Evidence of Early Christian Beliefs and the Role of Women in the Early Church to be Presented at Scholarly 'Da Vinci Con' Seminar in Santa Cruz, CA

Evidence of early Christian beliefs and the important role of aristocratic and common Roman and Judean women in the early church will be presented in Santa Cruz, Calif., over two evenings on May 11 and 12. “The Da Vinci Con: Are the Facts Stranger than Fiction?” seminar series will be held at The University Inn and Conference Center, 611 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz, Calif., over two evenings on Thursday, May 11 and Friday, May 12. Registration at 6:30 pm. The series will also address the historicity of Biblical and Gnostic texts, the “Priory of Sion” and the role of Constantine vis-à-vis the nature of Jesus. Donations for expenses will be accepted.

These seminars will present non-doctrinal, archaeological and ancient manuscript evidence left by early church adherents throughout the Mediterranean world, along with presentations of ancient Christian codes and symbols, that debunk the anti-Christian myths and misrepresentations found throughout Dan Brown’s popular work of fiction (soon to be a major motion picture), The Da Vinci Code (Doubleday: New York, 2003).

Seminar presenter, Maxine Bingham, has a BA with departmental honors in Ancient Near Eastern History and Archaeology, and an MA in Near Eastern (Islamic) Studies, from the University of California at Berkeley. Ms. Bingham curated San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum’s Brundage Collection of Iranian art, and spent a year assisting with Biblical archaeological site surveys in Israel and Palestine.

Co-presenter, Ron Bingham, is a mathematician and physicist, and has studied and lectured on The Dead Sea Scrolls and Christian theology. Both Maxine and Ron Bingham have taken courses with some of the world’s leading experts on 1st century Judea and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Said Ron Bingham, “Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code is great fun to read, and I especially enjoyed the mathematical puzzles and twists in the plot. Possibly because it is such a compelling read, readers have been led to confuse fact with fiction regarding the nature of Christ, what early Christians believed, the important role women played in the spread of Christianity in the ancient world, how the Bible came to be and the theology of those who wrote the texts known as the Gnostic Gospels. We believe that those who attend our seminar will find that facts truly are more interesting and stranger than any fiction where early Christianity is concerned.”

Maxine Bingham added, “We invite anyone who is interested in the truth about early Christianity to join us on a pictorial journey of historical and archaeological discovery. Dan Brown’s book incorporates entertaining codes and symbols that move his fictional plot along. Seminar attendees will learn about the real codes and symbols employed by early Christians that reach out to us some 2,000 years later to tell us what they really believed — and not what a novelist imagined they believed. Ultimately, religion is an issue of faith. However, the three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam, rely upon sacred books that demonstrate how God works in human history and touches people’s lives. We hope to give seminar attendees a glimpse into the world of the first Christians, the powerful women it attracted, and how this new faith community brought Jewish-based moral codes and customs to the greater Roman world. This is a fantastic true story, and one we are excited to share with our diverse south coast and Silicon Valley communities. Local media are also enthusiastically welcomed.”

What & Where: “The Da Vinci Con: Are the Facts Stranger than Fiction?”
The University Inn & Conference Center, 611 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, Calif.
Map Link: http://www.ucscinn.com/map.php or call the Center at (831) 426-7100.
When: Over two evenings on Thursday, May 11 and Friday, May 12 – registration each night at 6:30 pm. Space is limited, so early on-site or email registration is recommended.
Sponsor: Agora Publishing & Seminars
Cost: Suggested donation of $10 ($5 for students/seniors) to cover expenses.
Email for Attendee Registration or for more info: davincicon @ agorapr.com; dvcon @ agorapr.com (or call (415) 508-3754 – this number will take a message only.)

Media Inquiries Only: Maxine Bingham, principal, Agora Marketing & PR, email: maxine @ agorapr.com, or office tel (408) 962-4914. www.agorapr.com

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Media Inquiries and Registration
Maxine Bingham, Agora Marketing
www.agorapr.com
(408) 962-4914 office tel