Plot: Christianity is a big lie'

1
THE DA VINCI CODE Truth or fiction?

• Plot Christianity is a big lie.

2
Why Bother Examining This?

• 1. Supposed Historical Fact Thinly Veiled As
  Fiction
• First Page of the Book
• FACT

• The Priory of Sion a European secret society
  founded in 1099 is a real organization. In 1975
  Pariss Bibliotheque Nationale discovered
  parchments known as Les Dossiers Secrets,
  identifying numerous members of the Priory of
  Sion, including Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli,
  Victor Hugo and Leonardo da Vinci
• The Vatican prelature known as Opus Dei is a
  deeply devout Catholic sect that has been the
  topic of recent controversy due to reports of
  brainwashing, coercion, and a dangerous practice
  known as corporal mortification.
• All descriptions of artwork, architecture,
  documents, and secret rituals in this novel are
  accurate.

3
The Main Claims of The Da Vinci Code

• Mary Magdalene and Jesus were married and had a
  child.
• There are over 80 Gnostic Gospels earlier, true
  reports of Christ.
• Constantine, at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.
  invented the idea of Jesus divinity, then
  gathered up and burned the true (Gnostic) Gospels
  that emphasized Jesus human traits.
• Constantine collated the New Testament as we know
  it.
• The Church (Roman Catholic Church) covered all
  this up.
• The first Christians practiced ritualistic sex
  rites and were pagan.
• The Priory of Sion has preserved and guarded the
  truth for over 1000 years. Leonardo Da Vinci hid
  clues in his paintings.
• In The Last Supper, Mary Magdalene is to the
  right of Jesus, in the character normally
  interpreted to be John.

4
The Main Claims of The Da Vinci Code

• Mary Magdalene and Jesus were married and had a
  child.
• There are over 80 Gnostic Gospels earlier, true
  reports of Christ.
• Constantine, at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.
  invented the idea of Jesus divinity, then
  gathered up and burned the true (Gnostic) Gospels
  that emphasized Jesus human traits.
• Constantine collated the New Testament as we know
  it.
• The Church (Roman Catholic Church) covered all
  this up.
• The first Christians practiced ritualistic sex
  rites and were pagan.
• The Priory of Sion has preserved and guarded the
  truth for over 1000 years. Leonardo Da Vinci hid
  clues in his paintings.
• In The Last Supper, Mary Magdalene is to the
  right of Jesus, in the character normally
  interpreted to be John.

5
Claim 1 Constantine Collated the Bible...

• Jesus Christ was a historical figure of
  staggering influence, perhaps the most enigmatic
  and inspirational leader the world has ever
  seen.Understandably, His life was recorded by
  thousands of followers across the land.More than
  eighty gospels were considered for the New
  Testament, and yet only a relative few were
  chosen for inclusion Matthew, Mark, Luke and
  John among themThe Bible, as we know it today,
  was collated by the pagan Roman emperor
  Constantine the Great. (pg.231)

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Claim 1 Constantine Collated the Bible...

• Fortunately for historianssome of the gospels
  that Constantine attempted to eradicate managed
  to survive. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in
  the 1950s hidden in a cave near Qumran in the
  Judean desert (pg.234)

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Claim 1 Constantine Collated the Bible...

• The twist is thisBecause Constantine upgraded
  Jesus status almost four centuries after Jesus
  death, thousands of documents already existed
  chronicling His life as a mortal man. To rewrite
  the history books, Constantine knew he would need
  a bold stroke. From this sprang the most profound
  moment in Christian history.Constantine
  commissioned and financed a new Bible which
  omitted those gospels that spoke of Christs
  human traits and embellished those gospels that
  made Him godlike. The earlier gospels were
  outlawed, gathered up, and burned (pg.234)

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Claim 1 Constantine Collated the Bible...

