Controversy Resolved?
The controversy over The Da Vinci Code has led to a public historical-theological debate about some of the most treasured fundamental beliefs of Christianity. Dr. James Tabor postulates a number of outré theories in search of the historical Jesus. He writes, for example, that Jesus was a mason, not a carpenter. His father may have been a Roman soldier, and his six siblings may have shared a different father.
The controversy over The Da Vinci Code has led to a public historical-theological debate about some of the most treasured fundamental beliefs of Christianity. Dr. James Tabor postulates a number of outré theories in search of the historical Jesus. He writes, for example, that Jesus was a mason, not a carpenter. His father may have been a Roman soldier, and his six siblings may have shared a different father.
A recent "60 Minutes" story by Ed Bradley called into question one of the basic "proofs" which underpins Baigent's work. Bradley's investigations proved that the document held by Sauniere is not genuine. In fact, it is part of an elaborate hoax perpetrated by Philip duSherasay, an actor who invented the parchments. In addition, the Secrets Dossiers, purported to list the masters of the Priory of Sion, were forged by Pierre Plantard in 1956.
In a final chapter, Baigent notes that documents continue to be discovered and sold. The recent "Judas Gospel" is a prime example and would seem to lend a slight air of credence to Baigent's proposition. Ultimately, Baigent writes, "All history is a myth, a story created to make some sense out of the few events we can know. The past is a hypothesis erected to explain and justify the present." History is what gets documented by the victors and does not always represent what really happened so we must read and interpret many different accounts of a particular event in order to arrive near the "Truth."
In a final chapter, Baigent notes that documents continue to be discovered and sold. The recent "Judas Gospel" is a prime example and would seem to lend a slight air of credence to Baigent's proposition. Ultimately, Baigent writes, "All history is a myth, a story created to make some sense out of the few events we can know. The past is a hypothesis erected to explain and justify the present." History is what gets documented by the victors and does not always represent what really happened so we must read and interpret many different accounts of a particular event in order to arrive near the "Truth."
The ultimate vetting of The Jesus Papers may not come for years while the controversy over his assertions continues. Some would even say he is the Geraldo Rivera of religious research and his vault is empty. Most of his criticism comes from within the traditional Christian community, from the very ones whose long-held beliefs Baigent challenges. In the meantime, this is a well-written book, which draws on his earlier work and offers new conjectures as to the events of 2,000 years ago. Whether you are Gentile or Jew, Catholic or Protestant, believer or non-believer, Baigent offers food for thought. You may wonder about the possibilities, or you may throw the book across the room, but your mind will be engaged because Baigent tells his story well.
