Most Da Vinci Code readers believe Jesus fathered a child, poll finds

The Daily Telegraph ^ | May 17, 2006 | Jonathan Petre

[MadIvan]

The best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code has seriously damaged people's faith in the Christian Church, a survey has found.

Two thirds of Britons who have read Dan Brown's thriller believe that Jesus fathered a child with Mary Magdalene, a claim rejected as baseless by historians and Bible scholars.

Those who have read it are also four times as likely to think that the conservative Roman Catholic organisation Opus Dei, whose members include the Cabinet minister Ruth Kelly, is a murderous sect.

Seventeen per cent of readers are convinced that the lay group, whose founder was canonised by the late Pope John Paul II, has ordered or carried out a murder, compared with four per cent of those who have not read the book.

The poll has shocked Church leaders who have mounted a massive campaign to debunk The Da Vinci Code in advance of the release of the Hollywood film version this week. The findings suggest that the book has significantly shifted attitudes towards traditional Christianity and will fuel fears that people increasingly prefer to believe in conspiracy theories that taint the Church rather than historical evidence.

The poll found that more than one in five British adults has read the book, which has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, and that a large proportion believe its central claims.

Sixty per cent of the adults polled said after reading the book that they believed there was truth in the suggestion that Jesus had children and that his bloodline survives, compared with 30 per cent of those who have not read it.

Just under a third, 27 per cent, think that the Catholic Church is covering up the truth about Jesus, and the figure rises to 36 per cent among those who have read Brown's novel.

Austin Ivereigh, the director for public affairs for Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, accused Brown of dishonest marketing and said the film should carry a "health warning".

He complained that Brown and Sony Pictures, the film's distributors "have encouraged people to take it seriously while hiding behind the claim that it is fiction.

"Our poll shows that they should take responsibility for their dishonesty."

The poll was conducted by Opinion Research Business among a representative sample of 1,005 adults between May 12 and 14.

[tonycavanagh]

re :Make sure you sneak in through the exit doors so Mr. Brown doesn't get any of your money!

Actually after reading the reviews I have decided not to.

[Elsie]

DUH!

[Elsie]

And what would Jesus being married and fathering a child have do with one most important part of Christianity: the empty tomb?

Huh?

Have to DO?

Why simple. if He was married; He never DIED!!!

The tomb was empty 'cause He never DIED!!!!

No death: no resurrection...

No resurrection: No hope!!!

---

NIV 1 Corinthians 15:12-26
 12.  But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
 13.  If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
 14.  And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
 15.  More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
 16.  For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
 17.  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
 18.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
 19.  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
 20.  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
 21.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
 22.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
 23.  But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
 24.  Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

[DannyTN]

Most real Christians wouldn't even read the book or see the movie.

The poll is suspect, but at best they are picking up people who are nominal Christians. People who claim to be Christian because of tradition but they don't really have a faith and they never have read much of the Bible.

[Rocky]

1 Then said he (Jesus) unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Luke 17:1-2 (KJV)

I wouldn't want to be Dan Brown or Ron Howard when judgment day arrives.

[Little Ray]

My point was that Christianity is all about the empty tomb. Whether or not Christ was married or had children is totally irrelevant.

[Watery Tart]

"It's a puppet!"

LOL! That is remarkably similar to what I holler at the TV when it shows women going nuts over the film "Pretty Woman" and its "star" Julia Roberts:

"She's a HOOKER!"

[geopyg]

I see. So one of the TWELVE apostles couldn't make it to dinner so Mary took his spot.

[attiladhun2]

Uneducated people will believe anything that is fed to them. It's not surprising.
Dennis Prager once said that Marxism is such a stupid idea that only academic elites would find it compelling.

[patriot_wes]

"Most Da Vinci Code readers believe Jesus fathered a child, poll finds"

Apparently most DaVinci Code readers are biblically ignorant!

"The bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code has seriously damaged "people's" faith in the Christian Church, a survey has found."

BS....who cares what disinterested "people" think about the "Christian" church anyway?

[Gemma1]

Hiya,

I've read the book, and thought it was brilliant. I believe Dan Brown is an excellent writer. As for the film, though not up to the books standards, it was still good.

Now, it's a work of fiction, so I don't believe it, but what I don't get is what would be the problem if Jesus had had kids? What's wrong with that?

I think it's a good work of fiction, nothing more, but it certainly wouldn't upset me if it was true,

Gemma :-)

[bmwcyle]

It is so easy to create Sheeple.

[patriot_wes]

"I've read the book, and thought it was brilliant. I believe Dan Brown is an excellent writer. As for the film, though not up to the books standards, it was still good. Now, it's a work of fiction, so I don't believe it, but what I don't get is what would be the problem if Jesus had had kids? What's wrong with that? I think it's a good work of fiction, nothing more, but it certainly wouldn't upset me if it was true, Gemma :-)"

Here's what is wrong with that.

The book claims to be fiction but says it is based on some unknown truths which go to the heart of spiritual basics;

Was Jesus devine ie "God" on the flesh?,

Was He married?,

Were there other hidden "gospels"?

Did Jesus really not die on the cross?

It is writing and presumptions like Brown's that will cause many to become weak in faith or never care to hear the truth because they think the truth is what the book is about.....Think about it - if Jesus wasn't who he said he was and he was just a man who suffered and then went to Italy, who would have reason to care about his kids.

Someday Dan Brown will stand before God in judgement and God will say "here Danny boy - read this!".......Rev 22:18-19