The Da Vinci Hoax
Encyclopedia
The Da Vinci Hoax is a non-fiction book written by Carl E. Olsen
and Sandra Miesel
for the express purpose of critiquing Dan Brown
's novel The Da Vinci Code
. The book was first published in 2004 by Ignatius Press
. According to Olson and Miesel, they wrote it out of concern that Brown's novel is popularizing unfounded theories and misrepresentations of history and beliefs, which are used as the basis of the novel's plot, and defended by its author as factual, and that purport to expose Christianity
as founded on lies that have been kept secret by the Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries.
The authors state that the theories, while presented as great revelations of hidden knowledge, are actually based on elements of gnostic
and feminist
ideas. They contend that the theories transparently contradict serious scholarship, and present detailed arguments and expositions against them.
Carl E. Olsen
Carl E. Olson is an American, non-fiction author.Olson was born in Hot Springs, Montana, and raised in Plains, Montana. After graduating from high school in 1987, he studied graphic design and fine art for two years at Phoenix Institute of Technology and Northwest Nazarene College...
and Sandra Miesel
Sandra Miesel
Sandra Louise Miesel is an American medievalist, writer and science fiction and fantasy fan. Her early work was science fiction and fantasy criticism, fields in which she has remained active. She is a literary analyst; has described herself as "the world's greatest expert" on Poul Anderson and...
for the express purpose of critiquing Dan Brown
Dan Brown
Dan Brown is an American author of thriller fiction, best known for the 2003 bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code. Brown's novels, which are treasure hunts set in a 24-hour time period, feature the recurring themes of cryptography, keys, symbols, codes, and conspiracy theories...
's novel The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code is a 2003 mystery-detective novel written by Dan Brown. It follows symbologist Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu as they investigate a murder in Paris's Louvre Museum and discover a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei over the possibility of Jesus having been married to...
. The book was first published in 2004 by Ignatius Press
Ignatius Press
Ignatius Press, named for Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order, is a Catholic publishing house based in San Francisco, California, USA. It was founded in 1978 by Father Joseph Fessio SJ, a Jesuit priest and former pupil of Pope Benedict XVI...
. According to Olson and Miesel, they wrote it out of concern that Brown's novel is popularizing unfounded theories and misrepresentations of history and beliefs, which are used as the basis of the novel's plot, and defended by its author as factual, and that purport to expose Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
as founded on lies that have been kept secret by the Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries.
The authors state that the theories, while presented as great revelations of hidden knowledge, are actually based on elements of gnostic
Gnosticism
Gnosticism is a scholarly term for a set of religious beliefs and spiritual practices common to early Christianity, Hellenistic Judaism, Greco-Roman mystery religions, Zoroastrianism , and Neoplatonism.A common characteristic of some of these groups was the teaching that the realisation of Gnosis...
and feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
ideas. They contend that the theories transparently contradict serious scholarship, and present detailed arguments and expositions against them.
Quote from the book
- The misrepresentation of Christian beliefs in The Da Vinci CodeThe Da Vinci CodeThe Da Vinci Code is a 2003 mystery-detective novel written by Dan Brown. It follows symbologist Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu as they investigate a murder in Paris's Louvre Museum and discover a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei over the possibility of Jesus having been married to...
is so aggressive and continual that we can only conclude that it is a result of willful ignorance or purposeful malice and hatred. (p. 37)