Dan Brown claims that his Novels are product of extensive research and that he actually spend years in writing them... Either Brown is a poor researcher or a born liar. In fairness, "Da Vinci Code" is a creative literary feats, but most of its historical claims is NOT factual.
That is the very reason why I am attacking a fictional book. I would have let it passed and even give some stars if Brown simply points out that what the book claimed are still unproven. But that was not the case, Brown stress that his book are factual.
The first page of both "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons" has the heading "FACT". The following page in Angels and Demons claims that "References to all works of art, tombs, tunnels, and architecture in Rome are entirely factual (as are their exact locations). They can still be seen today. The brotherhood of the Illuminati is also factual."
Now, why would I spend time denouncing a book of "fiction"? Simply because As mentioned above, Dan Brown is a deceiver and therefore should be expose. He had done great damage to History by playing tricks and making fun of his readers. Again, I would have let this pass if it has nothing to do with Christian faith but Brown is destroying Christianity in the name of extensive research and factual claims. He is making dangerous ideas into the minds of people just like Charles Darwin who intentionally put misleading title on his book "Origin of Species..." when its content actually does not contain what it promised but just discussed "Variation of Species..." (This would be another topic)
Now we shall be focusing into another deceptive tool crafted by Satan. Well, liars goes to hell. Just like the devil himself, he mixed a little bit of truth into his lying. Anyway, Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons is an insult to its reader when they make the book best-seller. There are more un-factual listing you can find in the web about this book but I will be focusing on things I have personal knowledge or those things that can easily be verified with little research...
To be fair, I enjoy reading his books on the merit of being imaginative and I would even suggest that you read it for entertainment purpose...but on history and factual claims? Let's see:
1. Kohler said, Copernicus (The Polish Astronomer) was murdered by the church for "revealing scientific truths". This is baseless, even though the Catholic Church is notorious in executing anyone that gets in their way, they have nothing to do with this guy's death. Copernicus died from complication due to a stroke in 1543. If he was murdered the more likely story is that, the King who actually perpetuated it...by putting poison on the pages of the Bible that Copernicus regularly read while he was in prison.
2. The Spiral Staircase was designed by MichaelAngelo. Hey! This would be violation of copyright law. The staircase was designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932. That's around 350 years after Michaelangelo's death. (Check here)
3. Michaelangelo (again?) designed the Swiss Guard uniform. There was nothing special about the design of the uniform when they were first introduce in January 1506. Obviously it was a common military uniform at that time, and there was no need to attached the design to a famous artist. In fact, the contemporary design we now see was a Jules Repond design -- which Langdon (Brown) claimed unaltered from the first formation of the army. THE BIG LIES Now the list above are just some minor inaccuracy, and maybe Dan Brown can easily be acquitted for not doing his "home-work". We can forgive his naive research for playful effect and added drama But to continue with the real issue why I should spend a great deal denouncing this book. Maybe even Boycott both the movie and the book.
In The Da Vinci Code, Brown presents the following as fact:
Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene
and her womb was the Holy Grail. Jesus and Mary Magdalene had offspring together. The truth about Christ and Mary Magdalene has been kept alive by a secret society named the Priory of Sion that was led by great minds like Da Vinci.
The gospels are not historically accurate. The Roman Catholic Church instigated a cover-up of some 80 gospel accounts that shed new light on the identity of Jesus.
The early church did not believe that Jesus was divine. Instead, they “voted” for His divinity at the council of Nicea in the fourth century.
The first lie was so easy to counter that even grade school student can answer back. It was not mentioned in the four Gospel that Jesus was married. Plain and simple, Period. Christianities enemy would have used this argument that Jesus had an elicit affair to one of his followers. But Ancient History is quiet on this. No hint whatsoever from non-Christian writers during the time of Jesus nor from the time of John the divine, who is considered the last survivor among the 12 originals.If you want more satisfying answer on this subject read my blog Was Jesus Married?
Historical Record of the Bible Lies two and three are overlapping and therefore I will treat them as one Big lie. If you are followers and readers of my blogsite The Armor of God, perhaps by now you know the Historical claims of the Bible are more accurate than what scientist think. Archaeology for one, are just recently discovering places, people, and event mentioned in the Bible. I hope you browse my blog in your spare time to read factual discoveries not just attested by Christians but even scientist and those outside this faith. Now let us examined the point of argument Brown presents...that there are 80 or so gospels that the Catholics removed to cover up the real identity of Jesus. They selected only 4 Gospel since Matthew, Mark, Luke and John's Gospel are safer. I think Dan Brown is crazy and playing tricks on History. He is claiming that the core beliefs of Christianity was not yet formulated before The Council of Nicea. We must stress the point here that the Roman nor the Vatican was not the first Christians. They were converts from the instigation of Constantine. Nero even accused Christian of perpetuating the fire in Rome. To appeased Christian who distrust the conversion of Constantine and Queen Helen , they have to present a procession claiming that they found Jesus Christ's cross...yes my Filipino folks, that's where you get the "Santacruzan" festival.That is why you see Reyna Elena at the last of the parade carrying a cross. Anyway, some original Christian distrust Rome therefore many factions were formed. Constantine was troubled by these and fear civil war might arise again between Christians and Roman Converts. That is why, the council of Nicea was called to decide the matters. There were many things discussed on this open forum but nothing about what Dan Brown thinks or suggested...they already believe Jesus as son of God...there are no further argument needed on that matter. The Old and New Testament being used are already in circulation more than 300 years ago, so no need to change that collections. Actually, one of the item being affirm on the meeting was the canonization of the Holy Bible. The book of Revelation (placed at the last and written last) by John had this written "No one will add or minus on this book"...or curses will happen to that person on group.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. -- Revelation 22:18
Therefore I think Dan Brown should be advise about this verse just in case he didn't know. Did the early church doubt the divinity of Jesus? 300 years before Roman Catholic Church was form, The New Testament was already in placed. And it was all very clear that Jesus is God. There was no argument during that time whether Jesus is God or man (just a wise teacher or a prophet) at least to those who believed Jesus is God. When Constantine declare Christianity as the official religion of Rome, along side with it is his surrender to Jesus teachings.
