5/16/2006

The Global Da Vinci Code Debate Event was a Smash Hit
Explained Both Fact and Fiction in Controversial Book and Movie Leading Experts and Biblical Scholars Discussed the Issues Before a Packed Crowd and the World Via Live Video Streaming on the Internet

NEW YORK, May 15 /Christian Wire Service/ -- Three of the world’s leading biblical and cultural experts graced the stage tonight and put on their verbal boxing gloves of truth to debate and inform a capacity crowd in a New York Hilton Ballroom in Manhattan regarding the fact and fiction in The Da Vinci Code book and upcoming movie.

The global debate event, which also had a live worldwide audience via the Internet at www.DaVinciDebateNY.com , was the only one of its kind in the world before the opening of The Da Vinci Code movie on May 19th worldwide. The debate also included a tough New York audience Q & A session from the capacity crowd.

“The goal of The Da Vinci Code Debate event was to inform the general public regarding what is true, historical fact and what is fiction in both The Da Vinci Code book and the upcoming movie,” said Mitch Glaser, president of Chosen People Ministries, one of the event organizers. “The debate speakers expressed various opinions from their expert point of view and the audience asked their own questions too, but in the end, the audience was asked to draw their own conclusions and to continue to fact check The Da Vinci Code book and movie with the Bible and other truly factual and historical sources.”

Because of Dan Brown’s fictional thriller, Christian history is in the news like never before. There are people in the world angry and protesting opinions and statements raised in The Da Vinci Code and then there are people who see the book and movie as an amazing opportunity.

“There was one thing all our debate speakers agree upon,” said Mitch Glaser. “Some of the issues raised in The Da Vinci Code book and movie are allowing people usually not interested in biblical issues to open a Bible to learn more for themselves.”

The Da Vinci Code debate speakers included:

Dr. Darrell Bock, author of Breaking the Da Vinci Code, New Testament scholar at Dallas Theological Seminary and an expert commentator in the news, including ABC News’ various specials and reports on Jesus and other Christians. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, author of Judaism for Everyone and London Times Preacher of the Year. Dr. Michael Brown, author of Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus and founder and president of ICN Ministries.

“We all had differing views regarding many of the biblical issues in both The Da Vinci Code book and movie,” said Bock, Boteach and Brown. “But even though we believe there are many issues Dan Brown got wrong in his book, we see the entire controversy as an opportunity to inform and educate the people around the world regarding Biblical truth.”

In 2004, the same event organizers held another powerful and controversial debate in New York which was also very successful and took place two weeks prior to the release of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ movie. The debate was entitled, Who Really Killed Jesus?

Both debates were big hits with a sell-out audience and lots of media in attendance and opened minds and hearts, as well as answered many questions of those in the audience regarding the controversial issues within both The Passion of the Christ and The Da Vinci Code films.

“Sales of movies and controversial books about Jesus Christ are one thing, but none compare to the most powerful, truthful, historical and most read book in the world: the Holy Bible,” said Mitch Glaser.

The goal of The Da Vinci Code Debate event was to provide various views from leading scholars and experts regarding the truth and fiction within The Da Vinci Code book and movie. By using important tools like the Bible and other historical resources, the event organizers challenged the audience (live in person and via the global Internet simulcast) to learn to question, research and seek the whole truth and nothing but the truth for themselves regarding The Da Vinci Code and Jesus. For more information about The DaVinci Code debate, visit www.DaVinciDebateNY.com .