Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) was a mathematician and astronomer. He proposed that the sun,instead of the earth, was the center of the universe. This, in some peoples’ minds, conflicted with the Catholic Church’s teachings around the origin of the universe. Dan Brown wrote about Copernicus and his relationship with the Catholic Church in The Da Vinci Code. However, Brown took creative liberty when describing Copernicus’ relationship with the church. In his novel, Brown paints Copernicus as a mortal enemy of the church, claiming that he was murdered because of his scientific findings. In reality, Copernicus was a friend of the church. They initially accepted his theory, although, when Protestants began calling it heresy, they switched their point of view, eventually banning his book, Des Revolutionibus.
Charles Darwin (1808-1882) was a naturalist, geologist, and biologist. He is best known for his work in the field of evolution. He proposed that all life descended from common ancestors, through the process of natural selection. Similarly to Copernicus, this theory put him at odds with some members of the church because it challenged the idea that all life was created in a week. However, at the time of publication, Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species, did receive some support from liberal clergymen who saw evolution as god’s method of creation.
Science and Religion
The relationship between science and religion has been discussed extensively through Dan Brown’s novels. In Origin, Brown writes, “scientists and spiritualists often use different vocabularies to describe the exact same mysteries of the universe” (Origin 54). In Angels and Demons, Leonardo Vetra is a priest and scientist who works to explain the mysteries of the universe through science and religion.
Steve Jobs (1955-2005) was businessmen and inventor. He co-founded Apple Inc with Steve Wozniak, and although he was forced out for a period of time, he eventually became the CEO of the company. Although some argue that he was the face of the company, and Wozniak was the mind behind their innovations, Jobs currently holds over 450 patents and has won numerous awards for his work in revolutionizing portable technology.
Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) was an architect from Catalonia, Spain. Originally working within the modernista movement, eventually Gaudí’s work became distinct from other modern architects, due to his fusion of religion, nature, and architecture. The majority of his works are located in Barcelona.
Taxi in Barcelona
BIO-EC346
This is the code given to Robert Langdon by Edmond Kirsch. It’s meaning will be revealed later in the novel. Its meaning can be found by breaking down the code into three parts.
BIO
E
C346
Finn Amster