Rating: 
Summary: Interesting premise
Review: Bock's book is interesting, but kind of incomplete. In fact, most of the books on the Da Vinci Code leave something out. This one, like most, spend its time discussing how Dan Brown got the details of historical Christianity wrong. Only one spends any real time on both the details of historical Christianity and the details of historical Wicca. For this reason, Bock's book is really incomplete. If you want a complete treatment of The Da Vinci Code, you need Steve Kellmeyer's "Fact and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code" (ISBN 0971812861). Kellmeyer's book is remarkable. In less than 100 pages, he provides a page-by-page analysis of Brown's book and shows you not only the factual problems with the presentation of Christianity, but also the factual problems with the presentation of Wicca and the 19th century anti-Semitic German philosophy and theology that drives a lot of the book's theories. Best of all, he does it in a witty and engaging style that is a pleasure to read. Bock does alright, as far as he goes, but if you want bang for your buck, get Kellmeyer.
Rating: 
Summary: Bock is a Reliable Authority
Review: Bock, a past president of the Evangelical Theological Society and a faculty member at Dallas Theological Seminary, can always be depended on as a world class theologian. In this book he does an accurate job of conveying what Scripture and non-canonical writings say about Jesus. He is also aware of modern anti-Christian movements and how the publishing of "TheDaVinci Code" fits into their schemes to put down Christianity. I cannot recommend "The DaVinci Code," but for those who have read it, this book is an excellent source to help them separate fact from fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: A startling omission
Review: Buyer beware: This book does not deal with the question of Leonardo da Vinci's art at all. It's an evangelical attempt to exploit the popularity of this novel (Just as the Kellemyer book so shamelessly advertised below is a Roman Catholic attempt to cash in.)
Rating: 
Summary: Dismissing The Da Vinci Code
Review: Dan Brown's "DaVinci Code" is one of the best selling novels in the country. It is also poorly written, with 1 dimensional characters and dialog, and a barely believable story line. So why does it sell so well? The answer is that it attacks Jesus Christ and the church. Attacking the church is one of our country's favorite pastimes, but this is nothing new. What is new is this wonderful and scholarly book by Dr. Bock. I have read much of the anti DaVinci code literature. This book is by far the best one written from a protestant perspective. This author is a scholar of serious weight, and he has produced a popular and accessible book that is well researched and fair minded. Dr. Bock is a serious Christian, and thus, he does not hate. This book is far better than the truly awful "Cracking Da Vinci's Code" by Garlow and Jones. (stay away from this one... its just as much a pathetic anti-Catholic diatribe as the Da Vinci code itself) I must admit that I found "The Da Vinci Hoax" by Olson and Miesel to be the best of the bunch in terms of its research and excellence. (However, this one is from a Catholic perspective and I may be biased... I am a Catholic) This book is strongly recommended as a gift for anyone you know, especially protestants, who have been entrapped by Dan Brown's propaganda, and for yourself so you can understand why the Brown's "facts" are so very untrue. Dr. Bock has given all of us a great gift with this book. God Bless
Rating: 
Summary: The definitive answer to The Code
Review: Darrell Bock is that rarity--a conservative evangelical historian/New Testament scholar who is as irenic as he is thorough. Moreover, he's completely familiar with postmodern approaches to historiography and philosophy--something also rare among evangelical scholars (although, it must be noted, with writers like Kevin Vanhooser coming to the fore, that is increasingly becoming a thing of the past). All in all, of the many books out there seeking to get at the real truth behind Dan Brown's international blockbuster, The Da Vinci Code, Bock's book is the best, just edging out Garlow and Jones's Cracking Da Vinci's Code. Bock's book is better because he demonstrates a greater knowledge of what is called the New School of New Testament studies, thus properly contextualizing and laying the groundwork for a thorough discussion of The Da Vinci Code. Plus, he seems to take the challenge Brown's book presents to both historical and modern-day Christian understanding more seriously. And, he's a bit more careful in his analysis, thus his conclusions rest on firmer footing. Bottom line, both books come to basically the same conclusion: There is little or no evidence for the claims to historical accuracy that Dan Brown presents both in The Da Vinci Code and in his subsequent interviews. The plain fact of the matter is that on every front the evidence points in the direction of historic orthodox Christianity and away from Brown's revisionist history. All the sensational claims Brown makes--from the marriage of Mary Magdelene to Jesus, to the superiority of the so-called Gnostic Gospels to the Canonical Gospels, to the idea that the deity of Jesus was a fourth-century construct of the Council of Nicea--are masterfully exposed for the frauds and fabrications they are. When the supposed historical underpinnings of The Da Vinci Code are thus revealed as fanciful, the entire superstructure of the novel comes crashing down, leaving nothing except a diaphanous construct that is almost purely the figment of Dan Brown's fervid, luxuriant imagination. If you are at all interested in the question of the validity of the historical background to The Da Vinci Code, you owe it to yourself to read this masterful book.
