The Jesus Tomb Fraud

[Nutrider99]

This "documentary" is just another attempt by the left to destroy people's faith in God. Great article, though.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/03/examining_the_jesus_tomb_evide.html
Examining the 'Jesus Tomb' Evidence
By Jay Cost (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/author/jay_cost/)

I. Introduction

In 1980 an ancient tomb was found in Talpiot, a Jerusalem neighborhood. It contained 10 ossuaries (bone boxes) dated roughly to the time of Jesus of Nazareth. One was inscribed "Jesus son of Joseph," two were inscribed with slightly different versions of "Mary," one with a slightly different version of "Joseph," one with "Matthew," and one with "Judah son of Jesus." Four bore no inscriptions and which went missing. Last night , Simcha Jacobovici, Charles Pellegrino, and James Cameron presented a Discovery Channel documentary that argues that this tomb belongs to Jesus of Nazareth (henceforth just Jesus), whom Christians believe is the resurrected Son of God.

The documentarians' claim is not valid. The Cameron-sponsored Jesus Family Tomb proffers a specious claim based upon bad theory, bad statistics, and bad history. A careful examination of their evidence demands that their claim be rejected...

[Wyatt_Junker]

I don't think James Cameron is stupid, but he may very well be.


II. Chemical Evidence?
Several years ago, an ossuary was found, independent of Talpiot that bears the inscription, "James son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." The antiquities dealer behind the "James" ossuary is currently on trial in Israel for running a forgery ring. Nevertheless, many scholars believe that the "James" ossuary is legitimate and that it will be vindicated. This is the position of the documentarians, who further claim that the "James" ossuary is the missing tenth ossuary.

Their evidence is twofold: (1) the size of the "James" ossuary is the size of the ossuary from Talpiot, and (2) the chemical residue, or patina, found on the "James" ossuary is consistent with the chemical residue on the ossuaries from Talpiot

Jerusalem is the epicenter of a gullible tourist industry; streetcorner chochtchke vendors, 'holy' water for sale, fabric prayed over by Paul which you can purchase.

And the key here, the real motivator is that if you can pull off a hoax, you can rake it in big time. If you can get the pilgrims to your shrine, all those Catholics, all those Presbyters, etc. etc. KA-CHING...

Jerusalem is rife with cons and historical ad libs as well as outright counterfeit sites, tombs and walkways. Indeed, it was the place where Jesus walked, however, today it is the place where people try to bottle the very dirt that he touched.

And James Cameron is just the latest Jerusalem con man who is trying to take it abroad and not just sell it in the city. The Magdalene marriage theory is old hat, but that won't stop every generation from trying to peddle their claim for cash.