What really happen during the council of Nicea can be verify here. .The Council of Nicea (Let us take the word of Catholics for their own actions) If you care enough to investigate what other no non-sense bloggers and critics have posted about Dan Brown's book, please do make your own research. This matter is important since many similar deceptive tactics are being utilized in the name of "educated research" and more often people simply take their words for it.
Exactly two years ago typhoon Ondoy poured in as they said water
equal to a month supply of rainfall. Metro Manila experience flooding like
never before, at least during modern times when we least expect something this
huge could happened. No one was spared, even celebrities and as a matter of
fact, Malacañang Palace was caught too. I have no record how many have lost
their houses or have died but this was one of the worst natural calamity our
archipelago experienced, saved that July 16, 1990 Earthquake where Millions upon
Millions of infrastructure lost and casualties rose by the hundreds.
Too many tragic
stories rose from the aftermath of Ondoy…and the images simply broke my heart. I
could not imagine how a person could bare the lost of his entire belongings and
dead love ones. How he or she could carry the pain of surviving the catastrophe
only to be reminded with images of drowning child or parents.
We know there were
some lapses from the former and current leaders of our land due to irresponsibility
but we also have to remember our part in the fulfillment of these tragedies. We
had not been good steward of mother earth. The rivers are now reclaiming its domain;
the mountains are taking its over due revenge; and skies are in raged from the
toxic we emitted.
Now, once again, we
have to admit our fate was our own creation. Let this day September 25…be a
reminder of how nature pay back the disrespect we bestow on her.
Sadly our country is prone to disaster especially super-typhoon since we are lying directly to tropical storm path forming from the Pacific Ocean. They said, we have to face more or less 30 storms a year. Now if we have not learned yet the lesson of Ondoy and other Natural sisaster, then think again, after reading some of this data...
Worst EarthquakesOn July 16, 1990, an earthquake that registered 7.7 on the Richter scale killed 1,700 people, injured 3,000 individuals and displaced 148,000 more in Luzon. Among the cities that sustained the worst damages were Baguio, Dagupan and Cabanatuan. On August 17, 1976, an earthquake caused a tidal wave or tsunami that killed about 8,000 people in Mindanao, according to the Information Please Almanac. On August 2, 1968, an earthquake caused the collapse of Ruby Tower buildings, leaving hundreds of people trapped underneath the rubble.
Worst Typhoons and FlashfloodsAs a typhoon codenamed Thelma was passing the Philippines on November 5, 1991, a flashflood hit Ormoc City in Leyte province, killing at least 3,000 people and destroying the homes of 50,000 others. In September 1984, a typhoon codenamed Ike killed 1,300 persons while in 1995 typhoon Angela killed 700 people. On August 3, 1999, heavy torrential rains caused a landslide that killed 58 people and buried over 100 houses at Cherry Hills Subsivision in Antipolo City. On November 9, 2001, a typhoon locally named "Nanang" caused a flashflood that buried 350 residents of Mahinog in the island-province of Camiguin.
Coastal Areas Sinking According to the University of the Philippines' National Institute of Geological Sciences, low coastal areas at the Manila Bay, such as Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and several towns in Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan have sunk one meter in the past 30 years or ten times than the rate of the global sea level rise in the last century.
Worst Volcanic EruptionsIn June, 1991, Mount Pinatubo in Zambales province had the century's second largest volcanic eruption, as it unleashed some 15 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the earth's atmosphere that resulted in slight cooling of the earth's temperature. Thousands of people were believed killed as a result of the eruption and the subsequent lahar flow, which buried several villages in the provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales. The eruption also forced American troops out of their bases in Clark, Pampanga and Subic, Zambales.
Worst Disaster in HistoryOn July 12, 2000, the Philippines witnessed one of the world's most horrifying images of social tragedy in history. Nearly 500 garbage scavengers who were living literally at the Payatas dumpsite in Quezon City were buried alive under tons of garbage when a 50-foot garbage mountain collapsed on their makeshift houses at the height of torrential rains. It was a tragic commentary on poverty in the Philippines, yet the lesson remains to be learned to this day.
Genesis 7:1-24
Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him. ...
