead by Brown's mischaracterization of early Christian history which is presented in "Da Vinci Code" as fact. I recommend this book (an easy and pleasant read) for those who haven't read "Da Vinci Code" and want to enjoy it as fiction without it contaminating their view of Christian history. Warning: If you don't want to know the plot of "The Da Vinci Code" before you read it, skip the section of Ehrman's book that summarizes it in the introduction section to "Truth and Fiction"

This book was precisely what I was looking for and had begun to think would not be created. That would be a critical response to the claims of the fictional Da Vinci Code that while "critical" was not a reaction against Dan Brown's book. Simply put if you are curious about the claims made about items related to church history in the Da Vinci Code, this is your book. Ehrman clearly states what was proposed in the book and compares it to what history can actually tell us about what happened. As he so clearly and correctly states, history comes from one of two sources...it is either 1) from sources or 2) made up. As the Da Vinci Code is a WORK OF FICTION the author can write whatever he chooses that will further the storytelling process. If one has had their curiousity piqued and would like to learn more about what we really know about the early days of the church and the New Testament set aside the really excellent work of fiction and turn to this fine work by a historian.