Breaking the Da Vinci Code: Answers to the Questions Everyones Asking

Bock focuses on the first 325 years after the death of Christ because that is Bocks expertise. He slowly and deliberately breaks what he calls codes of the Da Vinci Codes. He covers Who was Mary Magdalene, Was Jesus married, How were the New Testament Documents assembled, and other similar topics. He does a very credible job. However, the whole code theme was a little confusing. In the later chapters, he refered back to arguments in the earlier codes, for example, As we stated in Code 6. However, the codes were not really codes and they were not really memorable or breakable. The codes are just topics that he discussed and argued against Dan Browns assertions. Bock is really arguing against the scholars who study the Gnostic gospels and are proposing their own version of Christianity. Bock is arguing against that school of thought rather than the Da Vinci code in particular. His arguments are strong, but not that exciting. Although he proves his point, I dont think Dan Browns fans would be convinced. They would just say thats your version of history. I would think destroying all the bizarre myths Dan Brown spins around the Templars would be more convincing. The whole Priory of Sion is so ridiculous and based on such flimsy evidence I cant see how even Oliver Stone would believe it. In conclusion, the book presents reasoned arguments against many of the themes of the Da Vinci Code. The arguments are sound. The history is interesting to learn, but I dont think it is the best book to go to battle with in an argument with a Dan Brown enthusiast. The arguments are too subtle and I think they are better books out there for debunking The DaVinci Code.

Is that the title is misleading. Several of the questions that everyone is asking are not even addressed in this book. The art issues are virtually ignored...Rosslyn Chapel... In addition, the perspective is distinctly evangelical, so, for example, in regard to issues of the spiritual feminine, Bock, presumably in order not to anger his evangelical audience (and CBA booksellers who are touchy about such things) misses the chance to drill Browns deliberate ignoring of the place of the Virgin Mary in Christian history, devotion and spirituality.

Exactly how in the world this book is sitting at 144th in sales when it is rated at 2 1/2 stars is beyond me. Wake up people. What is this book about??? Thats easy. This book is about the only thing Bock (who it must be admitted is a scholar) has ever written about-Jesus and the Bible Bocks other bookss include: - Jesus According to Scripture - Studying the Historical Jesus - Purpose Directed Theology - The Bible Knowledge Keuy Word - Three views of the Millenium and Beyond Get the picture?? Bock is an aging, biblical scholar, whos forte is Christian theology. It is not surprising then, that he doesnt even deal with issues Brown raises that would require him to look at things pre-325 a.d. (the era before Constantine). Bock handles The Da Vinci Code as if it were about nothing more that an attack on the historical Jesus, when in reality, Browns book pulls in far more subjects, THE LEAST of which are the paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci. Oh, did I mention that Bock ignores poor Leonardos work entirely and doesnt even touch the assertions Brown makes about the artists hidden codes and symbols. Silly me!!!! I thought Bocks book was about Breaking the Da Vinci Code! LOL. Ive already sold my copy-cheap-since I have more than enough books like this one on my shelves. And trust me, there are far better works on Christianity, church history, and the development of religions. There are most definitely better ways to spend your money. And allow me to say, I have nothing against the other books Bock has written. He knows those issues very well and is first-rate. But he should NOT have tried to just take that material and recover it with a title that is so deceptive.

I have read a couple of books on the Da Vinci code, as well as the novel (a definite page turner). While the facts are correct in this book, it seems a bit rushed to press and falls short on many issues. In trying to prove Dan Brown wrong, the author commits many of the same logical errors. The Da Vinci Code is held up by a couple of pillars: 1. The Priory of Sion: Bock completely ignores the Priory in his treatise. As this is a central thread throughout Dan Browns book, it is rather strange that a rebuttal author would ignore this material, especially when it can easily be shown that the Priory is the creation of one Pierre Plantard (1993 court testimony, 1956 incorporation documents). 2. The Nag Hammadi library: The Gnostic gospels, which have been elevated to a very high status by some theological scholars, like Crosson, Spong, Pagels and Funk. Bock does a better job here, but does not delve deep enough to present a full rebuttal argument. Although he declares a win over the code, he has really done very little to dispute the Gnostic gospels or their supporters. I agree with Bock that Dan Browns scholarship is lacking. I also agree with Bocks major points on the subject. But, Dan Brown is a novelist, while Bock is writing a critique or an apology (depending on how you view his work). While Bock presents some very good factual material, all of it seems to fall short on truly nailing the coffin shut on the subject and often raises more questions than it answers. Of course, this seems to be the rule with Da Vinci Code critiques. While not perfect itself, I prefer Cracking Da Vincis Code by Garlow and Jones over this work.

In spite of the impression one might get from popular discussions, shooting holes in the scholarship behind The Da Vinci Code is not a difficult task. The target is too big. Bocks book is not my favorite, but is near the top of the books I have read on this subject. THE BOOKS STRONG POINTS Bock stays on target. He actually addresses questions that are being asked and doesnt stray as far as others. Bock is from Dallas Theological Seminary. His foreword was written by Francis J. Moloney from The Catholic University of America (not exactly bunk mates in the dormitory of theology). This shows an attempt to speak from a broad perspective. Although he doesnt exactly pull off the attempt as well as he could. The book is easy to read. THE BOOKS WEAK POINT It isnt very exciting. After reading the exciting The Da Vinci Code this is a little like sitting down for a lecture. A BETTER BOOK I think this is probably the best first book one can read on the subject. IF one is intrigued enough to dig a little deeper I suggest Cracking Da Vincis Code by James L. Garlow and Peter Jones. But if you do, read it after this book.

