Posted on 03/15/2002 6:57:35 AM PST by OPS4
Wrong, my friend. It is NOT a fake. The leader of that 1978 expedition..........and still president of the Shroud of Turin Foundation, is Dr. Tom D'Muhala........who also happens to be a good friend and attends my church here in Raleigh, NC. He's a BRILLIANT scientist (physicist), and, in fact, will be giving another public presentation on the Shroud on March 27th here in Raleigh (he does these about once every year or so). It's fascinating stuff. In the past, I have posted threads on his presentations, sent videos of it to many, many FReepers around the country, etc. I will not attempt to duplicate all of that information in this reply. Suffice it to say that Tom knows what he's talking about, I know what I'm talking about, and you're dealing from extremely limited information (not a crime, mind you, but not the best of positions from which to cry "fraud", either).
Some people believe that religion - including Christianity - is about being successful at manipulating the supernatural realm. Whether it's potions, incantations, or spiritually-infused "relics", the underlying belief system is the same: having the right "stuff", or going through the right series of motions, somehow connects you to and allows you to manipulate supernatural forces.
The Shroud, real or fake, doesn't matter. The Bible isn't a magical book - it's an ethical book. Our relationship with God is based on our ethical standing before Him. No amount of relics, or icons, or potions, or incantations can change that. God is not some impersonal force that we can manipulate if we're skilled enough. The Shroud may very well be what some think it is - proof that Jesus was crucified for our sins, rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father and make intercession for us daily. If it's a 13th century fake, so what?
Jesus was still crucified for our sins, rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father and make intercession for us daily. Choose today whom you will serve.
Yet, although we abound in 21st century technology, we cannot duplicate this shroud.
A few years ago, four postage size samples were taken from the shroud for scientific examination. These samples were taken from areas which experienced fire damage in the 13-14th century. Seems the carbon dating would be invalid if this is the case.
We could also assume that He could just as easily confound skeptics.
‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ (Matthew 6:33)
"Once there was a change in our family situation. Our pet dog passed away and we salved our grief by acquiring a new one-a blue cattle pup. He was intelligent and very mischievous. We had a lot of fun with him. while he was small, he would amuse us by trying to catch his own tail and bite it. He would spy the tip of his tail out of the corner of his eye, and, readying himself, lunge at it, as if hunting prey. But of course, the more he pounced, the more his tail moved out of his reach. The only way a dog can really have its tail is to allow it to be an attachment to its main body. The tail comes along just fine, when it is not its owner's preoccupation."
"Jesus advises us that though there are many good and important things, only one can be most important-the kingdom of God and his righteousness. First things must come first. All of life, with its experiences, decisions and relationships, needs to be evaluated in light of the... highest ideal. When God is given pride of place, the machinery of existence operates at its best."
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