Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, Henry Lincoln Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Holy Blood, Holy Grail
Book Review: A waste of time
Summary: 1 Stars
Why would you want to read a supposedly factual book that has been thoroughly discredited? Watch the BBC documentary on the Da Vinci code to watch the author squirm when confronted with the evidence that the key points in the book are nonsense.Book Review: Absolute nonsense
Summary: 1 Stars
This book's claim to fame is the theory that Jesus did not die 2,000 years ago and is based on suppositions, myth and a twisted view of the scriptures.The statement in the book that Jesus' impalement only last 3 hours is bogus, as the scriptures do not say this. Luke 23:33-46 clearly shows that Jesus' torture started long before the "sixth hour", which was when the "darkness over the land" started and lasted until the ninth hour. It was at the ninth hour when Jesus finally died.
Another bizarre theory in Holy Blood, Holy Grail, is the use of some midieval picture that shows the disciples carrying Jesus' body. In the background there is a full moon and it is dark. The authors have decided that the picture insinuates that Jesus did not die as no Jew would touch a dead body on the Sabbath as is indicated by the full moon in the background, and that they were, in fact, REMOVING the body from the tomb.
With a small amount of reasoning, this theory too can be shown to be false. First, the picture was painted eons after Jesus' time
and cannot be used as anything credible to the actual crucifiction. Second, the authors are correct in saying that no Jew would touch a dead body on the Sabbath, but they would also not carry a wounded body, or any other body on the Sabbath, as this would have been considered "work."
In addition, the book claims evidence that Jesus and Mary Magdelene married and moved to France and established a "Royal Blood Line" is without merit. There is nothing at all in the scriptures or anywhere else that points to this conclusion or even hints at it. Another consideration is that, not only was Jesus himself a decendent of King David, but he also had at least 4 half-brothers and 2 half-sisters (as shown in Mark 6:3) that were also decendents of King David; any one of them or their children or grandchildren could have moved to France or anywhere else, and established a "royal blood line."
This book is, in my opinion, absolute rubbish.
Book Review: Absolutely fascinating!
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, "The DaVinci Code" sparked my interest in this book and its subject matter which, despite my being fairly well versed on current events, I hadn't heard about back in '81. Nevertheless, this book fascinated me from page 1. Yes, the authors never found the "incontrovertable proof" that Jesus did not die on the cross, or that the Holy Grail is Jesus's bloodline, nor what is the truth of the mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau. And they are as disappointed as we are. Unfortunately, their theory may never be proved as they and we are two thousand years removed from the actual events.
History is written by those in power and nowhere is this more evident that what the authors reveal--that the Roman government held sway over what would be in the "Bible" to suit their ends; that Jesus, according to Jewish custom at the time, was probably married and fathered children; that the divinity of Jesus was VOTED ON by a group of ecclesiastics four centuries after his death; that the Catholic church suppressed any other opinions and this information by any means necessary. Yet the information lived on through myths, symbols and secret socities for anyone who would take a hard look.
I was impressed with the authors' scholarship--relying on primary sources as much as possible. Moreover, they did say their conclusions were not proved but only based on their deductions from their research. What they conclude makes sense.
The introduction is particularly insightful as to the inevitable charges leveled at them by the church and other academics. Nevertheless, I think they put forth a very plausible, well-researched thesis.
Book Review: Absorbing and difficult to dismiss
Summary: 5 Stars
I read first read this book many years ago. I subsequently read it a second time. It is an absorbing thoroughly researched work that cannot be dismissed. The central thesis that Christ did not die on the cross is not new. Islam and many early sects of Christianity believe the same. In time, the Catholic church ruthlessly extinguished those that did not accept the officially sanctioned Catholic dogma. Approach this book with an open mind and your views of Christianity may never be the same.The authors do an outstanding job. It is one of the best of this genre.
Book Review: Absurd!!!
Summary: 1 Stars
If you like fiction and fantasy then this book will suit your needs. If you like truthful history then this book is not for you.The authors of this book have been deceived like anyone else who does not do a bit more research about this subject. By making BIG, speculative leaps to conclusions is the reason for the deception. Anyone who does a little background research will soon discover that Pierre Plantard was a pathological liar with an imagination that would lead some to believe he was on an acid trip.
Contrary to what one might think, the Holy Grail is not some French 'Bloodline' of Jesus Christ that was to be protected at all costs. It never was. It was a story concocted by Plantard.
All in all it's nothing but bovine scatacism. But hey, if you like a good yarn then buy the book. I used mine to start a camp fire.