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5/25/2006
The Truth About
Da Vinci is in the Numbers:
PHILADELPHIA, May 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- “The Da Vinci Code” marched into theatres last Friday grossing $232 million worldwide and $77 million domestically. Approximately 11 million Americans saw the film last weekend, making it second to the opening of Star Wars: Episode Three, which took in $253 million worldwide on opening weekend. The movie, however, is not the only Da Vinci phenomenon that has gained recognition for making news in its industry. Westminster Theological Seminary’s response site www.thetruthaboutdavinci.com has also posted some astounding statistics since its launch only six weeks ago. “We are blown away by the response that www.thetruthaboutdavinci.com has gotten from not only the media, but from Internet users,” said John Carley, President of TriNet Internet Solutions who worked with Westminster Seminary in designing and building the site. “Just between May 10 and May 18, we jumped from 2,500 daily visitors to 10,000. Experiencing 100% growth one time, two times, three times, all in one month – let alone in little more than a week -- is extremely rare.” Carley adds, “In analyzing the statistics, it appears that this site has been successful in meeting a need for individuals who want to get the facts about ‘The Da Vinci Code’.” Launched on Good Friday, www.thetruthaboutdavinci.com has garnered an unprecedented response with a total of 7.5 million hits since then – 5.9 million in May alone. This month more than 136,000 unique visitors from 36 countries have come to the site. To compare and put into perspective, mega-churches enjoy an average of 100,000 to 150,000 in the same timeframe. Based on the significant international box office returns, it is evident that the Da Vinci phenomenon is not limited to American culture. In response to that widespread interest, the site has recently implemented a computer-based translation tool. This feature greatly expands the potential reach and influence of the site, allowing readers to view content in nine different languages. “I believe the strength of this website is that we don’t take sides on the debate about ‘The Da Vinci Code.’ We take the side of ‘truth’ wherever that might plant us,” explained Dr. William Edgar, Professor of Apologetics at Westminster Seminary. “Our primary goal is and has always been to present historical and biblical fact and allow the readers to come to their own conclusions.” Those coming to the site are finding their way via a provocative full-page ad which ran on Friday, May 19 (with a second one scheduled for June 2), online press releases, print materials, links from other websites, and search engines. Once there, visitors are reading an average of 7 pages on www.thetruthaboutdavinci.com – more than twice the average for Internet sites. “There is no coercion or brow beating -- visitors can come and go as they please,” Edgar added. “Based on the overwhelming response, people are not only stopping by the website, they are lingering, reading and utilizing the resources we are making available.” Westminster Theological Seminary created www.thetruthaboutdavinci.com to be a repository of historical fact and biblically-sound resources. The site hosts current news articles, audio/video clips addressing the claims of “The Da Vinci Code,” as well as definitions of key historical terms and descriptions of the religious organizations represented in the novel and film. For more information, visit www.thetruthaboutdavinci.com.
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