Thinking about Dan Brown's books...

Having just completed Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code, I must now take a moment to reflect on the general themes of both books. I have never read any other Brown book and cannot speak to them, but regarding these two, I have a grasp of their meanings.

Angels and Demons has the basic theme of science versus religion/faith. Such a meaning is not hidden at all and is evident as one reads the book. This debate has been one of the cornerstones of Western thinking since the days of the Enlightenment when the very foundations of the Church were shaken by the re-emergence of scientific rationale. While not nearly as controversial as The Da Vinci Code, Brown brings into question the possibility of whether science can explain the creation of existence in logical terms devoid of religion. This is a hot topic for sure and one that all scholarly people should engage in at least once in their lives.

The Da Vinci Code has a message that is a bit less obvious. Many seem to think the theme is the credibility of the Church regarding nearly two millennium's worth of cover-ups, lies, and deceit. While these are elements of the story, the real theme is facts versus beliefs and power of each to effect human thinking. This is a theme that transcends Brown's adventure-type stories and permeates all of human history. Are beliefs so powerful as to block out obvious facts that contradict beliefs? That is was The Da Vinci Code is about - not about a lie perpetuated by a Church, but what facts, of any kind, can do to beliefs when those facts come to light.

After having read The Da Vinci Code, I formulated this basic philosophy, one that I had always known, but for the first time was able to put into words: The Facts are what they are; the Truth is what you make of it.