Well, just finished it and what a story - probably the best I've ever read. I know there are historical and geographical mistakes but nevertheless an entertaining and thought provoking read.

So what did you think? Is it possible that there are direct desendants of Jesus living now?

If anyone else found the need to research more, then I found this (http://www.lisashea.com/hobbies/art/marymagdalene.html) site very useful and informative.

I thought you were on about the program that is coming on tv then. I thought i had missed it!.

Do you know when it is on? :help:

Thursday (tommorow) C4

Sorry if this is a daft question, but I've not read the Da Vinci Code... sounds like the "Holy Blood Holy Grail" thing that was on a year or two ago... is it?

Tonight's program is following Tony Robinson as he researches the book that mat1978 is talking about (i think).

This has been discussed before so if you're interested have a look here:

What are you reading? (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?postid=147640#post147640)

I watched the program tonight and as tony Robinson showed the entire book is based on lies, guesses and theories, I loved the bit about in a few hundred years would people be writing books making out that lord of the rings was a true historical document.

It's a great read, and it has to be said a novel, a work of fiction.

Whether it's all lies, part lies, or what I don't know but the book is a genuine page-turner.

And as it's been so successful, isn't it interesting that is has produced so many knocking pieces, in the papers and that programme on tv last night?

I'm not one for conspiracy theories at all, but it couldn't be the establishment biting back to rubbish the Da Vinci Code after Dan Brown let out of the bag, could it?

Yes, it appears I was right . It's just a re-hash of the Holy Blood Holy Grail thing... Brown must have had to pay some royalties - he's just nicked all their ideas! (admittedly, they weren't that watertight though).

Even though I don't want to, I'm going to have to read it now. Bah!

I'm sure its a good read, if you like that sort of thing (personally thrillers don't interest me)

But, the whole concept of the holy grail and it having some mystical powers was invented over 1000 years after the time of Christ - I suppose if it gets people interested in History and Culture it is doing some good though....

I went to bed after an hour (I'm not too well at the mo). But from the hour I saw, Tony Robinson had been up three or four cul-de-sacs and so apart from being incredibly tired, I obviously decided that this programme was not going to prove anything!

So what if Mary Magdalene was seated at Christ's right hand side? (in Da Vinci's drawing). Does this mean one of the disciples is missing?

Ofcause it does.....someone had to take the picture, didn't they?
Who's the patron saint of photography, anyone?

The book was OK - a bit ermmmm lightweight though! The whole Merrovingian bloodline thang has been rehashed several times in books (holy blood, holy grail etc.) and even encroached into films (Matrix 2 anyone!)

I just thought it was a waste of 2 hours telly.

Originally posted by mat1978
Thursday (tommorow) C4
Bugger I missed it ! :(

Ahhh,

You beat me to it with the Merovingian heresy, EDN!

It's a bit of guff, in my opinion.

I'm quite interested in the legends and stories around the Holy grail, but am more inclined to look upon the Grail legends as symbolic rather tahn literal truthes.

Joe

Originally posted by evildrneil
The book was OK - a bit ermmmm lightweight though! The whole Merrovingian bloodline thang has been rehashed several times in books (holy blood, holy grail etc.) and even encroached into films (Matrix 2 anyone!)

Dogma too... only that was the bloodline of Christ without the whole Satan thing.

Originally posted by Snook
Dogma too... only that was the bloodline of Christ without the whole Satan thing.

Dogma Too?? Have they made a sequel?

"JC is back, only this time he's brought his dad with him...":D

I heard Michel Baigent was going to sue.

Originally posted by Miss
Dogma Too?? Have they made a sequel?

"JC is back, only this time he's brought his dad with him...":D

Well, according to Dogma, it would be his mum, not dad. :D

Dan Browns 'facts' have been pretty much proven to be wrong but it doesnt take away from the fact that its a good read. The whole Mary M thing is really quite interesting and the one thing Tony Robinson could not really disprove. I think it makes alot of sense that her and JC could have had a sexual realtionship - why not? It makes more logical sense than him being the son of God.

I dont have the answers but its deffienately got everyone talking - and for that Dan Brown has really succeeded.

If you look at the amount of stuff that has been written about Jesus you can't deny he existed. Some bits of the gospel according to mark have been dated to less than 100 AD. He is also mentioned by Roman and Jewish historians writing in the third century and in NONE of thes documents is there a mention of jesus getting married. Some-one once told me there is less written info about Napoleon written in historical documents and everybody would say he existed and his life history is well documented.

I don't think the argument is that there was a guy that lived around that time called Jesus Christ, rather that he was the son of God.