• Answer
• The Nicean Council was almost three centuries
  after Jesus, not four.
• Neither Constantine nor the Nicene Council ever
  discussed the canon of scripture nor the Gnostic
  Gospels.
• Constantine never attempted to eradicate any
  Bible documents.
• There were only dozens, not thousands, of
  documents, only about 15 Gnostic Gospels, not
  80.

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Claim 1 Constantine Collated the Bible...

• Answer
• They all came later, not earlier than the NT
  Gospels.
• Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947, not the
  1950s contained no gospels, nor any other NT
  books, nor any books related to Christianity.
• The Gnostic Gospels do not picture a human Jesus,
  but a divine Jesus.

10
Claim 1 Constantine Collated the Bible...
11
The Main Claims of The Da Vinci Code

• Mary Magdalene and Jesus were married and had a
  child.
• There are over 80 Gnostic Gospels earlier, true
  reports of Christ.
• Constantine, at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.
  invented the idea of Jesus divinity, then
  gathered up and burned the true (Gnostic) Gospels
  that emphasized Jesus human traits.
• Constantine collated the New Testament as we know
  it.
• The Church (Roman Catholic Church) covered all
  this up.
• The first Christians practiced ritualistic sex
  rites and were pagan.
• The Priory of Sion has preserved and guarded the
  truth for over 1000 years. Leonardo Da Vinci hid
  clues in his paintings.
• In The Last Supper, Mary Magdalene is to the
  right of Jesus, in the character normally
  interpreted to be John.

12
Claim 2 The Council of Nicea voted on the
divinity of Jesus and it was close vote

• At the Council of Nicea.many aspects of
  Christianity were debated and voted upon the
  date of Easter, the role of the bishops, the
  administration of sacraments, and, of course, the
  divinity of Jesus.until that moment in history,
  Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal
  propheta great and powerful man, but a man
  nonetheless. A mortal.The vote was relatively
  close. (pg.233).

13
Claim 2 The Council of Nicea voted on the
divinity of Jesus and it was close vote

• Answer
• The Council of Nicea did not debate the divinity
  of Jesus, but rather Arian heresy that Jesus was
  not eternal by nature.
• Constantine was sympathetic to the Arians, not to
  the divine Jesus.
• They voted, but Jesus divinity won 316-2!
• However, the divinity of Jesus was a central
  teaching of the NT 2 1/2 centuries before the
  Council of Nicea (Jn 1.1-3 20.28-29 Heb 1.3,8
  Tit 2.13 Acts 20.28 etc.)

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Claim 2 The Council of Nicea voted on the
divinity of Jesus and it was close vote
Jn 1.1-3,14In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He
was in the beginning with God. All things came
into being through Him, and apart from Him
nothing came into being that has come into being.
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Claim 2 The Council of Nicea voted on the
divinity of Jesus and it was close vote
Jn 20.28-29Thomas answered and said to Him, My
Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Because you
have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they
who did not see, and yet believed.
16
Claim 2 The Council of Nicea voted on the
divinity of Jesus and it was close vote
17
Claim 3 Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene

• Jesus as a married man makes infinitely more
  sense than our standard biblical view of Jesus as
  a bachelorBecause Jesus was a Jewthe social
  decorum during that time virtually forbid a
  Jewish man to be unmarried. According to Jewish
  custom, celibacy was condemned, and the
  obligation for a Jewish father was to find a
  suitable wife for his son. If Jesus were not
  married, at least one of the Bibles gospels
  would have mentioned it and offered some
  explanation for His unnatural state of
  bachelorhood. (pg.245)

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Claim 3 Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene

• The Holy Grail The bloodline of Jesus and Mary.
• (The Real Da Vinci Code clip)

19
Claim 3 Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene

• TDVC makes two arguments
• 1. Jesus was married, proven because
• Social standards would have required it.
• If he was not, the Bible would have said so.
• 2. Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, proven
  because
• Mary traveled with Jesus and was unconnected to
  another man.
• Mary touched him intimately (Lk 7.26f Jn 12.1-3)
• Gnostic Gospels suggest it.
• Da Vincis Last Supper suggests it.