Ever order a book that you really had high expectations for, only to find out that it doesnt even talk about what you most wanted to read about??? Well, if thats the kind of book you want, then this one is for you. I am stunned by Bocks audacity to call his book Breaking The Da Vinci Code when his book CONTAINS NOTHING ABOUT LEONARDO DA VINCIS PAINTINGS!!!! Can someone explain this to me??? Some of THE most important questions everyone is asking about Dan Browns book relates to the many claims Brown makes about Da Vinci and his works of art. Bock answers none of these things. Hmmmmm. What does that say? Regarding The Last Supper and all the things Brown points out, Bock says zip, nada, nothing. He is equally silent about the Mona Lisa and the Virgin of the Rocks. What gives??? So what do you get for your hard earned money?-you get Bock beating you over the head saying, basically, Christianity is true, believe like I believe, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Dont get me wrong. being a Christian is fine. Super! But this book is called Breaking The Da Vinci Code NOT Why you should be a Christian in Spite of Dan Browns Bestseller. Bock should have used the second title. Try either the book by Lunn (Da Vinci Code Decoded) or the one by Abanes (The Truth Behind the Da Vinci Code). The first is long (208 pp.), the second is short and sweet (96 pp.).

Bock is partly correct in his title - he does give answers, but not to the questions that everyone is asking about The Da Vinci Code. I found Bocks book to be an arduous read, not in the level of thinking, but rather in its presentation of the facts that counter the claims of Dan Browns worldwide best-seller The Da Vinci Code. Bock walks through seven identified codes that are, in essence, the key assumptions put forth by Brown in his book; and Bock systematically presents evidence to counter the claims of Brown and others who have questioned the divinity of Christ and the authenticity of the Scriptures. Bock is honest in his assessment of the churchs dismal failure to properly address a central figure in the conspiracy theory of Brown and others - Mary Magdalene was, indeed, a victim of a very poor smear campaign at the hands of the Catholic Church under Pope Gregory the Great in A.D. 591 who first taught that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Bock demonstrates that his area of expertise is truly New Testament scholarship and presents a dizzying array of texts and historical persons to bolster this position that Mary Magdalene was not the lover or wife of Jesus Christ. Bock then walks through dozens of other proofs countering each code until he arrives at his conclusion - that the challenge to Christianity that The Da Vinci Code presents is the same, tired, old and easily-refuted claims of the Gnostics from two thousand years ago only packaged in a best-selling murder mystery this time around! Breaking The Da Vinci Code is an informative book, but not necessarily an easy read. You can tell that Dr. Bock is a New Testament seminary professor - you honestly feel that you are ready for an exam by the end of the book. The problem with the book is that, I dont believe, it prepares a Christian to really engage in a conversation with the average person who has either read the book or will see the movie and has questions - the book is almost too much information and it presents it in a way that makes the reader work too hard to understand it. I think there are better books for the average lay Christian looking to prepare himself to engage in a friendly conversation; but the book is well researched and at least under 200 pages, unlike several of the anti-Da Vinci books on the market.

Nothing in this book proves anything... If Da Vinci Code is wrong about Magdalene and the conspiracy, this book is not right either... faith is very hard to argue and everybody believes what they wanted to believe...

Darrell Block definetly did his homework,easily breaking the Da Vinci Code in his book.He made logical statements,and unveiled countless mistakes in the code, including the council of Nicea, the knights Templar, the prory of Sion, and(ofcourse)Mary Magdelane.The only problem for me is this: I need more evidence. Being a Catholic,I just want to be sure. I would recomend to every other fellow searcher of the REAL TRUTH to get as many more books as possible on the topic, and for God sakes, pick up the BIBLE.

It is interesting to note the approaches to rebutting the historical claims of Dan Brown that he used as the basis for his popular novel The Da Vinci Code. While the initial challenges to Brown came from the Evangelical camp, too many of these efforts, perhaps following the proof text methodology common in much of their apologetical work, have concentrated on the minutiae of Browns asides into art and history while ignoring the more profound questions of the theological implications of his rewriting of the Christian story. While a laundry list of Browns many historical faux pas make for amusing reading, it leaves the syncretistic presuppositions prevalent in his thesis untouched. Daniel Bocks Breaking the Da Vinci Code is a marvelous exception to this pattern. By not being lured into secondary matters, he manages in a somewhat short treatment to get at the heart of Browns claims about the New Testament canon and the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Focusing on key themes within Browns presuppositions, Bock performs a thorough deconstruction of Browns ideas and shows the underlying premises to be completely without merit. Browns distorted view of Jewish ideas of marraige and celibacy, his use of later discredited Gnostic texts while discounting the canonical Gospels written centuries earlier, and his complete misreading even of his own evidence (e.g., the Gnostic texts give no evidence of Jesus ever being married) all are placed under scrutiny and Browns entire intellectual edifice crumbles into dust. Those looking for a point by point refutatation of Browns claims will have to look elsewhere. However, such efforts serve to attack the facade of Browns views while leaving the underlying structure intact. Bock has largely ignored the externals and went straight to the heart of the controversy. For this reason, Breaking the Da Vinci Code stands as the greatest response from the Protestant side and is an essential read on the topic.