Jesus Tomb Discovered in Jerusalem

[Havoc]

Time to spice the forum up with MORE (yes more!) religious debate! Apparently they found a tomb with boxes containing dead people with names on it: Jesus, Maria and Jodah... the son of Jezus.

Christian victory (SEE! TOLD YOU HE EXISTED!!)
Or Christian downfall (But apparently he wasn't quite that immortal now was he?)
???


The Article:

Jerusalem (dpa) - The makers of a new documentary, to be aired for the first time at a news conference in New York Monday, claim that a tomb found in a Jerusalem cave 36 years ago belongs to none other than Jesus Christ.

The claim presented in the documentary is based on years of research by world-renowned archaeologists, statisticians, experts in ancient scripts and in DNA, the Israeli Yediot Ahronot daily Friday quoted the makers as saying in an exclusive interview.

The documentary, titled "The Burial Cave of Jesus," is a joint production by Israeli-born Canadian documentary maker Simcha Jacobovici and three-time-Oscar-winning Canadian film director James Cameron (Titanic, The Terminator).

The 2000-year-old cave had already been discovered in 1980 in Jerusalem's Talpiyot neighbourhood. In it were 10 coffins, six of which bore inscriptions, which - translated into English - included the names "Jesus son of Joseph," twice "Maria," and "Judah son of Jesus."

The second Maria is hypothesized to be Maria Magdalene, while the tomb bearing the name Judah could indicate Jesus had a son.

If true, the find could be one of the most significant in the history of archeology and shake the Christian world.

But the senior Israeli archaeologist who thoroughly researched the tombs after their discovery, and at the time deciphered the inscriptions, cast serious doubt on it.

"It's a beautiful story but without any proof whatsoever," Professor Amos Kloner, who had published the findings of his research in the Israeli periodical Atigot in 1996, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa Friday.

"The names that are found on the tombs are names that are similar to the names of the family of Jesus," he conceded.

"But those were the most common names found among Jews in the first centuries BCE and CE," he added.

Kloner dismissed the combination of names found in the cave as a "coincidence."

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), which is keeping the caskets in its archive in the town of Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem, declined to comment on the documentary, saying it had not researched the caskets and that its duty was only to safeguard them.

The IAA nevertheless sent two of the caskets to the news conference in New York.

The documentary, which took three years to make, is to be broadcast on the World Discovery Channel, Britain's Channel 4, Canada's Vision and Israel's Channel 8, which participated in its production.


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DEBATE!

[moxco]

Thats interesting, I havn't herd it on the news.

[Munch's Master]

Interesting indeed. If it is the genuine tomb, it is both a great day for Christians since they've found where Jesus was buried, but also a bad day, as it proves he did indeed have a wife and child which the Church denyed, which means either a descendant of God could be alive now, or Jesus wasn't the Savior. I'm not saying what the case is, nor am I stating an opinion as I can't formulate one yet, I'm just throwing out the facts- Christianity will be changed forever if this is genuine.

[Arxryl]

That is very true MM. It could be very great, or a huge religious shake for Christianity.

Or... it could just be a big hoax. No one knows for sure. Even the archeaologist seemed to be doubtful about this find. But... if it is genuine, it may change a lot.

[Patrick Vykkers]

I'm skeptical. I'd be more convinced of its genuinity if it was marked Yeshua. Also, I get a feeling this documentary is just another pop theology attempt to make $$$ by jumping on the anti Catholic/mainstream Christian/pro Gnostic bandwagon. Also, outside of atheist kook circles, there was never really a serious debate on his existance, that a man of his description lived in Israel in the first century AD.

[snuzi]

Heh, I'm certainly interested to see how the Christians will handle this one. I mean, it doesn in a way support their faith, but at the same time it screws them over.

I am so eager to see how they'll spin this into a victory for their religion.

Cue Bitter Buffalo...

[Patrick Vykkers]

How the hell does discovering a tomb with Jesus ashes and marked wife and son benefit Christianity?

