Recently I have seen this story pop up across the web in various forms. So it is my turn pitch my opinion.

I am going to embark down a path I rarely discuss because the subject of religion like sex can have oh so many views and opinions. Not to mention meanings. However I have to speak forward on Michelangelo, who in my view was one of the greatest artist of all time and reading books about his art and his life has always inspired me.

When the book the Da Vinci Code was released I was right there getting my copy and when the movie staring Tom Hanks hit the theater I was one of the first see it. The reason was the master of all masters was on center stage or at the vary least the center of the story.

So when I recently read the article “Did Michelangelo Have a Hidden Agenda?”  By Cathryn Drake | Special to the Wall Street Journal, I had to take notice.

Michelangelo and mysteries have become common place these days and it seams we have another mystery on our hands or should I say coauthors Vatican docent Roy Doliner and Rabbi Benjamin Blech have one. Their new book “The Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo's Forbidden Messages in the Heart of the Vatican” claims he embedded subversive messages in his spectacular frescoes.

On the 500th anniversary of the artist's first climb up the ladder in 1508 to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling, Michelangelo is yet again in the middle of controversy.

Like the Da Vinci Code (fictional story) Scandal and deceit is married with religion and art. In the 1500’s the church was a formable power and one did not say no to the Pope. So I can certainly understand why Michelangelo might have included subtle reference or symbolism buried within his art.

At this point in history does it really matter? The major religions have all declared they are the only one with claim to fame where God is concerned. Wars continue to rage in portions of the world all based on religious ideology and some governments contend to rule the world because of their understanding of their religion.

Art is like religion in that every individual has his or her own interpretation. So regardless if Michelangelo painted or included subversive messages buried in his art, Michelangelo is still in my view one of the great masters of all time.