This past week, NBC News did a report on The archaeology of Christianity. It included several topics including First reference to Christ?, Turning water to wine, Nailed to the cross, Wrapped in a cloth, Laid to rest, The baptism cave, The bones of St. Paul and Early worship in Israel. Here is what was said about the Shroud of Turin:
A long piece of cloth, or a shroud, kept under close guard at a cathedral in Turin, Italy, is believed by many to be the burial cloth that was wrapped around the crucified Jesus. Scientific interest in the shroud began in earnest when negatives from a 1898 photograph revealed the image of man who appears to have suffered a crucifixion. Since then, biblical scholars, archaeologists and the faithful have hotly debated the authenticity of the so-called Shroud of Turin.
Vatican-approved carbon-dating tests on fibers taken from the cloth in 1988 indicated that the shroud dated to medieval times — ranging from 1260 to 1390. Scientists concluded that the claims about Jesus’ image were an elaborate hoax. Other studies have since argued that the dated fibers were from a repaired section of the cloth and that the carbon dates were therefore invalid.
Other evidence supporting the authenticity of shroud includes pollen residues on the cloth that are unique to Israel and Turkey, indicating it must have spent time in those countries. In support of the skeptics, a second burial shroud that dates to the time of Jesus is of a completely different style than the Turin shroud.
At least the repaired section and the pollen is mentioned.
“In support of the skeptics, a second burial shroud that dates to the time of Jesus is of a completely different style than the Turin shroud.”
In our modern society, we sometimes have oak coffins, walnut, pine and even cardboard, and even urns with ashes! I’m not sure if they bury Maori royalty in totara or matai! What’s an archaeologist of the future to conclude? One cardboard coffin doesn’t invalidate walnut! One 1st century Judaic plain Shroud doesn’t invalidate an expensive linen Shroud from the same culture! Not until the 2nd century did it become fashionable for plain weave shrouds, after Gamaliel II set an example for others to follow. NBC struggling to strike a “balanced” news item!!??
off topic, but I’m interested in challenging the so-called conventional wisdom about the “wrist wound”. According to my measurements on Shroud scope, the placement of the wound would sit pretty much in the middle of the back of my hand, if I measure back from the finger tips, some 4-5cms above the wrist. So what is the basis for it being on the wrist?
Now this doesn’t mean authenticity is dispelled, of course.
Also, according to my measurement, the fingers on the Shroud man are NOT super long either, in fact they are very similar to my own
That is a fairly good, short synopsis. I like the wording referring to skeptics “in support” since the fact it is a different style cloth has no bearing on the issue, as Dave points out. I think, Dave, it really shows a lack of objectivity on the side of the skeptic with that wording.
I agree with you Dave. How someone can spin the finding of a plain weave cloth as proof against the Shroud is nonsense. It is clearly written in Scripture, “Joseph of Arimathea, A RICH MAN PURCHASED A FINE LINEN CLOTH”. The Scripture itself lets us know that the cloth was not plain and not ordinary. In fact, Joseph was a Pharisee, he had access to the temple and the temple store. The high priest was commanded in Deuteronomy before entering the Holy of Holies to perform the sacrifice, to take off his ordinary clothes and put on clothing made of “fine twisted linen” which represented the holiness of God. Seems likely that the Shroud was made of fine twisted linen (3:1 herringbone twill with a Z twist) and was purchased directly from the Temple. Joseph was sending us a message. He knew who Jesus was, and he IMO, purchased linen worthy of a high priest about to enter the Holy of Holies.
Gentlemen, it is NBC and that is enough to say for those who watch them and others and can compare.
They have an agenda.
NBC is still on the air?!?!?! ;)
This is funny, the people at NBC did not read the Gospel accounts before commenting and seem to have assumed that there was just one store, some sort of Marks & Spencer, where burial cloths could be obtained.
Didn’t they know that Marks & Spencer close after mid-day on Preparation Day?
They probably didn’t bother to check that either because M&S doesn’t advertise with them.