"It (the debate) sometimes strayed from The Da Vinci Code, but the long and the short of it is, people are curious. People want to know and have come here to get some advice on how to look at things," said Scott Buckler, 44.
"The book to me is really a launching pad for discussion about bigger things – Christianity, the Truth of the Bible," said Murray. "I think primarily people have a skepticism about the Church at large. They feel like there're some elite power things going on, that people are hiding things, that there's some secret history that's been hidden and now finally revealed. And they feel like they've found it in The Da Vinci Code."
A new poll commissioned by the conservative Catholic group Opus Dei and conducted by Opinion Research Business indicated that people are now twice as likely to believe Jesus Christ fathered children and four times as likely to think Opus Dei is a murderous sect after reading the book. Among those who read the novel, 60 percent believed Jesus had children by Mary Magdalene compared to 30 percent of those who had not read it.
As concerns over many people taking Brown's alleged facts seriously continue to rise, Ron Howard's film adaptation of the New York Times bestseller makes its global release this Friday. As Reuters reported, it is one of the most eagerly anticipated movies in years, and will open the world's largest international film festival - the 59th Cannes Film Festival – on Wednesday.
While Jesus is the main talk of the world, Christians say the core message of Christianity is left out, which is Jesus as the way of restoration for one's relationship with God.
When the debaters were asked what they would say to Dan Brown if he were present, Dr. Michael Brown, author of Answering Jewish Objections and founder and president of ICN Ministries, simply stated, "Don't misrepresent facts."
Bock responded, "It does not help people in this world to disrespect people of faith."
Lillian Kwon
Christian Today Correspondent
