Just to say that the only people that should be raising a fuss at the Da Vinci Code is Opus Dei.

It isn’t libel, it is defamation. Fine line, I know, but the implication that this group would resort to murder to cover up something has demonstrated harm to the group’s reputation already. This implication is made couched in a fictional story – that’s why it is not libel. The author does not purport these statements to be true. However, these implications have had a definite effect.

Case law, though, may side with the author. That’s just me, keep in mind that IANAL.

I can also understand that religious leaders may want to provide resources to deal with issues that arise as a result of reading this book. As I said earlier, step one is reminding people that this is not real, even though it is printed in a hard-cover book. Charging for it, though, is my beef. If someone spent $20 on the book and $8 on the movie, they have already been ripped off. Why compound this with another $20? If the person is really having a crisis of faith after the book and/or movie, they really need some help without the price. It just seems too opportunist. Besides, why explain the myth of Magdalene in France, the real work of Opus Dei, the life of Da Vinci, and go on and on about canonization when it comes down to one simple premise. MM was not Jesus’ wife.

For example, a good argument that Jesus was not married is found here.

There is also no ancient document that suggests Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ wife – even if you dig up the Gospel of Philip, all you find is that she’s the most important disciple, not that she’s married to Jesus. The closest thing you get to MM=wife is a fragment describing Mary Magdalene as one that Jesus kissed. (Judas kissed him, too. Jesus kissed other people, too.) If you want to hang your hat on that, go ahead. At this point, you’re just believing it because you want to believe it.

Once it can be established that there are no ancient or old claims of Magdalene being Jesus’ wife – the rest comes into focus. Who cares about the Priory of Sion? MM wasn’t his wife. Who cares about the V symbolizing the exalted feminine? MM wasn’t his wife. Who cares that John the apostle looks too feminine to be male or the position of his/her hands or the position of Peter’s hands in the painintg? MM wasn’t his wife. You think Da Vinci painted the Last Supper by working from a photograph? Maybe he was the 13th Apostle (not Rufus) and he was working from personal memory?

All that being said, enjoy the movie as a fanciful tale full of intrigue and action. I plan on seeing it – it will be a fun diversion. Hey, I want to see the cool special effects applied to Da Vinci’s paintings. That should be cool.

BTW: Rufus appeared in the movie Dogma.