Lesson Plan
Title:“What Can History Really Tell Us?”
Subject:The DaVinci Code
Author: Dan Brown
Grade Level: Adults
Time Duration: One (1) hour
Overview: This DVD Curriculum features conversation by Lee Strobel with various Christian scholars responding to the issue raised by The DaVinci Code.
Objective: To introduce the main issues involved/raised by Dan Brown’s work.
Materials: The DVD “Discussing The DaVinci Code; the discussion books; handouts; and discussion questions.
Activities and Procedures:
9:45 amView Introductory Video Clip
9:55 am Discussion
1. “What was your overall reaction to The Da Vinci Code? What did you likemost about the book? Least? Givereasons for your
answers.”
2. “What questions, issues, or concerns about historicalChristianity
does TheDa Vinci Code raise in your mind?”
3. “Can historical events be verified? Why or why not? Whatdoyou
think determines whether or not an historicaleventactually
occurred?”
10:05View Next Video Clip
10:15Discussion
4. “The Da Vinci Code says that “history is always written bythe winners. When two cultures clash, the loser isobliterated, and
the winner writes the history books –books which glorify their own cause and disparage theconquered for” [p. 256]. Do you
agree or disagree? Why?
5. In their book, Cracking The DaVinci Code, James GarlowandPeter
Jones ask, “If everything Brown presents inThe DaVinci Code
is ‘historical fact,’ who are the new‘winners’ herelies on for his
historical facts?” Howwould you answer theirquestion?
6. Generally speaking, what percentage of Dan Brown’s bookdoyou
think is fact and what percentage of it is fiction?
7. Refer to the Discussion Book on pp. 22-25.
10:25 amView the Third Video Segment.
10:35 am
11. If there are so many fallacies contained within The Da VinciCode,
why do you think so many people accept the bookas astory
based on facts and actual historical events?
12. The following phrases are peppered throughout Brown’sbook:
Religious historianswell-documented history
Art historiansAll academics
Real historianswell-documented evidence
Scored of historiansHistorical evidence
In what ways do such phrases give credibility andlegitimacy to
Dan Brown’s story? If the book’s assertionsare not really
based on actual research, are suchstatements misleading?
Why or why not?
13. Do you think Dan Brown had an agenda in writing The DaVinci
Code? Why or why not? If so, what do you think itwas?