I have read experts say it’s authentic, I have read experts say it’s fake, I have read experts say they don’t know.
Carbon-dating tests were conducted on the cloth in 1988 and suggested it was from between 1260 and 1390, other scientists have since claimed that contamination over the ages, from water damage and fire, were not taken sufficiently into account and could have distorted the results.
As a result of controversy and the fact that dating techniques have improved significantly since the 1988 tests were done, there have been numerous calls for further testing but the Vatican has always refused.
I have read extensively on the Shroud. Barrie Schwortz,a member of the original STURP team has a web site, www.shroud.com that has a wealth of information. I have a few books on the Shroud research.
With today's technology it can't be proven to be the burial cloth of Jesus. But the research also has not yet shown how it could have been "faked." There is no way with today's technology how one could create the image. If you can catch it, watch the show on the History channel on the Shroud. It is fascinating.
It is my belief it is indeed the burial cloth of Jesus. Most researchers who have concluded it is the burial cloth of Jesus, believe it is the image of the Resurrection.
“I have read experts say it’s authentic, I have read experts say it’s fake, I have read experts say they don’t know.”
Trend for almost all similar ancient relicy Catholic stuff, though? This one’s probably fake, just like almost every other one.
Whether it is real or a fake is irrelevant. It is an icon and its authenticity has no bearing on my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
Nor should it matter to anyone else. One of history's myriad oddities. Nothing more.
Clearly, the experts were right.