Relics of the ChristUniversity Press of Kentucky, 16 mar. 2007 - 232 pagini Religious relics, defined as "either portions of or objects connected with the body of a saint or other holy person," are among the most revered items in the world. Christian relics such as the Holy Grail, the True Cross, and the Lance of Longinus are also the source of limitless controversy. Such items have incited people to bloodshed and, some say, have been a source of miracles. Relics inspire fear and hope among the faithful and yet are a perennial target for skeptics, both secular and Christian. To research the authenticity of numerous Christian relics, Joe Nickell takes a scientific approach to a field of study all too often tainted by premature conclusions. In this volume, Nickell investigates such renowned relics as the Shroud of Turin, the multiple heads of John the Baptist, and the supposedly incorruptible corpses of saints, first examining the available evidence and documented history of each item. From accounts of true believers to the testimony of the relics' alleged fabricators, Nickell then presents all sides of each story, allowing the evidence to speak for itself. For each relic, Nickell evaluates both the corroborating and contradictory bodies of evidence and explores whether the relic and attributed miracles can be reconstructed. In addition to his own experiments, Nickell presents findings from the world's top scientists and historians regarding these controversial objects of reverence and ire, explaining the circumstances under which each case was examined. Radiocarbon dating and tests to determine the validity of substances such as blood or patina indicate a variety of possible origins. Nickell even reveals some of the techniques used to create archaeological forgeries and explains how investigators have exposed them. Each relic is a mystery to be solved; guided by the maxim, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof," Nickell seeks only the truth. |
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... appeared. Specifically, I want to thank Timothy Binga, director of CFI Libraries, for research assistance; Thomas Flynn, editor of Free Inquiry, for help in various ways; and Paul E. Loynes for word processing. I appreciate all the ...
... appeared to either Joseph (Matthew 1:20–24) or Mary (Luke 1:26–38); see figure I.1. Only Matthew (2:1–3) tells of “wise men” (Magi) from the east who are led by a star to “worship” Jesus, born in Bethlehem, as “King of the Jews.” Only ...
... appeared for a time on earth in human form—like the Egyptian god Osiris, for example (Price 2003, 286–89; Encyclopaedia Britannica 1960, s.v. “Jesus Christ”). Certainly, stories of Jesus' magical prowess increased after his death, and ...
... appearance through the striking image imprinted on it. Moreover, if the image were indeed caused by a miraculous burst of radiant energy (as even some scientists have suggested), it would offer proof of what is otherwise exclusively a ...
... appeared early in both Eastern and Western church practices (Encyclopaedia Britannica 1960, s.v. “Relics”). The. Origin. of. Relics. Early Christians believed that the bodies of the dead—or, by extension, objects that had touched them—had ...
Cuprins
The Holy Grail | |
The Antioch chalice | |
SelfPortraits of Jesus | |
Face of Christ imprinted on cloth | |
Jesus dies on a cross | |