The Quest for the Holy Grail

                                       The Search for the Divine

   Thanks to the movie based on Dan Brown's novel "The Da Vinci Code", The Holy Grail is a subject on the minds and lips of many these days.

What is the Holy Grail?

   There are many different theories; the "facts" and "truths" of which are often hotly debated.  Until this point, the most popular being that it was the cup that Jesus served wine with at the Last Supper. Others go on to say that it was then used to catch the blood of Christ at the crusafixtion. 

     And then came The Da Vinci Code.  The main premise of Dan Brown's fictional novel is that the Holy Grail was not the cup that held the blood of Christ, but the bloodline of Christ.

So what is the big deal?

     Let's imagine for a moment that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and they did have a child.  It would be possible that there was a direct descendant of Christ walking around today.  How threatening do you think that would be to the leaders of the Christian religion?  How do you think it would affect the role of women, not just in the Church, but in society in general.  Would the proving of this theory have a negative impact on the credability of the Church?  How would it affect the faith of millions of people world wide?

  Dan Brown has written a work of fiction.  Yet the questions this book has inspired are very profound.

Who is Right?

   Many people have some very strong, deeply held ideas about what the Holy Grail is and is not.  Yet there is very little, if any completely factual evidence.  Much is open to interpretation.

  This is where the concepts of Faith, Belief, and Truth come in.

Truth-body of real things, events and facts.

True-being that which is the case rather than that which is manifest or assumed.

Faith-certainty of truth even when there is no evidence or proof.

Belief-conviction of truth, especially when based upon examination or evidence.

   Since we have very little evidence upon which to base our beliefs-we are left with examination.  And that-the necessity for examination and questioning, is the beauty of the Holy Grail.

Do you have a belief regarding the truth of the Holy Grail?

   Do you already have faith in the truth of your beliefs?  Why do you believe what you do?  Have you looked into the evidence supporting those beliefs?  Does it stand up to your own examination? If so, then your faith is stronger and you are stronger in your faith.

If not, below are some resourses to get you started on your quest.  I've tried to present all of the different schools of thought in an un-biased manner.

    Personally, I hope we never discover the undeniable, undebatable, factual truth of the Holy Grail.  I feel that it's value lies in the insights, concepts, and spiritual awareness we gain in our search. 

    "Read myths. They teach you that you can turn inward, and you begin to get the message of the symbols. Read other people's myths, not those of your own religion, because you tend to interpret your own religion in terms of facts -- but if you read the other ones, you begin to get the message." ~Josesph Campbell from The Power of Myth

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