Thoughts on the possibility that Jesus and Mary Magdalene's remains have been found.?

Question

Check out the NYTimes article. Personally this article supports my own belief structure.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/us/27jesus.html?em&ex=1172811600&en=c6dadbed52f0c33f&ei=5087%0A

People, please actually read the article before you respond. Also remember that the NYTimes is considered to be one of the best news resources our country has to offer. It's not Fox.

Also, I don't think Dan Brown write the times article.

Answer 1

That is a pretty fair article.

I have read the case, and they have better sourcing than the Bible. There is also limited testable physical evidence to back it up. That ain't a real high standard, but it is still more evidence that there was a Jesus at all than the book that Christians follow, and since I already wouldn't argue against a historical Jesus it is quite fair for me to argue that this is what it looks like.

I have also read what little I could find on the case against. I am sure there will be more later. It was pretty hard to follow because I don't have an advanced degree in writing styles, but they were arguing style and the date because of the style. The guys site that was against it was more than fair because he had about 10 pages of back and forth emails with three guys on the other side. I have no idea who was right and it could probably be argued forever. I know for sure that he was well credentialed, didn't seem to have a bias, and thought it dated 9th century which means no way.

One thing that I have not been able to find, that I am sure was done was radiological dating. I haven't seen a single test result here, but that would go a long way to deciding the paragraph above. C14 dating is certainly accurate enough to decide 800 years difference 2000 years ago.

The write ups are pretty short on details because they want you to watch the show on Sunday, but you can bet I will watch. Let me say that right now I think there is slightly more chance than not that they have exactly what they say they have. The guys doing it have a little too much of a reputation to risk it without at least a solid case.

The big thing is there is a ton more evidence that I have already seen than for claims like they found the Ark. If this agreed with Christian ideas they would already have this guy up for a Nobel Prize.

Answer 2

Mav find the following quotes for article interesting

However, the documentary’s director and its driving force, Simcha Jacobovici, an Israeli-born Canadian, said there was enough mitochondrial DNA for a laboratory in Ontario to conclude that the bodies in the “Jesus” and “Mary Magdalene” ossuaries were not related on their mothers’ side. From this, Mr. Jacobovici deduced that they were a couple, because otherwise they would not have been buried together in a family tomb.
In an interview, Mr. Jacobovici was asked why the filmmakers did not conduct DNA testing on the other ossuaries to determine whether the one inscribed “Judah, son of Jesus” was genetically related to either the Jesus or Mary Magdalene boxes; or whether the Jesus remains were actually the offspring of Mary.
“We’re not scientists. At the end of the day we can’t wait till every ossuary is tested for DNA,” he said. “We took the story that far. At some point you have to say, ‘I’ve done my job as a journalist.’ ”

I thought journalists were to find the truth, he thought he was scientist enough to have DNA conducted on “Jesus” and “Mary Magdalene” but not to verify “Judah, son of Jesus”

Yet he and James Cameron want to state these things as fact. The timing of it all (right before Easter) also sounds a little fishy to me also.

As far as the New York Times being the ‘one of the best’ – you are mistaken, at one time, it had integrity, at one time it was about the news, now it as opinionated and self glorifying as any other news organization out there.

Answer 3

The controversy surrounding this documentary illustrates a very important point. Christians will never accept proof that their religion is a lie. Now I'm not saying that a coffin with the name "Jesus" on it is proof, I'm saying that no matter what the proof is, Christians will never believe it.

Here we have a documentary that examines the possibility that two coffins found in Jerusalem might belong to Jesus and Mary. And immediately Christians are screaming that it's a plot by the Devil to try and disrupt their religious beliefs. These people are nuts. They are like lunatics in an asylum who think that everyone that doesn't see the invisible pink unicorns is part of a vast conspiracy against them. And so they stick their fingers in their ears, close their eyes, and scream. La La La La La!!!!!

Answer 4

If, by some odd chance, it can be proven to be true, it will sure put a lot of religious leaders out of work. Maybe, this could force them to find an honest job, and stop extorting tithes from a gullible populace. If, as is accepted, the man was born and died, he must have been buried somewhere, and the spirit part ascended. The bible was written by many people over a period of several centuries, so should be respected as well as questioned. Personally, doubt that any proof would be allowed to surface, as it would disrupt the status quo. Best wishes

Answer 5

Here's what a genuine archaeologist, who is also an atheist says:

"I'm not a Christian. I'm not a believer. I don't have a dog in this fight," said William G. Dever, who has been excavating ancient sites in Israel for 50 years and is widely considered the dean of biblical archaeology among U.S. scholars. "I just think it's a shame the way this story is being hyped and manipulated. ... I've known about these ossuaries for many years and so have many other archaeologists, and none of us thought it was much of a story, because these are rather common Jewish names from that period," he said. "It's a publicity stunt, and it will make these guys very rich, and it will upset millions of innocent people because they don't know enough to separate fact from fiction."

Answer 6

The bible account gives the answer. Early that Sunday morning after Jesus' death, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, along with Salome, Joanna, and other women, brought spices to the tomb to treat Jesus’ body. En route they said to one another: “Who will roll the stone away from the door of the memorial tomb for us?” But on arriving, they find that an earthquake has occurred and God’s angel rolled the stone away. The guards are gone, and the tomb is empty! So if you believe in the Bible over the stupidity of men, this is the answer.

Answer 7

Not happening.
Jesus resurrected, no bones left here.
It is another of those D code things.
It is interesting that the people who come up with these things get very rich.
They know how to get that money.

There was a movie Agnes of God.
The Catholic Church banned the movie.
People were stepping on each other to get in to see the movie.
If the Catholic church had not said anything it wouldn't have made so much money.
People love what they are told not to see or do. That which is denied you, you crave all the more.

Answer 8

Good question Im shocked no one has asked it yet!
When your looking for something in particular your mind will believe what you want it to believe.It is very likely not. The inscriptions on the tomb have been translated as Jesus *(by the finders) and way different names by religious historians.
We all know Jesus lives on today so don't get too distracted by T.V and documentaries.

Answer 9

I should have thought of this. What a great hoax to get a bunch of money out of ignorant people. These have already been investigated by some well-respected archeolgoists to be fake. It's just another shame in order for some attention and money. And it's working quiet well.

Answer 10

Folks like Chippi108 would be ecstatic if that story was true.

I haven't heard that any remains have been found...only an ancient box. So where are the remains?
This story is a great hoax; as big as the Davinci nonsense.