Reply #12: But Dan Brown claims it was "based on history"....

[Bridget Burke]

No, it was based on "Holy Blood, Holy Grail", which weaves a fascinating story including many obscure historical facts. Of course, the facts don't fit together in the way the HBHG authors intimate. And the Priory of Sion is a surrealist joke; the authors finally admitted they'd been fooled. Since they sold their book as non-fiction, their case against Brown is pretty weak. But they'll sell more copies & the movie will get even more publicity.

From the article: Yet people agree, too, that the novel appeals because it offers a different way of seeing Christian tradition, particularly issues of patriarchy and women in the early church. This appeal has helped spur new subcategories in the publishing business, Ms. Garrett says, with each season bringing new books on Mary Magdalene and on what's now called "alternative Christianity."

Let's hope some of Brown's fans do some deeper research. The topics mentioned aren't exactly new. Current Magdalene scholarship depicts her as an important disciple of Christ--neither a repentant prostitute nor Mrs Jesus.