I finally got around to "reading" Dan Brown's bestseller, The Da Vinci Code.  The controversy and/or hype surrounding the book has been swirling around for quite some time now, but for one reason or another I never got a chance to read it until now (technically speaking, I listened to it on CD.)

I have to admit, the storyline is incredibly intriguing and very addictive.  I actually found myself longing for my commute to and from work each day, knowing I'd unwrap a little more of the story with each drive.  The story itself unfolds rather quickly, but the more controversial aspects do not show up until about the half way point.

Suddenly, you are hit like a ton of bricks with the assertion that Jesus Christ was not only married, but had a child as well.  The book clearly blasphemes the Christian understanding of Christ's fully divine/fully human nature.  While I can certainly understand the objections the Vatican and many other Christian organizations have had to this work, one cannot deny the freedom Mr. Brown has to share his opinion. 

However, it seems that the general public is increasingly unaware of the fact that this is indeed a work of fiction, not fact.  That people are accepting this work as historically accurate is concerning, especially since the story's popularity has spawned a Tom Hanks film and even a video game.  The popularity of this novel has had its effect at the Louvre, where record attendance has been recorded, and has spawned pilgrammages to the Rossyln Chapel. 

Christian apologist (and staunch Calvinist) James White does a good job of discrediting Dan Brown's work on his blog.  Pretty interesting read for anyone discerning the truth behind what is otherwise a thorougly entertaining piece of fiction.