Relics of the ChristReligious relics, defined as Òeither portions of or objects connected with the body of a saint or other holy person,Ó 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 relicsÕ 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 worldÕs 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, Òextraordinary claims require extraordinary proof,Ó Nickell seeks only the truth. |
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Page 6
... mentioning Jesus is a later addition , possibly even a Christian forgery . The Roman historian Tacitus and the Roman man of letters Pliny the Younger make men- tion of Jesus in discussing the treatment of the early Christians . A ...
... mentioning Jesus is a later addition , possibly even a Christian forgery . The Roman historian Tacitus and the Roman man of letters Pliny the Younger make men- tion of Jesus in discussing the treatment of the early Christians . A ...
Page 26
... mention of how many there were . In Eastern tradition there were twelve , but because only three gifts were presented — gold , frankincense , and myrrh - Western tradition limit- ed the wise men to that number ; later , their names were ...
... mention of how many there were . In Eastern tradition there were twelve , but because only three gifts were presented — gold , frankincense , and myrrh - Western tradition limit- ed the wise men to that number ; later , their names were ...
Page 29
... mention of the preservation of Jesus ' relics in the New Testament , there are references to them in certain apoc- ryphal Gospels . The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ claims that an " old Hebrew woman " kept the infant ...
... mention of the preservation of Jesus ' relics in the New Testament , there are references to them in certain apoc- ryphal Gospels . The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ claims that an " old Hebrew woman " kept the infant ...
Page 41
Joe Nickell. silica over the tomb of some virgin martyrs - without mention of dates , names , or numbers . However , explains Coulson ( 1958 , 439 ) : This is the nucleus of fact underlying preposterous elaborations of legend beginning ...
Joe Nickell. silica over the tomb of some virgin martyrs - without mention of dates , names , or numbers . However , explains Coulson ( 1958 , 439 ) : This is the nucleus of fact underlying preposterous elaborations of legend beginning ...
Page 55
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Contents
1 | |
13 | |
26 | |
3 The Holy Grail | 50 |
4 SelfPortraits of Jesus | 67 |
5 The True Cross | 77 |
6 Other Crucifixion Relics | 96 |
7 Holy Shrouds | 111 |
9 Photograph of Christ | 139 |
10 The Sudarium of Oviedo | 154 |
11 Blood of Jesus | 167 |
12 The James Ossuary | 180 |
Conclusion | 191 |
References | 193 |
Index | 201 |
8 The Shroud of Turin | 122 |
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Common terms and phrases
According alleged allegedly altar ancient appeared artist authenticity author's collection Basilica bishop body bones burial Cathedral century chalice chapel chapter Christ Christian church claimed Constantine Constantinople Craveri crucified Crucifixion Crusades Cruz d'Arcis Da Vinci Code depicted discovered Encyclopaedia evidence expert faith fake figure forensic forgery France garment genuine Gospel Guscin Helena Holy Blood Holy Grail Holy Lance Holy Shroud image of Edessa imprinted inscription investigation James ossuary Januarius Jerusalem Jesus Jewish John Joseph King lance later Lazarus legend linen cloth Lirey Luke Mark Matthew McCrone medieval miraculous nails Nickell Oviedo cloth painted patina photo by author piece pilgrims pious placed pollen Priory of Sion quoted radiocarbon relics reliquary reported reportedly reputed Roman Rome saints samples Shroud of Turin sindon Skeptical Inquirer Spear of Destiny story STURP sudarium sudarium of Oviedo supposedly Thiede and d'Ancona tion Titulus tomb True Cross veneration Veronica Vinci Code Whanger Wilson
Popular passages
Page 111 - And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave.
Page 14 - God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
Page 14 - He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah?
Page 15 - And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men ; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha : and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha. he revived, and stood up on his feet.
Page 15 - And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul : so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
Page 111 - Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
Page 99 - And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
Page 14 - Elijah ? and when he also had smitten the waters they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.