Sister Mary Kate Birge believes that's part of what has drawn people to "The Da Vinci Code," the wildly popular novel turned hotly anticipated movie that opens May 19 in Frederick .

"And it deals with the Western church's treatment of women through the centuries," said Sister Birge, assistant professor of theology at Mount St. Mary's University and an expert on the Bible and early Christianity. "It plays on our areas of woundedness as a people and it capitalizes on our fears."

She can't stand the book.

"One of the things that made me angriest about this book is that I came to love history through reading good historical fiction," Sister Birge said.

She called Dan Brown's book, "a junk-food novel," and not a very good one. She said she would much rather see stories that are more faithful to early Christian history, which is rich with competing views that appeared in the first centuries after Jesus Christ's birth.

The movie's release is attracting wide notice, and religious leaders have a variety of views. Its coming release, and the publication last month of "The Gospel of Judas," have people once again looking at the dawn of Christianity.

Some perceive a threat to Christianity in the two works — one fiction, the other a historical document of uncertain origin. "The Da Vinci Code" is a mystery story that reveals that Christ and Mary Magdalene were married and had children, whose descendants guard the secret today.

"The Gospel of Judas" is an account in the early Christian Gnostic tradition in which Judas is portrayed not as a traitor, but as a friend who gave Christ up at his own request so he could fulfill his destiny.

"The Da Vinci Code" also relies on Gnostic concepts. Gnostic Christians' works, which also included the Gospel of Mary and the Gospel of Thomas, did not become a part of the New Testament for a variety of reasons.

Protests in the works

Conservative Christian activists who see the movie as a threat are doing what they can to oppose the film. A grassroots conservative Christian group plans a prayer vigil from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Regal Westview Movies 16 theaters in Frederick . Organizer John Ritchie of Hanover, Pa., said he hopes to bring 1,000 people to protest "The Da Vinci Code."

"Join prayer vigil in preparation for the blasphemous movie," states a flier from Mr. Ritchie's group.

Mr. Ritchie said he is affiliated with the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property. The Hanover-based group of American Catholics was founded in 1973 "to resist, in the realm of ideas, the liberal, socialist and communist trends of the times and proudly affirm the positive values of tradition, family and property," according to its Web site.

"We have a lot of outraged Catholics," Mr. Ritchie said.

Many consider the novel an outright attack on the Catholic Church, which it depicts as secretive and conspiratorial.

"The attack is against the hierarchical structure of the church, against the infallibility of the Pope and against the divinity of Jesus Christ," Mr. Ritchie said. "The truth is something that doesn't change."

Ministers don't see threat

The truth is also something that is and has always been debated among Christians, and the publication in 2003 of "The Da Vinci Code" turned up the heat in debates about early Christian history.

The Rev. Keith Rivers, chaplain at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center, said he doesn't see a threat to truth in the book or the movie.

"I would go see it just to be able to talk to people about it," he said.

The Rev. Keith Boisvert, pastor of St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Frederick , said he has spoken with parishioners about the movie and believes there is nothing wrong with people watching the movie and discussing it, but noted that the movie, like the book, is fiction, not history.

The Rev. Anastasios Kousoulas, presbyter of Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Frederick , said he has no problem discussing either "The Da Vinci Code" or "The Gospel of Judas" with curious parishioners, but said neither would affect the truth of accepted teachings.

The Rev. Kenneth Dunnington, pastor of the Calvary United Methodist Church in Frederick , enjoyed the book. He believes it has led many people to learn more about early Christian history and doesn't see it as a threat to orthodox Christian belief. Early Christians were a diverse group and had many different ideas, he said.

The Rev. Dunnington, who generated a lot of interest in a series of classes using themes in Harry Potter books, said he plans a session in June on "The Da Vinci Code."

He said people were drawn to the novel, and will be to the film, because they contain a strong premise, and people want to know where the author got his information. He said he read the book critically, taking notes and then investigating. But he was more interested in the art history than the biblical aspects of the book.

Still, he encourages greater interest in Mary Magdalene, who was one of Christ's inner circle but who many biblical experts have said is wrongly, and frequently, described as a prostitute.

"She's the most misunderstood person in history," he said. "According to John, she was the only witness to the resurrection, and that conveys a fairly high stature."

Sister Birge agreed that interest in Mary Magdalene is welcome, and is fascinated by feminine and sexual topics in Christianity, as well as the diversity of early Christian ideology. She objects to the way those are depicted in "The Da Vinci Code."

Still, she plans to see the movie — reluctantly, but with an open mind — to see how Hollywood treats the story.

The Rev. Rivers summed up the controversy with a shrug.

"It's a novel. What's the big deal?" he asked.

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.