Changes

So, the Peter-party myth has been “busted.”  We have seen that the Bible does not demonize Mary Magdalene the way Dan Brown claims it does, and the Gnostic texts Brown used for “evidence” did not present an accurate representation of Gnosticism.  So, who exactly were the Gnostics?  They were one of the first of many cults—or groups that branched off from Christianity because of disagreements with aspects of Christian doctrine.  Brown conveniently does not mention Docetism, a first century cult of the belief that Jesus Christ was only God, and not at all human.  (Niederauer)  [[Gnosticism]] arose in the century after Jesus’ death and (not unlike Dan Brown himself) believed they held the key to some secret, hidden knowledge (or gnosis) about Jesus.  (Ehrman 42)  The Gnostics claimed to rely entirely on knowledge or reason, and viewed God as an intangible, mystical force.  The term “agnostic” is now used to refer to individuals who claim that understanding God is impossible because it is somehow beyond human reasoning.  (Schlafly)  However, what Dan Brown claims they believed about Jesus is a far cry from the truth.

So, the Peter-party myth has been “busted.”  We have seen that the Bible does not demonize Mary Magdalene the way Dan Brown claims it does, and the Gnostic texts Brown used for “evidence” did not present an accurate representation of Gnosticism.  So, who exactly were the Gnostics?  They were one of the first of many cults—or groups that branched off from Christianity because of disagreements with aspects of Christian doctrine.  Brown conveniently does not mention Docetism, a first century cult of the belief that Jesus Christ was only God, and not at all human.  (Niederauer)  [[Gnosticism]] arose in the century after Jesus’ death and (not unlike Dan Brown himself) believed they held the key to some secret, hidden knowledge (or gnosis) about Jesus.  (Ehrman 42)  The Gnostics claimed to rely entirely on knowledge or reason, and viewed God as an intangible, mystical force.  The term “agnostic” is now used to refer to individuals who claim that understanding God is impossible because it is somehow beyond human reasoning.  (Schlafly)  However, what Dan Brown claims they believed about Jesus is a far cry from the truth.

Dan Brown asserts throughout The Da Vinci Code that Gnostics knew the truth about Mary Magdalene, wanted to restore the sacred feminine, and were even the first “feminists”.  In spite of Brown’s wishful thinking, we have already seen conflicting evidence that Gnostics believed women were less than men.

Dan Brown asserts throughout The Da Vinci Code that Gnostics knew the truth about Mary Magdalene, wanted to restore the sacred feminine, and were even the first “feminists”.  In spite of Brown’s [[wishful thinking]], we have already seen conflicting evidence that Gnostics believed women were less than men.

Dan Brown is also of the belief that the Gnostics did not believe Jesus was divine.  Brown states that orthodox Christianity ignored Jesus’ humanity, while the Gnostics—who believed Jesus was merely a mortal prophet—stressed his humanity far too much for the likes of the “winners.”  Thus, their gospels were censored, and their hidden secret knowledge locked away and forgotten for centuries—until now.  Brown presumes to reveal to his readers the truth about Jesus—that he was completely human, that he was married, and that he had sex.

Dan Brown is also of the belief that the Gnostics did not believe Jesus was divine.  Brown states that orthodox Christianity ignored Jesus’ humanity, while the Gnostics—who believed Jesus was merely a mortal prophet—stressed his humanity far too much for the likes of the “winners.”  Thus, their gospels were censored, and their hidden secret knowledge locked away and forgotten for centuries—until now.  Brown presumes to reveal to his readers the truth about Jesus—that he was completely human, that he was married, and that he had sex.