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Who Was Mary Magdalene?

• From Magdala Seven demons cast out
• One of several woman who traveled with Jesus and
  His disciples -- Lk 8.1-3 Mk 15.41

Luke 81-3 Soon afterwards, He began going
around from one city and village to another,
proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The
twelve were with Him, and also some women who had
been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses Mary
who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons
had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza,
Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who
were contributing to their support out of their
private means.
21
Who Was Mary Magdalene?

• From Magdala Seven demons cast out
• One of several woman who traveled with Jesus and
  His disciples -- Lk 8.1-3 Mk 15.41
• Probably not married, since not connected to any
  male, but rather connected to a place (Magdala).
• Of six Marys in the Gospels, Mary Magdalene is
  the only one not connected to a man (e.g. a son,
  a brother or a husband).

22
Who Was Mary Magdalene?

• Jesus appeared to her and the other women and
  told them to go tell the disciples he is alive
  Mt 28.1-7 Luke 2410-11
• But he appeared to Mary first

Mark 169 Now after He had risen early on the
first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary
Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven
demons.
23
Who Was Mary Magdalene?

• Jesus appeared to her and the other women and
  told them to go tell the disciples he is alive
  Mt 28.1-7 Luke 2410-11
• But he appeared to Mary first

Jn 20.16-18 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She
turned and said to Him in Hebrew, Rabboni!
(which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, Stop
clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to
the Father but go to My brethren and say to
them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and
My God and your God. Mary Magdalene came,
announcing to the disciples, I have seen the
Lord, and that He had said these things to her.
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Was Jesus Married?
Day of Discovery Clip
25
Was Jesus Married?

• Many women traveled with Jesus

Luke 81-3 The twelve were with Him, and also
some women who had been healed of evil spirits
and sicknesses Mary who was called Magdalene,
from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna
the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna
out of their private means., and many others who
were contributing to their support.
26
Was Jesus Married?

• Many women traveled with Jesus

Mark 1541 When He was in Galilee, they used to
follow Him and minister to Him and there were
many other women who came up with Him to
Jerusalem.
27
Was Jesus Married?

• Many women traveled with Jesus.
• No passage links Mary exclusively with Jesus.
• If Jesus had been married, there was plenty of
  opportunity for the Bible to say so

1 Cor 95-6 Do we not have a right to take along
a believing wife, even as the rest of the
apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?
Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to
refrain from working?
28
Was Jesus Married?

• TDVC Mary touched Jesus too intimately
• Such a public display by the sinful woman of Lk
  7.36f would be offensive to 1st Century Jews,
  unless she was Jesus wife
• No proof that this was Mary.
• It was offensive to the host, Simon

Luke 739 Now when the Pharisee who had invited
Him saw this, he said to himself, If this man
were a prophet He would know who and what sort of
person this woman is who is touching Him, that
she is a sinner.
29
Was Jesus Married?

• TDVC Mary touched Jesus too intimately
• Such a public display by the sinful woman of Lk
  7.36f would be offensive to 1st Century Jews,
  unless she was Jesus wife
• Jesus often did offensive things, going against
  the popular culture.
• Not unusual for women to feel so free with Jesus
  (Lk 7 Jn 12.1-3 Mt 9.20 Jn 4 )

Mt 28.9And behold, Jesus met them and greeted
them. And they came up and took hold of His feet
and worshiped Him
30
Was Jesus Married?

