I have read The Da Vinci Code and thoroughly enjoyed Brown's work of fiction. I am amazed (and a bit disappointed and put off) by all the rhetoric attempting to debunk a work of fiction. I am a Christian, and believe the Bible. I test what I hear and read by the Scriptures and my experience. I do not feel the need to defend God, especially from a work of fiction.
The Da Vinci Code does no harm to my faith and Brown is not trying to rewrite history. He has very successfully written a work of fiction. If a writer were trying to convince me of his belief in an essay, I could confront those ideas with my belief. This is not Brown's goal, and he clearly sets out in the introduction what is fact. Anything else we can safely assume to be fiction since the book is a work of fiction. Even if Brown's beliefs show through the novel, this does not shatter my faith. Some theologians are giving way too much power to Brown, who in no way is trying to destroy my faith. It is a work of fiction, folks.
God does not need to be defended. Much of the rhetoric I am reading and hearing on TV attacking Brown makes Christians sound silly and defensive. George Barna's research indicates that no more than 5 percent of the 45 million people who have read the book reported any change in their beliefs.
Brown has succeeded in writing an excellent piece of fiction. Coincidentally, he may have encouraged people who may never have given a second thought to Jesus' humanity and divinity to do so (as did The Passion). I have read and heard a few preachers on the topic of “What do the Gospels really say about Jesus?” But for most critics that is not enough.
Why are we so afraid of reasoned discourse? I'll say it again. God doesn't need to be defended, especially from a work of fiction.
Raylene Harton, Midlothian