Dealer arrested in Jesus relic forgery

AP ^ | Thursday, July 24, 2003

[presidio9]

Police have arrested an Israeli antiquities dealer suspected of creating two forgeries that shook the religious and archaeological world, including a burial box purported to be that of Jesus's brother James.

Oded Golan also is suspected in connection with a shoebox-sized tablet inscribed with forged instructions for caring for the Jewish Temple.

[Pontiac]

Golan last year told a French collector about the two disputed artifacts, which raised questions from the start. After exhaustive studies, the Israel Antiquities Authority declared that they were forgeries last month.

The Jews on the Israel Antiquities Authority would have a vested interest in debunking proof of Jesus existence.

I am not saying the ‘James ossuary" is authentic only that the Jewish hierarchy would find it inconvenient to admit that Jesus was more than a legend.

[presidio9]

The Jews on the Israel Antiquities Authority would have a vested interest in debunking proof of Jesus existence.

Even if the artifact were genuine, it would never have prooved Jesus's existence. All it would have told us was that was once a guy named James who may have had a brother named Jesus. I doubt Isreal felt very threatened by this.

[wysiwyg]

The burial box, or ossuary, bore the inscription, "James, the brother of Jesus," leading to speculation that it referred to the brother of Jesus of Nazareth.

The actual inscription reads "Jacob son of Joseph brother of Joshua." See Official Report on the James Ossuary for evidence of it being a forgery. The last part of the inscription was carved by a different person than the rest of the inscription.

[Pontiac]

All it would have told us was that was once a guy named James who may have had a brother named Jesus.

I have read some articles on this very thought. It was unusual for inscriptions on these boxes to mention brothers unless the brother was of great importance. It was more typical to only list the father.

Therefor the brother Jesus would necessarily have had to be of some importance. How many Jesus of note were there in the first century?

[presidio9]

Therefor the brother Jesus would necessarily have had to be of some importance.

Wrong. Could POSSIBLY have been of some importance. You could not actually KNOW the inscriber's reason for putting it on there.

[RicocheT]

Forger or not, I'm on Oded Golan's side. At least the Jesus brother bone box got the theme of Christianity into the mainstream press. The press usually never mentions Christian or church events. The articles talked about the early church and raised interesting issues. Let Oded out to fake a few fish signs and crosses too.

[Pontiac]

You could not actually KNOW the inscriber's reason for putting it on there.

I can not know the motives of any man. (living or dead) I can only review his actions, his writings (if any) and the writings about him (if any) of those who know/knew him. Having studied the a for mentioned, one must then consider the culture in which the man lives/lived in order to place his actions in the context of the cultural norms. Having done all of these things (to the extent possible) one can reasonably surmise the motives of the average man for a common act.

[presidio9]

Right, but the box would never constitute so-called "proof." I know Jesus was a real person because I talk to Him every day.

[rmlew]

Who is denying the existance of Jesus of Nazareth?
Jews deny that he is the Messiah, the Son of God, 1/3 of God, or all of the above.

[B Knotts]

FYI PING

[Old Professer]

That and an animal crackers' boxtop will get you a front-row seat in bedlam in some societies.

[First Amendment]

Don't listen to the Old Professor! I know God exists because I talk to Him every day too! And if we keep it up, we can sometimes hear Him talk to us! And if the Old Professor would give up his pride, he could join in the fun.

[Polycarp]

Here's to you, Berned, wherever you are.

[Polycarp]

Thanks for the ping. We rest our case.