Dan Brown has sent a chill down the backbones of Christian believers, shaking the very foundations of their belief. He questions the fundamental assertions of the Bible. In his book the Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown clearly states that Jesus is not the Son of God, but a human being like the rest of us. Miracles he certainly performed, but he lived the life of a common mortal. And above all he had a wife; Mary Magdalene who begot a daughter under the name of Sarah. But how far is Dan Brown correct in his assertions?

<B>Was Jesus actually human or Son of God? </B>

A better understanding of Semitic history could parallel the different views of Jesus in Christianity, Islam and Judaism. All three western religions share a common standpoint as they recognize Jesus in their Holy texts, namely the Bible, the Koran and the Torah. It is important to point out that Semites have similar historical roots. They all share the fundamental idea that there is only one God and thus are known as monotheists. Also, unlike Indo- Europeans, monotheists make no pictorial representation or statues of their God. The Old Testament commands that the people shall not make any image of God. This is still the law in Judaism and Islam. But Christendom was influenced by the Greco- Roman world. At some point in time, the Roman pagan emperor Constantine the Great took a step towards reuniting his people under one religion and allowed some pagan rituals, symbols, and dates to be amalgamated with the pagan religion as Lord Teabing carefully explains to Sophie in the movie. Thus nothing in modern Christianity is original-December 25 is also the birthday of Osiris, Adonis and Dionysus.

Even Sunday, the holy day of Christians, is on account of the pagan weekly tribute to the Sun God. Originally Christianity honoured the Jewish Sabbath of Saturday. Constantine was the man who changed the face of Christianity- whereby he also decided the divinity of Jesus. At the same time alterations were made to the Torah- new laws such as Deuteronomy were produced.

The New Testament contains a selection of only 4 gospels- only 4 out of thousand of texts written about Jesus? life. Until then, Jesus had always been viewed as a mortal prophet- just as acknowledged in Islam- Issa (Jesus) had a miraculous birth just like Yahya (John the Baptist). In the Koran it is said(by the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ?Do not exceed bounds in praising me, as the Christians do in praising Jesus, the Son of Mary, by calling him God, and the Son of God; I am only the Lord?s servant?? In a chapter dedicated to Maryam (Mary - mother of Jesus) we get a depiction of the life of Issa, ?Il ne convient pas à Allah de s?attribuer un fils?, ?Mais (le bebe Jesus dit ?Je suis vraiment le serviteur d?Allah. Il m?a donné le Livre et m?a designé prophète? (16).

It can be noted that God allotted a Book to Issa (Jesus), just as he did give the Koran to Muhammad (PBUH). But where is that Book given to Jesus? It could surely not be that written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? And why should these 4 respective gospel writers have been chosen to form the basis of Jesus? life and image?

This is because they are the only gospel writers, amongst many others, who depicted Jesus using divine imagery! For instance in John?s gospel, Jesus is described as ? ...the light of the world? (Jn 8; 12), ?I am the resurrection and the life? (Jn 11; 25-26). To better understand this we should go deeply into the Christian theology and the origins of the gospel writers:Mark- Latin name Marcus ; accompanied Paul(disciple) in his missions; he was with Peter (disciple) when he wrote his first epistle. Beyond this point the Bible is silent concerning Mark ; He died a martyr wrote his gospel around 60 AD but before 70 AD Matthew- Original name-Levi only mentioned in the Acts 1 ;13- died a martyr in Ethiopia- 17 witnesses of the 1st century attest to the genuineness of Matthew?s gospel- no traces of the Gospel originally written in Hebrew language survived-only the Greek translation was available Luke- St Luke - writer of the book of Acts ; associate to Paul(disciple) ;only non Jew (Gentile) to have written a book of the New Testament ; Greek pagan ; the Church did not possess a certain knowledge about the life and work of Luke ; only the caption ?According to Luke? is an attestation to Luke having written this Gospel. Each gospel roll is usually marked with an attestation ?according to? to distinguish one gospel account from another in the holder or drawer in which they are stored.

John- Disciple of Jesus ; there is a theory that the 4th gospel is a product of some unknown person by the name of John but that it was not John the apostle- but this cannot be regarded as established ; Originally written in Aramaic; translated into Greek 40 AD- 140 AD ; possible eyewitness to situations.

The basis of the Gospels and their attestations is itself vague and uncertain. Thus a shadow is cast on the aspect of Son of God given to Jesus. Dan Brown also bluntly affirms that Mary Magdalene is actually Jesus? companion. He also highlights the importance of the symbol of the ?chalice? depicting a woman. So far, the New Testament offers us the presence of Mary Magdalene in some situations: Luke 8;3- ? Mary Magdalene, from whom seven demons have gone?.

Anointing of Jesus by Mary :Luke: ?Do you see this woman? I entered your house you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet?.she has anointed my feet with ointment? (Lk; 44-47). John: ?It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment?? (Jn 11; 32-34) Miracles- on Mary?s behest, Jesus resurrected Lazarus (Mary?s brother) from the dead.?Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell to his feet?. When Jesus saw her weeping he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled?.? (Jn 11; 32-34) Jesus? death was described with the presence of Mary Magdalene.

Jesus? apparition after the resurrection: ?But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb?.. She turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know it was Jesus??. Jesus said to her,?Mary?. She turned around and said to him in Hebrew, ?Rabboni? (Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me" ?." (Jn 20; 11-17). Also the picture of the Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci depicts a woman next to Jesus? side- and in John?s version we are rather troubled by the scene in the Last Supper- where Peter enquires with the disciple close to Jesus about who was to betray Him. Jn 13; 22-24" One of his disciples whom Jesus loved, was lying close to the breast of Jesus?"

Dan Brown also recognizes a sect of the name of Opus Dei. In fact, it?s not a far fetched idea from the author?s imagination. The Da Vinci Code?s Opus Dei ultra conservative Roman Catholic faction riddled with sadomasochistic ritual has left more than one perplexed. How was this sect actually born?

Jose Maria Escriva, a priest in Madrid had a vision in which "The Lord willed the Opus Dei might come to be" and founded the organization to help people find security in their lives. In 1975 Escriva dies and Alvaro del Portillo acts as his successor.

Pope Jean Paul II gives Opus Dei a status of personal prelature in 1982. In 2002, Jean Paul II canonizes Escriva describing him as a Saint of Ordinary Life. Today Javier Echevania is the current Opus Dei head. Today, this organization counts 35,500 members worldwide. The popularity of Opus Dei with JP II was that it funded the solidarity trade union and helped bail out the Vatican Bank after its 1982 scandal. Opus Dei counts $ 344.4 million assets in USA and rough estimates of a global total of $ 2.8 billion.

Numeraries are expected although not compelled to wear a cilice, a small chain with inward pointing spikes, around the upper thigh for 2 hours each day. Also, flagellation with a small whip (a discipline) is expected.

The Dan Brown Code might be even more complex to elucidate but as far as the book is concerned it?s a mystery that challenges the imagination. It goes beyond being just a simple novel. It incorporates massive amounts of historical and theological information which entertains and educates and certainly requires deeper thinking in cross- cultural religious beliefs?.

<B>Hannah MAUDARBOCUS</B>