As Lord Acton says, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."
And message is pretty applicable to our tale. The Da Vinci Code spends a lot of time discussing the Church's quest for power – both in the past and by sects in the present day – and how that need for power ended up corrupting Jesus's message and our understanding of religion. And, according to the wise G.I. Joe, knowledge is power.
Questions About Power
- According to Langdon and Teabing's brief and biased presentation on the history of the Catholic Church, what was the most important part of securing their power?
- Bishop Aringarosa is practically obsessed with the power that the Teacher has promised him. What is that power, and how does he plan to wield it?
- Does the Teacher actually hold all the power by manipulating others? Does that serve him well?
- At this point, would revealing the truth behind the Holy Grail really affect the power of the Church?