Today, August 29, 2012, Friends in Christ (Primitive Quakers) reproduced “My Lord and My God,” an article from a 2004 issue of a Quaker publication The Call . It offers an interesting and not unexpected perspective:
That is how things stand in what can only be considered a fascinating endeavour of religious archaeology. But what if it could be taken further? What if the archaeological equivalent of, say, Joseph of Arimathaea’s laundry-mark was found on the shroud, or a provenance for the Oviedo kerchief in the handwriting of the apostle Peter? Would that confer any kind of legitimacy on the current holder of either relic? Would either suddenly acquire miraculous properties? Would either prove what the Bible says about the death and resurrection of Jesus?
All of the above would be claimed – make no mistake about it – but the answer to the above questions is certainly “No”. Would there be, notwithstanding, and increase in religious fervour, attracting new devotees to the relics? Almost certainly yes!
I think I see…Bullwinkle and Rocky on the Shroud!
It is very easy for them, with no apostolic tradition, and guilty about it, to make indirect assertions in order to justify their own stand.