The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown (2003, Doubleday) is a new novel that is getting a lot of attention in the media for a variety of reasons. In addition to mixing odd-ball historical fiction with a quasi-mystery plot, it addresses a serious topic: the rise in popularity of pre-Christian, European pagan beliefs in our increasingly post-Christian era. Buried in this 450-page story is a clear statement about the change of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.

This book presents the traditional idea that Constantine was the key player, ignoring more recent research by scholars, such as Bacciochi. It is interesting to find this statement in popular culture: "Originally ... Christianity honored the Jewish Sabbath of Saturday, but Constantine shifted it to coincide with the pagan's veneration day of the sun. … To this day, most churchgoers attend services on Sunday morning with no idea that they are there on account of the pagan sun god's weekly tribute—Sun-day" (pages 232–233).

Monte Sahlin, Center for Creative Ministry board chair, says this illustrates an important trend. "Post modern popular culture is breaking down old prejudices from the popular culture of the past that has been dominated by traditional Christian ideas. Now, non-standard ideas, such as our teachings about the Sabbath, are given equal shelf-space with the established ideas in the marketplace of ideas. This is increasingly true for new generations which find it easier to believe our presentation of the Sabbath than did their parents and grandparents. Of course," Sahlin continues, "new generations have different prejudices. They tend to distrust organized religion. The highly bureaucratic corporate structure of the Adventist Church is a much bigger barrier to belief than the Sabbath or other traditional testing truths."

Paul Richardson, Center for Creative Ministry director