Many people wonder why Christians would be up in arms about the multitude of historical errors made in Dan Brown's popular novel and movie, the Da Vinci Code. They point out that it is a novel, not a history book, and that Novels aren't supposed to be read as "fact."

Setting aside for a moment the fact that Dan Brown has repeatedly stated that he believes his book to be based on historical fact and that he wouldn't have changed anything if he had written it as non-fiction. One wonders how comfortable Americans would be if the same standards that are applied in such a cavalier fashion to popular works about Jesus and Christianity, were applied to an American icon like Washington and the founding of America. Let my try to explain what I mean by means of an analogy.

Imagine if you will, a time far in the future when America has long since ceased to be a Republic and is now a dictatorship ruled by an Imperial family. This future America is deeply divided over whether or not this dictatorship is the best form of government, and while the power and influence of supporters of democracy has waned greatly, there are still many American organizations that support democratic ideals. Let us further imagine, that one particular morning in this future America, we happen to tune into the following broadcast of a popular early morning show:

Latt Moyer: My guest this morning is Bran Down, the author of the new runaway bestselling book “The Kennedy Code.”

Good morning Bran, did you ever expect “Kennedy Code” to become the number one book in the world having sold over a billion copies?

Bran Down: Well no Latt, but it doesn’t surprise me. After all the issues in this book appeal to a huge segment of the population and urge us to reexamine what we have traditionally about the foundations of this country.

Latt Moyer: Well, since you’ve mentioned it, although your book is a work of fiction, it makes some pretty startling claims. It starts with the bizarre murder of the director of the Imperial library who was killed because he was the last man who knew of a secret left behind by a 20^th century President by the name of Kennedy – a secret so powerful that it could reshape the very nature of “Democracy movements.” What was the secret that man was guarding?

Bran Down: Well Latt, the secret was that George Washington was not the first President of America, he was the first King. He was only declared to be “President” after his death at a meeting of congress in the 19^th century. You see he and his wife Martha did have their own child, a girl by the name of Sophie, and it was his desire that his daughter would succeed him on the throne. But supporters of democracy, who are also well known to be misogynists would not stand for that. So Sophie was forced to flee to England, where she eventually became the founder of the House of Windsor.

Latt Moyer: And you also claim that it was Thomas Jefferson who for his own selfish political reasons, got Congress to declare that Washington had been “First President” and then suppressed all the evidence of his Kingship and had the history books rewritten?

Bran Down: Yes Latt, that’s right, my protagonist Langley Bob eventually finds out that President John F. Kennedy discovered that secret and was about to expose it, when he was assassinated by a sinister pro-Democracy organization called “the League of Women Voters” which exists to make sure that no one finds out the truth about Washington . But luckily, before he died, Kennedy put coded messages into his books and speeches so that others might eventually find out the truth.

Latt Moyer: and this “League of Women Voters” along with all the other organizations actually existed?

Bran Down: Yes Latt, that’s right.

Latt Moyer: How much of the rest of the novel is, you know, based on fact?

Bran Down: Well when I initially started writing it, I was, you know, really skeptical, but today, I absolutely believe all of it. It’s all based on historical facts.

If you can imagine the feelings that a patriotic American supporter of democracy would have towards a novel that made such ridiculous allegations about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the foundations of America, then you already have a good idea how many Christians feel about the equally baseless and absurd allegations made about Jesus and the history of Christianity by Dan Brown in The Da Vinci Code.

Americans who would be shocked if the public actually believed such a ludicrous scenario about Washington, also understand how shocked Christians are that Brown’s revision of Christian history is taking hold with the public. The author of this blog has personally encountered people who sincerely believe and repeat the Da Vinci Code version of Christian history. This is, unfortunately, to be expected in age when popular knowledge of church history and biblical literacy are both at an all time low. It also reflects the rise of the genre of historical fiction as the means that Americans prefer to get their historical information from. One only has to reflect on how influential historical novels like “The Killer Angels” and movies like “Saving Private Ryan” have been on our ideas about events like the Battle of Gettysburg and D-Day. It’s also worth remembering that some works of fiction, like Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, have played a profound role in shaping American attitudes and beliefs. A work of fiction can sometimes have a greater effect than a work that is supposed to be non-fiction.

So if you would be appalled at the triumph of stupid, ahistorical, and derogatory errors over facts in shaping the public perception of Washington, you should be equally appalled at the idea that stupid, ahistorical and blasphemous works of fiction could shape the public perception of Jesus Christ, who is infinitely more important than Washington.