Jabba chimes in. (BTW Jabba also has an interesting comment about the tablecloth controversy.):
– My comment here is based upon only a “light” reading of the debate so far, so no one should take it too seriously. But then, for what it’s worth…
– I tend to think that a corona discharge type of event accounts for the image better than does any other explanation (though, I need to study that further).
– And then, while I wouldn’t be surprised if the image is the product of totally “natural” events, neither would I be surprised if at least part of the image formation is what we would call “supernatural.” Though also, I halfway suspect that what we currently call “supernatural” (ESP, Precognition, etc.) is just not currently understood, and will someday be considered quite “natural” — quantum mechanics may be pointing the way.
– But also, I doubt that “faith” needs to be blind. In fact, I suspect that it should NOT be TOTALLY blind. (Not to dismiss their claims out of hand, but if blind faith were all that were needed, we could easily be tied into the Quran, or The Book of Mormon, instead of the Bible.) I sort of suspect that faith always requires something of a “leap,” but some of us can leap further than can others of us. For me, being a short leaper, the Shroud (whether natural, or supernatural) has been of significant help. I am “naturally” drawn to the other side, and since I began seriously studying the Shroud, my possibility of actually making that crossing has grown by LEAPS AND BOUNDS. (Trying to be cute, that last sentence was stretching a little, but the Shroud does seem to have added significantly to my suspicion that Jesus really was the prophesied Jewish Messiah.)– You’ve gotta admit — this is exciting stuff!
The Ron and Yannick Shroud of Turin Image Discussion « Shroud of Turin Blog
I know Jabba personally via email exchanges and he sent me this same message yesterday. Here’s my answer to him (that could be good for anyone else) :
If you really want to study the question further, buy the book of Rogers and read it carefully. There a part in his book where he comment specifically about the hypothesis of Corona discharge. And don’t forget, Rogers was an expert in the field of radiations. I’m sure of one thing : If he would have thought 2 seconds that the image was generated by some kind of radiation or electric discharge, he would have told us. It wasn’t the case at all ! All he wrote was against this possibility. At least, buy the book and see for yourself ! It’s the best scientific book I’ve ever read about the Shroud.
If it would be proved one day that the image was generated by a process involving quantum mechanics, then it wouldn’t be a supernatural event ! What I think is that science for the moment is not able to fully understand the image because there’s too much unknown surrounding it. And maybe these unknown data will make that we’ll never be able to fully understand the image formation process… At least, I’m confident that a new series of direct testings on the Shroud will resolve many issues surrounding it and we’ll be able to understand way better the image on the cloth. Another I’m sure of is the fact that nature is really surprising sometimes !!!
Because I think the Shroud is genuine, I had to ask myself why God wanted to let an imprint of his Son on a Shroud ? I think the main purpose of this is, for the Holy spirit, to reach many doubters and made them think ! I also think one other purpose (and it worked for me) is to give more strenght to my faith and also, to provide the most incredible Icon of the passion and death of Christ to help our meditation. Also, for me, it is some kind of a proof of the Incarnation of God and that’s important !