The Truth Behind the Da Vinci Code

by Richard Abanes

Nationally recognized researcher Richard Abanes, author of Harry Potter and the Bible, looks at three of the most fascinating people in history: Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene, and Leonardo Da Vinci.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0736914390
• ISBN13: 9780736914390
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Publisher's Weekly Agrees

Abanes, as well as the many other authors who have responded to "The Da Vinci Code," were recently featured in an online roundtable discussion of Brown's bestseller (...). As part of this very informative feature, Marcia Ford from Publisher's Weekly gave her assessment of each of the books and picked her favorite one. Abanes came in second place behind Dan Burstein's "Secrets of the Code: The unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code." But interestingly, Burstein's book is "technically not a debunker," according to Ford. It is really "a compilation of writings from people all along the DVC spectrum."In other words, when it comes to actual books that debunk or refute Brown's The Da Vinci Code, Abanes is the one who has come out on top. Ford describes Abanes' The Truth Behind the Da Vinci Code" as "a quick and thorough read." She also writes the following:"Yet another short book that contains a lot of information, including, in this case, details about Leonardo's writings and belief system that I don't recall reading anywhere else. Abanes, who really is a recognized expert (see Martin Lunn's dubious credentials) on cults and religions, arranges his highly readable text topically by chapter and according to the specific error within the chapter. It's well-organized and accessible, and yes, there really is a code embedded in the introduction. Abanes correctly identifies the problem with DVC as not a Christian issue: "The most flagrant aspect ... is not that Dan Brown disagrees with Christianity but that he utterly warps it in order to disagree with it --- to the point of completely rewriting a vast number of historical events. And making the matter worse has been Brown's willingness to pass off his distortions as `facts' with which innumerable scholars and historians agree." Amen. (96 pp., including several images of The Last Supper)"I couldn't agree more with Ford and allow her words to speak for me.

Right On!

I tried to post this review earlier, but for some reason the review never made it online, so here I go again-only because I believe it is very important that people understand how great a book Abanes has produced. Abanes is an accomplished author who has stuffed just about all of the information the average person would need to: 1) talk intelligently about The Da Vinci Code; 2) respond to Dan Brown fans who say the novel is based on fact.Unlike the other responses to Dan Brown, Abanes seems to have wanted to do several different things for different audiences. Christians get information that helps defend Christianity; 2) Roman Catholics get material that deflects the most outrageous claims by Brown; and 3) secular readers get a great crop of facts without hearing any religious preaching.This is clearly the volume that stands head and shoulders above the other books about Da Vinci. I say this wih no malice, but simply as an observation. Abanes gives the reader all the facts they need to make an informed decision about Brown's book, and without much of an agenda except to get the truth to people. Money will be well-specnt on this bookFAVORITE QUOTES: "Extrico subjectio quod verum ero evidens." (p. 10) "This is not even a "Christian" issue. The issue is fact versus fiction. Truth versus lies. Accuracy versus inaccuracy" (p. 77).

THE ABANES CODE!!! -Happy Hunting

I just finished reading "The Truth Behind the Da Vinci Code" by Abanes and LOVED it (for reasons I will explain).But first, and this is hysterical-ABANES INSERTED A CODE INTO THE INTRODUCTION OF HIS BOOK. I couldn't believe it until I noticed certain letters that seemed to make words. And, as I continued to piece together the letters, sure enough, it all created a sentence with a message for readers. I won't spoil it for anyone, but it's there as plain as any code can be. You have GOT to try to figure it out. Way to go Abanes. This shows, at least to me, that Abanes has a sense of humor and is keeping all of this in perspective.Now, on to the serious critique. Abanes shows in his very concise, fun-to-read, and highly informative book that Dan Brown, for all of the PR on his novel, is not only not a scholar, but actually seems to have deliberately misrepresented key historical documents and historical events. This is shown beyond debate. One example, is how Abanes pulls two quotes from Brown's novel where a character quotes Leonardo Da Vinci's scathing words supposedly about the Bible (see Da Vinci Code, p. 231). Abanes, however, actually tracked down these citations and shows that in their context they have NOTHING to do with the Bible!!!! There is no way Brown could not have known that Leonardo was not talking about the Bible. It is very clear from the writings.This is only one example of how the research in this book is phenomenal. I encourage everyone who wants to get into this type of fun stuff to get Abanes' book. I am very, very impressed. As much as Brown's fans and critics of books like this one from Abanes are screaming about how ridiculous it is that anyone would be troubled about a work of fiction, Abanes smartly documents places where Dan Brown is saying that what he wrote is absolutely true (p. 9). I'd love to see Brown and Abanes in a debate. Now that would be fun.