Personally I don't see the relevance of whether or not Jesus and Mary M were together and bore a child as I'm not religous so the child would be exactly the same as Jesus - an ordinary person.

However I was (and still am) close to my grandma growing up (who is very much a religious person) so I can see why this topic would capture the imagination and interest.

I watched the programme on C4 presented by Tony Robinson and found it very interesting, although I do find it annoying where authors such as Dan Brown write these books using research that is flawed at best and then claiming it to be fact.

But they how is that any different to people blindly believing the contents of the bible, despite science proving otherwise (one word for you: evolution :) )?

All down to what you want to believe I suppose.

People are perfectly entitled to believe whatever they want that's true. However if you believe something you'r better be able to argue or explain your position. In reference to Jesus and Mary Magdalene 'getting it together' how come in all the many,many historical documents,it doesn't get a mention. Some of the scrolls found have as i said been dated to within 50 years of Jesus' life so you would of thought that there may of been a few refences to his marriage.
I've tried to knock certain things in the bible and have been put in my place as a lot of what I thought I knew just wasn't so. I remember the six day creation bit, sounds silly doesn't it. However if you go back to the translation of the bible the word day that we have in our current bible would be more accurate if it said 'period of time' The story of Jonah and the 'Whale', in our bible the word used is either whale or great fish, however again go back to the original language and the better translation would be 'sea monster of the large variety'
I just find these sort of things interesting but don't start bombarding me with loads of questions I'm not a bible basher [as we used to call them]

Angels and Demons, also by Dan Brown, is another book to be recommended.

It takes a side-swipe at the Catholic church.

By the way, I'm not anti-Catholic or anything. That's just what the book is about.

And it featured the same lead character - Robert Langdon - as The Da Vinci Code.

If you enjoyed The Da Vinci Code, check it out.

Originally posted by dishwasher
Angels and Demons, also by Dan Brown, is another book to be recommended.

It takes a side-swipe at the Catholic church.

By the way, I'm not anti-Catholic or anything. That's just what the book is about.

And it featured the same lead character - Robert Langdon - as The Da Vinci Code.

If you enjoyed The Da Vinci Code, check it out.

I thought Angels and Demons was great, and then started to read The DaVinci Code right after but just couldn't get into it in the same way.

I've been told I have to try again though, as it supposed to be an amazing book.

I'm reading The Da Vinci code at the moment and must say it is one of the best books I've come across - I just can't put it down.

I aim to read Angels and Demons next - just hope I haven't ruined things by reading them in the wrong order!

Swan- They're not really in any order. It's just that the main character - Robert Langdon - looms large in them both.

In a way, both are similar in terms of time-frame, ie they both take place in what seems to be continuous time.

And, Swan, you're right about the unput-downable nature of The Da Vinci Code.

When I was reading it, I'd sneak off anywhere just to get in a chapter or two. Good that they're only short ones.

BTW, if you ever find yourselves in Edinburgh - is this allowed on the Sheffield Forum - do track down the Rosslyn Chapel. Even if you've never read the book.

I was just finishing the book when I was up there and took time to go to Rosslyn.

Very weird. Absolutely fascinating.

Hi everyone
I believe this book was a fabulous book.
The only book that i remember capturing my interest like that was Roots about the slavery. people and religious in the same, who believe that this Da vinci code could distroye christianity have not got the real faith. I believe that since the book has been out the tourist visiting le Louvre in Paris has more then double. So not only it has open dicusion between people but it seems that sudenly we are interested more in art and looking back in to our history of paeganisme that the church seems to want us to forget.:rant:

The Davinci Code I mean.I cant understand why its sold so many copies.I havent read it, but after reading the storyline,Im puzzled as to why its so popular.Do people understand that its fiction , and not fact.?Being a Catholic I do understand that its fiction,but why the popularity?Are people looking for something in life ?Does this novel satisfy that ?Have you read the Davinci Code,did you like it, and why ?:huh:

Hype? :confused:

Not read it myself yet but going to give it a whirl on holiday.

I like it, it was well written, with some historical basis and interesting :)

Not sure why it went as massive as it did.

Its an excellent read, very fast paced, with lots of twists and turns in the plot. Violent in parts, and lots of 'factual' stuff thrown in.
I it found very unput-downable and read it all in one night.

Garbage. Interesting ideas (not original) but extremely badly written, cliffhagers at the end of every chapter, silly plot devices and characters who I didn't care whether they lived or died.

Wish I could have the time I spent reading it back again to do something more pleasurable such as boil my genitals.

You might be able to tell I'm not a fan!