So attacks the Secret Skull!!!"
The thing about Di Vinci Code is that the frame story is horribly written and painfully redundant, dragged out, and predictable, but the compilation of conspiracy theory myths make it interesting enough to keep listening [to the audio version]. "Reading" it would be impossible, since you couldn't tune out the long rambling, repetitive, passive sentences surrounding the good parts. But the myth presentation is good, and I like the parts he makes up to link them into a cool new conspiracy theory. But he did make it up. Gushing Amazon.com reader comments from people who said the book opened their eyes to the way the world really is serve as a strong reminder that humans are only one generation away from being cavemen and worshiping the sun. I think you're making up the part about the Catholic Church hating it. It's pretty rare that the Vatican officially speaks out against anything except the U.S. military. It's pathetically sad how many people lack the knowledge and ability to distinguish between fact and fantasy anymore. There was even a FOX TV special presenting the story as real. It's a good concept in the story, but people who believe it is true should stay away from that old Fantastic Four issue that reveals that Blackbeard the Pirate was REALLY The Thing trapped back in time. That would really mess with their heads. I'm sure the author got a lot of inspiration from Foucault's Pendulum, by Umberto Eco, which is brilliantly written, myths and all. Find the unabridged version if you can (the abridged version is terrible).