No Fluff, Good Stuff

Organization of this short response (although more than adequate) is very nice. Abanes starts with a short intro that lays out The Da Vinci Code plot (warning - spoilers present) and highlights how many people are viewing Brown's book as fact - really, as fact (not the general story, of course, but the underlying historical information). This, of course, is what Dan Brown himself believes (as documented by Abanes).Then, we get 5 short chapters that are laid out in a truly unique way-Abanes first gives a short excerpt sentence or two from Brown's book that provides a historical claim of some kind, then ths is followed up with Abanes' response that pulls from all kinds of sources in order to show just how off base Brown was. The chapters are:1 - Conspiracy Theories, Mass Confusion, and Rewriting History; 2. Gnosticism, Ancient Gospels, and the Bible; 3 - Mary Magdalene, the Church, and Goddess Worship; 4 - The Grail, the Priory of Sion, and the Knights Templar; 5 - Leonardo, the Mona Lisa, and The Last Supper.Pretty complete. And one great thing about this book is that Abanes does NOT pull only from Christian or Roman Catholic sources. He actually draws information from Christian, non-Christian, Wiccan, Gnostic and other sources to show that no matter what views you personally take on spirituality, the issue is NOT one's religious beliefs per se, but rather, is truth. He even quotes from scholars somewhat hostile to Christianity, whose work on history in general shows that Brown is simply wrong on so many things.This one by Abanes is a major eye-opener, and thank God, he does NOT beat you over the head with the Bible (although he does quote when necessary to demonstrate a point). I never felt like someone was preaching at me, but instead I felt like I was simply hearing someone talk to me and show me documents to back up his point. And, I gotta say, the reading was a breeze. I read it in one day and felt like I had a wealth of information ready to talk to others about The Da Vinci Code. Really interesting style of writing, very refreshing word usage. NOT boring. I enjoyed it very much-and hey, I'm a Dan Brown fan (of his FICTION). Finally, Abanes didn't attack Brown as a person, or belittle his beliefs. This book just offers the facts and let's people take from it what they want to take from it. He has a particularly enlightening section on the European Witch Hunts. Very, very interesting!

It's About Time

I've been waiting for this book to come out for several weeks and am so glad I finally got it. Many aspects of this book make it a clear winner above similar books.1. Good pricing2. Sticks to just the facts3. Addresses the fascinating aspects of The Da Vinci Code4. Short -- great bathroom reading (sorry, but its true)5. Easy to understand6. VERY quick and to the point7. Does NOT talk about Dan Brown like he's an idiot8. Presents some complex historical events very clearly9. Covers Knights Templar, Priory of Sion, Gnosticism10. Respects all religionsWhat I really like about this book is how Abanes so clearly explains wht the Priory of Sion really is. Pictures are included. And his explanations of Leonardo Da Vinci's works are really insightful. I found myself saying, "Well, yeah, that makes sense." I think the one person who really needs to read this book is Dan Brown. I really like The Da Vinci Code by Brown as a work of fiction. And that's what I now know-it is just that, TOTAL fiction. Abanes has given the reading public a super guide to historical inaccuracies in The Da Vinci Code. Abanes discusses, among other things, what Dan Brown says about: Tarot, Venus, goddess worship, Gnosticism, the Gnostic Gospels, Constantine, the formation of the Bible, the Merovingian dynasty, the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, early Christianity, and more-all in 96 pages. Incredible. Love this book.