Was There a Jesus Conspiracy?
We have seen that leading historians unanimously accept the fact that Jesus was a real person who has significantly impacted our world.
Nevertheless, countless conspiracy theories have attacked the New Testament teaching of his deity. Perhaps the most widely believed conspiracy theory has been postulated by Dan Brown in his fictional novel, The Da Vinci Code.
The Da Vinci Code is not to be ignored as a fictional plot. Its premise, that Jesus Christ has been reinvented by the church for political purposes, attacks the very foundation of Christianity. Its author, Dan Brown, has stated on national TV that, even though the plot is fictional, he believes its account of Jesus’ identity is true. So, what is the truth? Let’s take a look.
- Was Jesus’ deity invented by Constantine and the church?
- Were the original records of Jesus destroyed?
- Do recently discovered manuscripts tell the truth about Jesus?
- Did Jesus have a secret marriage with Mary Magdalene?
Several of Brown’s assertions regarding Jesus Christ’s identity try to persuade the reader of a conspiracy. For example, the fictional scholar in the book states:
Nobody is saying Christ was a fraud or denying that He walked the earth and inspired millions to better lives. All we are saying is that Constantine took advantage of Christ’s substantial influence and importance. And in doing so, he shaped the face of Christianity as we know it today.1 The Da Vinci Code book has sold over 80 million copies and has been watched by millions more in a blockbuster movie starring Tom Hanks. Although the plot is fictional, it has convinced many readers that its theme of a Jesus conspiracy is actually true.”
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