Presents...
Separating Fact from Fiction|
Presents... |
Separating Fact from Fiction |
| A series of four presentations by Pete Yazzolino |
Presentation # 2
Slide separating fact from fiction
Last week we discussed the popularity of Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code and we discussed why it has done so well and why there is so much concern about what the book claims.
Slide with cover of the book
Dan Brown's book claims that not only is the Holy Grail a person (not a cup) but that the Christian Church is based upon a lie and that a secret society once led by Leonardo Da Vinci was formed to protect the truth.
To Brown's credit the literary category for the Da Vinci Code is fiction.
Slides of Fact page one
We said in session one that the troubling aspect of DB's fiction novel is the statement about fact on page one "all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate" He also stated as a fact that The Priory of Sion is a real organization. In several interviews with Dan Brown he states that even though the characters in the book are fictional he really believes the themes in the story to be true.
The result of the statement placed on the opening page and Dan Browns answers to interviewers is that fiction becomes fact for too many readers.
If you have read the book you may have some questions about just what is fact and what is fiction. That's what we hope to clear up in these Wednesday sessions.
Last Wednesday we covered what was fact and what was fiction pertaining to Constantine and the development of the Bible.
Slide of Series Schedule
Today we'll try to separate fact from fiction on the claims that the Holy Grail was a person. We'll explain who the Gnostics were and we'll talk about the French secret society, the Priory of Sion.
Dan Brown draws his conclusions from three sources seemingly ignoring all previous historical evidence, scholarly analysis and in some cases simple logic.
What is the author saying through his characters?
Slides 1-8 are direct quotes from the novel, which I believe are the keys to the claims the author makes.
If Brown had to defend his work he would use three exhibits:
Slide #1 Exhibit A is Leonardo Da Vinci's painting of The Last Supper in which Brown sees John as Mary Magdalene. We'll show the painting in a minute
Slides #2 & 3 is Exhibit B, the historical record from Holy Blood/Holy Grail published in 1983 which makes the same statement
Slide #4 is Exhibit C, the translation of one word from the Gnostic Gospel of Philip from "Companion" to "spouse" I'll show you that passage next. The Greek word was koinonos a word with many meanings and one used in several other places in the bible.
Slide #5
Slide #6 also from a Gnostic gospel quoting a dispute between Mary and Peter. In Gospel of Mary Magdalene
Slide #7 the statement that MM is the Holy Grail and…
Slide #8 here's the secret that Brown wants his readers to believe has been kept a secret for 2000 years
Slide #9 Brown's claims, in addition to many other false claims
7 Slides showing LDV's The Last Supper and John the Baptist (ending with the first slide that shows the complete painting)
If LDV was the grand master of Priory of Sion the question should be why would he have put clues in all his artwork? Particularly those that would scream the truth.
Paris was founded as a Gallic village and expanded by the Romans long before the Merovingians. Easily checked in history of Paris
No record anywhere that Joseph of Arimathea was Jesus' uncle
Slide10 Exhibit A The Last Supper
Slides 11 & 12 DB's claims about the Priory of Sion and fact
Slide Holy Blood/Holy Grail book cover
Slide 13 Who were the Gnostics
Slides 14, 15 & 16 on Mary Magdalene an Jesus Christian Bible records, Christians believe
Slides 17 & 18 so where did Brown get his ideas and where did he do his research?
Now let's open up for Q and A If you do not want to write out your question and pass it forward you may do that. If you have a question for next week or just a general question or area of interest that you want covered, please use the cards and write on the back.
There are no stupid questions. I know you would not be here if there weren't some doubt or concern on your part
Open for Q & A
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