Da Vinci Code debate In India, a Catholic group called on Christians to starve themselves to death to protest the impending release of The Da Vinci Code movie. In the Philippines, Archbishop Ramon Arguelles is crusading to ban the film. At the Vatican, some officials are urging lawsuits. In the U.S., media critic Ted Behr is leading a boycott. What’s a conscientious Christian to do? [read more] |
Prayer doesn't work? The newspaper headline was shocking: “Study Says ‘Therapeutic Prayer’ Doesn’t Work.” The article was equally disturbing to many: the largest study of its type shows that prayers from strangers had no benefit to the recovery of heart-surgery patients. Does this mean that prayer doesn’t work? Hardly! [read more] |
Da Vinci Code cheat sheet To prepare for the movie’s premiere, here are handy answers to Frequently Asked Questions about The Da Vinci Code. They’re provided by Dr. Mark L. Strauss, a professor of New Testament at Bethel Theological Seminary in San Diego, whose latest book is Truth and Error in The Da Vinci Code. I interviewed Dr. Strauss on the deity of Jesus for Exploring the Da Vinci Code. [read more] |
 ASK LEE...About the Priory of Sion Question: Is there such a thing as the secret society as described in the Da Vinci Code? Answer: Dan Brown’s story hinges on a supposedly clandestine organization called the Priory of Sion. He begins his novel by specifically claiming this is a fact: “The Priory of Sion – a European secret society founded in 1099 – is a real organization. In 1975 Paris’ Bibliothèque 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.” Later, the novel reveals that the Priory protects the secret that Jesus had been married to Mary Magdalene, they had a child named Sarah, and their bloodline continues to this day. But is any of this true? [read more]
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Coming soon to www.LeeStrobel.com... Rick Warren, Luis Palau, John Ortberg, Max Lucado, Ann Graham-Lotz, Josh McDowell, Hank Hanegraaff, William Lane Craig, J. P. Moreland, Randy Alcorn, Al Mohler, Mark Mittelberg, Henry Cloud, D. James Kennedy – and other experts in defining and defending Christianity. Stop by regularly for free videos clips of their insights on what Christians really believe – and why. LeeStrobel.com |
 Good news for Ron Howard... In our last poll, 56.3 percent of respondents predicted Ron Howard’s adaptation of The Da Vinci Code will win big at the box office and get good reviews. Another 17.5 percent predicted big box office but a poor reception by critics – the exact same number that predicted mediocre box office but good reviews. My vote: Big box office, mediocre reviews (a category that wasn’t offered!) [read more]
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Quote of the month: “The most maddening thing about this book [The Da Vinci Code] is the thought of somebody losing their faith over this—this!—stupid piece of dimestore erudition. If you are going to risk your eternal soul, it should at least be over something noble and romantic and big. If you are bound to damn yourself, then at least let it be over a torrid and star-crossed love affair, or out of tragic hubris that sought to know What Man Was Not Meant to Know . . . But to lose your soul over this cartoonish, illiterate, dishonest piece of hack drivel?" – Catholic author Mark Shea |
Getting Personal... - My daughter-in-law, Kelli, graduates May 20 with a doctor of physical therapy degree from Chapman University. She’s currently working on her internship. Congratulations, Kelli! (All Baby Boomers need at least one physical therapist in the family!)
- It was great to see so many friends while I was speaking on The Da Vinci Code at Willow Creek Community Church recently. After each weekend service, I went to a specially decorated Da Vinci Code room, where I was able to dialogue with spiritual seekers who came to investigate the hoopla surrounding Dan Brown’s book. We had some great discussions – and many people ended up joining a small group to dig deeper into these issues, using the Discussing the Da Vinci Code curriculum that I wrote with Garry Poole.
- Okay, please indulge me: I’ve got to tell you the latest anecdote about my granddaughter, Abby, who’s now about four months old. Her father had to take her out of the church service the family was attending on May 7 – not because she was crying, but because she was laughing so much! (And the church wasn’t even in Toronto!)
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