[snuzi]

Well, in a way, it proves that their being faithful served a purpose, as evidence of their "savior" supposedly eists.

But, as I said, at the same time, it screws 'em over, seeing as how their "savior" had a wife and child. Something that they denied vehemently, and regarded as blasphemy.

[Patrick Vykkers]

As I said, the debate on Christ's existance (which is different from his divinity) has been a closed one looong before this alleged tomb was ever found.

[snuzi]

Well, nonetheless, it does support their faith, I suppose.

I, myself, however am still quite sketpical of these claims. Plus, all they're going to do is stir up trouble, as religious findings usually do .

[Arxryl]

But, as I said, at the same time, it screws 'em over, seeing as how their "savior" had a wife and child. Something that they denied vehemently, and regarded as blasphemy.

The thought has never occured to me that he could have had a son or a wife or that it was awkward that he might not have. But, would that really make him less of a religious figure? I mean really...

Okay, sure it may have some stupid people act like their heads got chopped off, but... for those who really believe in Christianity, I don't think this will change a lot for them.

As for the bandwagon of people who don't really believe, and just say they are christians... yeah. They'll still act like chickens with their heads cut off.

And also, who says that this is the Jesus that most of the Christian belief is based off of? It could be anyone who thought that their son should be named Jesus. Or maybe they mis-translated. Or maybe they just want money. there are thousands of reasons/ possible explanations for this.

However the documentary would be an interesting watch.

[snuzi]

Eh, it might make him a less religious figure from their point of view, seeing as how they always defended against any claims of him having a wife, or even a child. I, myself, don't think it's a big deal, I mean, in their culture, men were supposed to be married long before they reached his age. But, it may make all the difference to them and what they stand for. I honestly don't know.

I think it's too much a coincidence that he was buried with two Marias, and his tomb said "Jesus, son of Joseph", to believe that this was another random individual who just happened to be named Jesus. I mean, I have my doubts about the entire thing, but, that seems a little bit to exact for me to deny.

[Arxryl]

Exactly. I myself am a Christian, and this doesn't really phase me too much.

And yes, the authenticity of this tomb is somewhat in question, but still it is very awkward to have the name Jesus on a tomb. I still have my doubts though...

[Leto]

You know, this probably spells my falling out with this forums, but my ****ing Christ am I sick to pissing death of debates like this.

[snuzi]

I know what you mean. They're kind of becomming repetetive, as most of the points made in previous debates continue to resurface in a truly monotonous manner. You can only argue the same point so many times.

[used:)]

Consider it an interesting notion rather than a dormant debate.

[Leto]

I know what you mean.

If you truly meant that you wouldn't of posted your points in here.

And @Gabey: truetrue, but the inevitable debated shakes my rattlesnakes.

I better leave before Havoc flops his modstick in my gums.

[snuzi]

If you truly meant that you wouldn't of posted your points in here.

Well, my points haven't been stated before in the religious debates on here, as far as I know. Besides, though they may be repetitive, these debates almost always turn out to be fun .

[used:)]

And here we go, a debate in a religious thread. Ah how humanity is doomed to repeat its mistakes even after it's learned the lesson not to.

[Mojo]

Maybe they were spanish tourists who were buried there?

And Jodah?


"Mmm, hung from a cross, my daddy was, MMM!"

[Bullet Magnet]

To say that I have my doubts about the authenticity of their claims is an understatement.

The documentary itself seems to be nothing more than a controversial attempt to cause problems, and that irritates me.

[Fluid]

havoc you are trying so hard to prove someone that god doesn't exict.... just ignore that... thrue atheist would......


jesus equal santa....

[Bitter Buffalo]

Well, that's not a very intelligent thing to say. Jesus is very real and lives through the hearts and minds of all christians.

[Leto]

Santa lives through the heart and mind of every child.

But agreeing with Fluid... just makes me feel dirty.

[Nate]

Random fact of the day: The plural of 'Jesus' is 'Jesii' and the collective noun is a 'Rapture'.

No, I don't know who works these things out.