An Approach to Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code

By Peter Brock

In July of 2004, I was traveling south through Germany on a high- speed train reading Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code. As a participant in the Christ Academy Germany program, I was apprehensive that my book choice might be conspicuous when my peers and advisors would inevitably crack open Koehler’s Summary of Christian Doctrine or Walther’s Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel for some light reading before bed. I, on the other hand, had decided to take along this novel and hoped the Spirit would fill me with wisdom when I was called to account for my choice. As it turned out, my trial came on that southbound train when I was asked why I invested my time reading a book such as The Da Vinci Code. I cannot recall what pathetic reply dribbled out of my mouth, but since then I have had some time to reflect on why, exactly, someone might choose to read Dan Brown when that time could be spent reading Koeberle’s Quest for Holiness.

Certainly Brown’s work has its shortcomings in regard to both style and content. Any specific critique of his novel, however, is far beyond the scope of this short article and much better left in the hands of scholars such as Laurence White, whose essay "Breaking the Da Vinci Code: Review of the Conspiracy Theory Proposed by Dan Brown’s Bestseller The Da Vinci Code" is available online via a link on CTS’s library webpage (www.ctsfw.edu, then select Library). Despite its gross inability to stand up to any amount of scholarly critique, Brown’s novel remains as a work of fiction and its simplistic entertainment value is largely untainted. It therefore continues to attract millions of readers, many of whom presumably lack a broad and well-researched knowledge of the canonization of the Bible or history of the early church. Consequently, it seems likely indeed that despite its fictional nature and weak premise, Brown’s novel will prove quite convincing to many who read it. For this one might rightly accuse Brown of professional or ethical irresponsibility. Irresponsible or not, his book has sold over 25 million copies and one of those was most likely purchased by someone you know. Indeed, a movie based on Brown’s book will soon be in theaters and the film will surely find an even wider audience. Because Dan Brown’s world of conspiracy theory does not exactly line up with last week’s Sunday school lesson, the questions are sure to come.

So what is a student of the Word to do? On the one hand, Brown and his fiction could be ignored-left unwatched or unread and disregarded as unimportant, unconvincing fantasy. On the other hand, one could dedicate one’s life to launching a full scale counter attack, attempting to disprove what Brown has failed to prove (and labeled fiction!) anyway. Although the latter seems to be more of an unnecessary chasing after the wind, which might convey an inaccurate message of fear or threat, the former alternative does not seem to account for an undeniable reality-his book will be read. The best response may then be somewhere in between the two previous contingencies. Although I am reluctant to suggest that we all run out to the nearest bookstore to pick up a copy of Brown’s thriller, there does seem to be a certain value in the ability to engage in discussion with those who did just that.

As Luther demonstrated with his translation of the mass into German, one must be able to communicate with the people on their level. I for one count myself among "the people" and am encouraged when my pastor and professors are able to respond to specific questions I or my peers have about current or cultural issues. That thought struck me when I read a passage near the middle of chapter 62 in Brown’s novel. One of the novel’s characters makes an interesting comment concerning the "average laity" saying: "Yes, the clergy in Rome are blessed with potent faith, and because of this, their beliefs can weather any storm, including documents that contradict everything they hold dear. But what about the rest of the world? What about those who are not blessed with absolute certainty? What about those who look at the cruelty in the world and say, where is God today?" Luther includes each of us in the latter group and each of us will therefore find ourself asking strikingly similar questions at some point in our life and fielding such questions from others. Brown’s novel is far from a laudable resource for witnessing, but it may be the impetus which brings a neighbor to you with questions about Christ or His Church. It seems prudent to have an understanding of the source of their questions from which to begin the conversation.

Peter Brock attends Christ College at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana. He plans to begin his Master of Divinity studies at CTS in the fall of 2006.