• TDVC An unmarried Rabbi or adult Jew
  un-Jewish
• Jesus was not officially a Rabbi
• Many exceptions
• Students of the Law (Rabbinic teachings
  HIJFCCE2.119f)
• The Essene and Qumran communities
• Josephus (Antiquites 18.1.5.20-21 Wars,
  2.8.2.121-121). Held the Essenes in high regard
  for their celibacy.
• Jeremiah John the Baptist (Elijah) Apostle Paul
  (1 Cor 7.8-9)

31
Was Jesus Married?

• TDVC An unmarried Rabbi or adult Jew
  un-Jewish
• Jesus was not officially a Rabbi
• Many exceptions
• Jesus taught celibacy as a legitimate option

Mt 1910-12 The disciples said to Him, If the
relationship of the man with his wife is like
this, it is better not to marry. But He said to
them, Not all men can accept this statement, but
only those to whom it has been given. For there
are eunuchs who were born that way from their
mother's womb and there are eunuchs who were
made eunuchs by men and there are also eunuchs
who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the
kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this,
let him accept it.
32
Was Jesus Married?

• TDVC An unmarried Rabbi or adult Jew
  un-Jewish
• Jesus was not officially a Rabbi
• Many exceptions
• Jesus taught celibacy as a legitimate option
• Good reasons to break the normal custom of
  marriage
• Itinerant lifestyle and total devotion to God.
• Would be killed at young age (cf. 1 Cor 7.26-29).
• If had a child, men would argue about his
  divinity.

33
Was Jesus Married?

• No reason to hide a marriage of Jesus and Mary
• A married Jesus would not offend his claims to
  divinity
• Jesus did many human things hungered, thirsted,
  grew tired, wept, was tempted, etc.
• Marriage, sex and children were created in the
  minds of God.

34
Was Jesus Married?

• Biblical Evidence No
• Early Church Fathers No
• Gnostic Gospels?

35
Was Jesus Married?

• Alleged Proof from the Gnostic Gospels
• The Gospel of Philip Jesus kissing Mary, his
  companion (Philip 6332-64.10)

And the companion of the Lord Mary Magdalene
loved her more than all the disciples and
used to kiss her often on her .
(Brackets broken and missing sections in the
manuscript)
36
Was Jesus Married?

• Alleged Proof from the Gnostic Gospels
• Where was the kiss? On the forehead, cheek or
  mouth?
• It doesnt say, as that part is missing.
• Was the kiss sexual?
• Probably not, even if on lips
• For it is by a kiss that the perfect conceive
  and give birth. For this reason we also kiss one
  another (Philip).
• Jesus said, He who will drink from my mouth
  will become like me (Thomas, 108).

37
Was Jesus Married?

• Alleged Proof from the Gnostic Gospels
• Does companion mean wife
• As any Aramaic scholar will tell you, the word
  companion, in those days, literally meant spouse
  (TDVC pg. 246).
• This gospel was originally written in Greek and
  even the Coptic translation found at Nag Hammadi
  borrows the Greek koinonos for companion.
• Greek koinonos Partners (Lk 5.10 2 Cor
  8.23) partakers fellowship, sharers.
  Never wife in Scripture.
• Wife is Gk. Gyne

38
Was Jesus Married?

• Alleged Proof from the Gnostic Gospels
• Dated to 4th Cent. A.D.
• What is there to confirm their accuracy?
• Many Gnostic stories are symbolic for spiritual
  ideas
• Mary Gnostics.
• The other disciples the Christians who reject
  the Gnostics.

39
Was Jesus Married?

• Biblical Evidence No
• Early Church Fathers No
• Gnostic Gospels?

40
Was Jesus Married?

• Biblical Evidence No
• Early Church Fathers No
• Gnostic Gospels? No

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Claim 3 Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene
42
Various Other Historical Blunders

• Priory of Sion est. in 1099 to protect the Holy
  Grail
• Truth Priory of Sion was a hoax, est. by con-man
  Pierre Plantard in 1954 dissolved in 1957.

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Various Other Historical Blunders

• Ancient Olympics occurred on an 8-year cycle
  to honor Venus.
• Truth 4-year cycle to honor Zeus.

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Various Other Historical Blunders

• Five million women were burned as witches by the
  RCC during the Middle Ages.
• Truth 30,000 men and women convicted (some
  killed) by RCC, secular governments and
  individuals.

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