Dan Browne’s The Da Vinci Code enraged the Roman Catholic Church with claims that Christ was a married man, while historians warned that the book is not based on factual, reliable evidence.
In short it’s a story, a page-turning yarn, not an in-depth, scholarly look at the life and religion of the Palestinian Jew Jesus. Yet long before The Da Vinci Code or even before eccentric Frenchman Pierre Plantard founded the Priory of Sion in 1956 and fabricated documents to make it look as if it was an ancient organisation, there were legends in the South of France that Jesus and Mary Magdelene were lovers.
So where did such ideas, legends, myths, and notions, which all made their way into The Da Vinci Code come from? Such questions will be explored in a critical look at Dan Brown’s best-seller in a new series of talks from the Renmore History Society which begin this month.
The Renmore History Society 2008-09 season of public talks begins on Thursday September 18 with Islam: A Short History.
Islam is the world’s second largest and fastest growing religion. Yet from the Middle Ages to the present day, it has been misunderstood, misrepresented, and vilified by the West. This talk will seek to present the religion’s origins, development, and history.
Other lectures that will take place will focus on John Phillip Holland, the Co Clare man who invented the submarine; the Nuremberg Trials; and the existence of St Peter’s tomb in Rome.
The talks are held in the Renmore Barracks and are open to the public. Talks are followed by an open discussion and light refreshments. Admission is free but space is limited and places must be booked in advance. For more information contact Brian MacGabhann on 085 - 7298831 or email [email protected]
