www.TruthAboutAngelsAndDemons.com Launches Today From Westminster Theological Seminary to Examine the Big Ideas Raised in Dan Brown's Thriller

Contact: Jodi Phillip, A. Larry Ross Communications, 972-267-1111, jodi@alarryross.com 

PHILADELPHIA, May 13 /Christian Newswire/ -- Two days before the big-screen adaptation of Dan Brown's best-selling novel "Angels & Demons" hits theaters, Westminster Theological Seminary, one of the oldest and most respected religious institutions, will launch www.TruthAboutAngelsAndDemons.com, an online resource dedicated to providing a balanced assessment and factual response to the spiritual, historical and scientific assertions in the book and upcoming movie.

"This Web site will help individuals sift through the mix of fact and fiction woven into the novel and presumably the film," said Dr. Bill Edgar, professor of apologetics at Westminster. "By providing biblically-sound facts and highlighting issues related to the intersection of religion and science that 'Angels & Demons' presents, we hope to educate people and empower them to engage in conversation about the book and film."

The premise of "Angels & Demons" involves the Illuminati, a legendary underground society, and its attempt to destroy Vatican City, the epicenter of the Catholic faith, with a substance called antimatter. Westminster's Web site, www.TruthAboutAngelsAndDemons.com, will follow suit with scholarly articles on topics addressed in the book, such as antimatter, the Vatican, secret societies, angels and demons that speak into the relationship between the Church and bio-ethics and issues related to religion and science.

This new Web site, www.TruthAboutAngelsAndDemons.com, is the subsequent initiative following www.TheTruthAboutDaVinci.com, another online cultural apologetic response sponsored by Westminster that launched in May 2006 before the blockbuster debut of "The Da Vinci Code," the sequel to "Angels & Demons" and another runaway best-seller by Brown.

An Internet success, the Da Vinci site received nearly 730,000 visits during May 2006 alone, and has had more than 5.6 million page views to date. Additionally, if the terms "Da Vinci Code" are searched on Google, www.TheTruthAboutDaVinci.com ranks No. 8 out of over 13 million results.

Moreover, the site continues to experience frequent activity - over 27,000 visits were recorded in April 2009 - and its updated content correlates to and complements www.TruthAboutAngelsAndDemons.com.

"In the wake of 'The Da Vinci Code's' popularity, many people began to question the validity of the Bible's message and its influence throughout history," explains Dr. Vern Poythress, professor of New Testament interpretation at Westminster. "The Da Vinci Web site fostered doubt about doubt, which we also hope to again generate as it relates to 'Angels & Demons.'"

Westminster's site - www.TruthAboutAngelsAndDemons.com - will go live at 5 p.m. EDT on Wed., May 13. In addition to Edgar and Poythress, Dr. Peter Lillback, president of Westminster, contributed articles to the site. Director of Communications at Westminster, Jason Cuzzolina, will also serve as a spokesperson, articulating Westminster's purpose behind such a project.

A unique feature of www.TruthAboutAngelsAndDemons.com will be an interactive map of the so-called "Path of Illumination," a central element in the story's plot. Rumored to be a trail the Illuminati used to induct new members, the course involves four major locations in the city of Rome and plays a key role in a series of murder clues throughout the book. The site will also contain a bookstore of suggested readings for further study.

Westminster anticipates that "Angels & Demons" may provoke numerous questions such as: "Is the Bible true?" "Can science answer the ultimate questions?" "Is there evidence that God created the Earth?" "Who are the Illuminati?"

"Our aim with this new site is to follow the injunction of the apostle Peter, who encouraged the Church to be prepared to gently and respectfully 'make a defense' to those who question the hope they have," explains Lillback. "Whether an individual chooses to see the 'Angels & Demons' film, we trust this site will be a helpful resource and catalyst for people of faith to be better equipped to engage in spiritual conversation generated by this significant media and cultural event."