Book Review: Cracking Da Vinci's Code

May 5, 2006 Posted by Roger Overton

Christian apologists have been quick to respond to the
historical inaccuracies taught in The Da Vinci Code. However, few have
done much work on one of its central themes,
“the sacred feminine,” which is deeply rooted in a pagan worldview.
Pastor James Garlow and Dr. Peter Jones co-authored Cracking Da Vinci’s Code
to respond to the historical errors of Dan Brown’s novel, as well as its
paganism.

Garlow and Jones begin with a chapter explaining why they
wrote their book. “Cracking Da Vinci’s Code is for you if you have
stopped to ponder Brown’s ‘code’ woven into his novel. It is for you if you are
now questioning all you have learned about Jesus. We are writing for you if you
are now saying, ‘I once thought of Jesus as the Son of God, but I guess I was
wrong. He is simply a man after all.’ For your sake, and His, we feel we must
respond.” (23)

The first issue addressed is Brown’s characterization of sex
and the Christian view of it. Garlow points out that, “Sex is God’s idea, and
second to salvation, it’s the best idea He ever shared with us.” (51) The
authors go on to discuss the “sacred feminine,” Jesus, historical revisionism,
the canon of scripture, the Gnostic gospels, secret knowledge, and pagan
symbols. The conclude by showing that, “Under the guise of a novel, The Da
Vinci Code is an ideological call to arms.” According to them, it is a call
to embrace pagan monism. They ultimately present to the reader a choice between
paganism and Biblical theism.

At the beginning of each chapter is a brief narrative about
their own fictional character, Carrie Williams. Carrie is a practical agnostic
who is attracted to the claims of The Da Vinci Code, but she’s turned
off by her extremely pagan roommate. In the middle of the book is a foldout
color insert of The Last Supper, explaining its history and the figures in it.
In the back is a reader’s guide with four to five questions for each chapter to
help facilitate reflection and discussion, as well as a spread of others books
for further reading.

Cracking Da Vinci’s Code covers a wide range of issues, but hones in on the
most important- the underlying worldview of pagan monism. The authors carefully
explain each point and argument, showing the weaknesses of Brown’s claims and worldview.
The narrative about Carrie reminds us that the issues being dealt with are of
practical and eternal importance. By the end of the book, James Garlow and
Peter Jones have offered an excellent exposition of The Da Vinci Code as
well as a clear and compelling case for the truth of biblical Christianity.