Rating:
Summary: A Clear and Logical Approach to History
Review: Dr. Bock's book engages the early history of the church brought up in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code in a clear and logical manner. It allows the reader to analyze the fundamental claims that Brown's book makes about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and early Christianity from a scholarly and historical perspective. Dr. Bock lays the facts before the reader and guides them through the debates surrounding these subjects as the arly church was being formed. He has been able to break down the political and religious arguments in a way that the reader can easily follow. The facts contained in the pages of this criticism are not restricted to the The Bible and accepted Christian dogma, but also include a detailed investigation of the Secret Gospels and other extrabiblical material. This analysis is not the argument of only conservative biblical scholars, but also extends into the realm of liberal historical Jesus followers. It is an analysis that focuses on history and not interpretaton. The bottom line is after Dr. Bock is through with his investigation, the "historical" basis for The Da Vinci Code is debunked, and the rest of the story,
including Da Vinci and his artwork, is a novel construct for an author to tell a good tale and nothing more.
Rating:
Summary: SAVE YOUR MONEY
Review: Ever order a book that you really had high expectations for, only to find out that it doesn't even talk about what you most wanted to read about??? Well, if that's the kind of book you want, then this one is for you. I am stunned by Bock's audacity to call his book "Breaking The Da Vinci Code" when his book CONTAINS NOTHING ABOUT LEONARDO DA VINCI'S PAINTINGS!!!! Can someone explain this to me??? Some of THE most important questions everyone is asking about Dan Brown's book relates to the many claims Brown makes about Da Vinci and his works of art. Bock answers none of these things. Hmmmmm. What does that say? Regarding The Last Supper and all the things Brown points out, Bock says zip, nada, nothing. He is equally silent about the Mona Lisa and the Virgin of the Rocks. What gives??? So what do you get for your hard earned money?-you get Bock beating you over the head saying, basically, Christianity is true, believe like I believe, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Don't get me wrong. being a Christian is fine. Super! But this book is called "Breaking The Da Vinci Code" NOT "Why you should be a Christian in Spite of Dan Brown's Bestseller." Bock should have used the second title. Try either the book by Lunn (Da Vinci Code Decoded) or the one by Abanes (The Truth Behind the Da Vinci Code). The first is long (208 pp.), the second is short and sweet (96 pp.).
Rating:
Summary: Who's Buying this thing?
Review: Exactly how in the world this book is sitting at 144th in sales when it is rated at 2 1/2 stars is beyond me. Wake up people. What is this book about??? That's easy. This book is about the only thing Bock (who it must be admitted is a scholar) has ever written about-Jesus and the Bible Bock's other books's include: - Jesus According to Scripture
- Studying the Historical Jesus
- Purpose Directed Theology
- The Bible Knowledge Keuy Word
- Three views of the Millenium and Beyond Get the picture?? Bock is an aging, biblical scholar, who's forte is Christian theology. It is not surprising then, that he doesn't even deal with issues Brown raises that would require him to look at things pre-325 a.d. (the era before Constantine). Bock handles The Da Vinci Code as if it were about nothing more that an attack on the historical Jesus, when in reality, Brown's book pulls in far more subjects, THE LEAST of which are the paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci. Oh, did I mention that Bock ignores poor Leonardo's work entirely and doesn't even touch the assertions Brown makes about the artist's hidden codes and symbols. Silly me!!!! I thought Bock's book was about "Breaking the Da Vinci Code! LOL. I've already sold my copy-cheap-since I have more than enough books like this one on my shelves. And trust me, there are far better works on Christianity, church history, and the development of religions. There are most definitely better ways to spend your money. And allow me to say, I have nothing against the other book's Bock has written. He knows those issues very well and is first-rate. But he should NOT have tried to just take that material and recover it with a title that is so deceptive.
Rating:
Summary: What a Rip-Off!
Review: I bought this book because I thought it was further research into the subjects covered by the original Da Vinci Code Book. The book is a rip-off on the name and contains some of the worst religious hypocrisy and dogma I have read. The Catholic Church demeans women by not allowing them any position of authority and relegates them to minor "helper" roles, i.e., the mother or helpmate of someone. This book attempts to refutes this accusation by claiming the church does look up to women and cites two examples: 1) Martin Luther's MOTHER who was a great influence on him. Martin Luther could not have started the religion he did without her influence. 2) The woman, who in CONJUNCTION with her husband started the Salvation Army. A mother and a help-mate. These look like helper roles to me. And yet according to these authors these examples absolve the church of their demeaning treatment of women. What about Joan of Arc, Saint Margaret of Scotland, or Eleanor of Acquitaine? Eleanor was one of the wealthiest women alive and barely 20 years old. She supported the Crusades financially and she and her other female friends marched onto the battlefield as nurses during the crusades. After that the Pope no longer allowed women to participate in the Crusades under any circumstances and in any role. If the authors have their way the status quo will continue. Women will be relegated to "helper roles" and allowed only minimal and non-authoritative participation. This is not what Jesus intended. According to the early Bible (the Bible we know was not formed until the third century A.D.) Christ allowed women to preach the gospel and to be fully involved in the church in any way they chose. It was not until 300 years after Christ died that women were relegated to mothers and help-mates. The authors of this book would like to continue this shameful policy. Truth means little to these authors. They are more concerned with maintaining the status quo of third century religious dogma.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I don't see why people didn't like this book. I thought it was well written and to the point. People seem to think that since it did not go into exhaustive detail, that the book is worthless. I think the book does exactly what it is supposed to do. It shows the fallacies of "The Da Vinci Code". This is a gateway book. If you are really looking for more answers, you will have to do more research. But had this book been much longer, it would have lost its effectiveness.
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