Olson Debunks the Myths of “The Da Vinci Code” at Catholics@Work Event, September 13, 2005 -- Critique Of Novel's Sources, Success And Ideologies To Be Presented

The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown’s best selling novel, purports to be more than fiction: it claims to be based on fact and scholarly research. Are The Da Vinci Code’s claims fact or just plain fiction? Is the novel well-researched as claimed? What is the truth about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and the early Church? Has the Catholic Church distorted the real Jesus? Why is the novel so popular? What about the anti- Catholic, anti-Christian agenda behind the novel? Best selling author Carl Olson answers these and other important questions at the Catholics@Work's September 13, 2005 breakfast. No one who has read or heard about The Da Vinci Code should miss this provocative and illuminating new book,“The Da Vinci Hoax: Exposing the Errors in The Da Vinci Code” (http://www.davincihoax.com).

Danville, CA (PRWEB) July 12, 2005

Catholics@Work, a fellowship of individuals who explore how to actively live one’s beliefs in the workplace, (http://www.catholicsatwork.org), today announced its September 2005 breakfast meeting will feature Carl E. Olson, the co-author, with medievalist Sandra Miesel, of “The Da Vinci Hoax: Exposing the Errors in The Da Vinci Code” (http://www.davincihoax.com). The Catholics@Work breakfast event will be held at Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville, CA 94526 on Tuesday, September 13, 2005. A full buffet breakfast is served starting at 6:45am (Mass is offered at 6:15am at the same location.) Cost is $20 for members and $27 for non-members. To register visit http://www.catholicsatwork.org/EventDesc.aspx.

The “Da Vinci Code,” Dan Brown’s best selling novel, purports to be more than fiction: it claims to be based on fact and scholarly research. Carl Olson will tackle the difficult questions which surround this book. Carl will speak to the assertions about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and the early Church, and the implications that the Catholic Church distorted the real image and message of Jesus. No one who has read or heard about The Da Vinci Code should miss Carl’s provocative and illuminating new book or his presentation at this Catholics@Work breakfast event.

"I was drawn to write “The Da Vinci Hoax: Exposing the Errors in The Da Vinci Code” because I felt compelled to clarify and explain fiction from fact,” said author Carl Olson. “With many Catholics and Christians reading the book, a thorough critique of The Da Vinci Code and that novel's sources, success and ideologies was a necessity.”

"Carl’s book is described as “the definitive debunking” of the best-selling “The Da Vinci Code” by Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago. It’s 330 pages and with 555 footnotes, offers the most exhaustive and meticulous refutation of the biblical, theological, historical, philosophical and artistic errors of book,” said Rick Medeiros, President of Catholics@Work. “We are excited and lucky to have Carl here to discuss his work and to provide details on the cultural and religious factors that have combined to contribute to the success of “The Da Vinci Code”.”

Carl is the editor of IgnatiusInsight.com (http://www.ignatiusinsight.com), an online magazine that provides readers with essays, interviews, reviews and news related to the Catholic Church and the work of Ignatius Press, one of the world’s largest Catholic publishers. He also moderators the Insight Scoop (http://insightscoop.typepad.com/), the Ignatius Press weblog.

Carl grew up in a devout Fundamentalist Protestant home in western Montana. After two years of art school, he attended Briercrest Bible College, an Evangelical Bible college in Saskatchewan, Canada, graduating with an associate’s degree in 1991. Carl married his wife, Heather, a graduate of Multnomah Bible College in Portland, Oregon in 1994 and they entered the Catholic Church together in 1997.

Carl has written articles for Crisis, The Catholic Faith, Catholic Parent, Envoy, This Rock, First Things, Gilbert!, Touchstone, Canticle, Saint Austin Review, New Covenant, The Catalyst, Lay Witness, CatholicExchange.com, and Catholic.org. He is a regular contributor to National Catholic Register and Our Sunday Visitor. Carl has been a guest on FOX-TV, CNBC, BBC radio, “Catholic Answers Live!,” “Kresta in the Afternoon,” “Living His Life Abundantly,” “The Catholic Connection,” “Morning Air,” and EWTN’s “The Journey Home,” “The Abundant Life,” “EWTN Live,” “Threshold of Hope,” and numerous local and regional radio and television programs.

Carl and Heather, have one daughter, Felicity. In his spare time, Carl enjoys recreation with his family, collecting music and books, reading, playing tennis, and singing Swedish love ballads in a sweet falsetto. For more about Carl visit his personal web site: http://www.carl-olson.com.

ABOUT CATHOLICS@WORK

Catholics@Work is committed to fostering fellowship and connectivity among Catholics facing the realities of life in today’s workplace environment. The monthly breakfast gatherings are a unique opportunity for Catholics to:

• grow in their understanding of the Catholic faith,
• be encouraged to apply the principals of their faith in the everyday workplace,
• and, to network with other Catholic business professionals

The breakfast series is held at Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville, California, on the second Tuesday of the month seven times per year (April-June, September-December). The event starts with a buffet breakfast followed by a speaker or panel discussion and runs from 6:45-8:30am. The event offers a great way to network with people who look for purpose and leadership in their lives. There is time prior to the beginning of each speaker’s presentation to interact with other attendees, to share faith, and business and personal information. Mass is offered at 6:15am for those who wish to attend before breakfast at the same location. Managed by Catholic business professionals, Catholics@Work breakfast events are open to all, regardless of faith or occupation, who want to explore the issues of actively living one’s beliefs in the workplace.

For more information visit http://www.catholicsatwork.org or call 1 925-389-0704.

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