Oh, that reminds me. How’s the Shroud of Turin doing?
4 thoughts on “Lost Tomb of Jesus?”
Modern man views everything through the lens of scientific proofs, including the writings of the Bible. That’s why I think we have so many unbelievers and doubters today. God, faith, spirituality, are so much bigger, deeper, grander than we can possibly grasp. These are the Truths…while modern man worries and picks at all the little truths, — fretting that if one little thing comes undone for them as not absolutely scientifically true, then their whole faith, their whole belief in the Bible would unravel.
Post-modern theology is not based upon “either/or” rigidity of thinking. It’s much broader and more inclusive, leaving room for the Mysteries of faith we don’t understand, and probably never will in this world. We can learn to grow into feeling comfortable not having the answers to everything. Do we really think we can capture God in a box anyway, or pin Him down like a butterfly for scientific examination dissection?
It’s the overall Principles of faith that are the important meat of the Bible, not the “adiaphora” (i.e., “not of central importance”) myriad details. That’s why “errors” or “contradictory information” in the Bible that agnostics or athiests point to don’t bother me. The Evolution of the Universe, and the species on this planet, serve to heighten my reverence for a grand Creator. Although we measure a day in 24 hours length, it seems presumptuous to insist that as the stars and planets and moons and our own sun were first being formed, God was using the same yardstick to measure time.
I’m unfazed by debates over whether baptism should be performed on infants or those of the age of consent. I have no problem with various denominations sharing communion, no matter what their beilefs are about the bread and the wine. I don’t care if Jesus married Mary Magdalene, or married both Mary AND Martha, and had children. It wouldn’t bother me if I learned that Jesus rose from the dead, but then having fulfilled his Father’s mission, went off into the desert somewhere to live out a quiet life with a wife and kids…and then died a natural death. I don’t CARE if the bones that were found were Jesus’ or not. It would not make my faith and dedication to the Gospel and “the Great Commission” of Jesus any less real or deep.
The mission of Jesus was to help people to restore a broken connection with God, – a disconnect as a result of their own turning away, their own sinfulness. As Martin Luther pointed out, we are saved by grace through faith, – it’s a free gift. But as we are sinful people prone to guilt, I think a lot of folks would have trouble forgiving themselves unless somebody else – Jesus – “took the rap” of punishment. In short, Jesus created a bridge between God and mankind.
There is a trilogy of books by Brian D. McLaren that are real cutting edge stuff – “post” modern – about the nature of God and Christianity:
A New Kind of Christian
The Story We Find Ourselves In
The Last Word and the Word After That
For people with nagging doubts, stuck-point dilemmas about faith, for Seekers of faith, and those who are open to broadening their faith horizons, these books have much to offer. Although they are not for happy fundamentalist Christians who don’t like their literal interpretation beliefs challenged, – i.e., if you are happy and dedicated in the faith the way you are, God bless you and don’t bother wasting your time with McLaren’s books, which will just anger and upset you. We can just live and let live, loving and respecting one another.
Thank you, Chris. Looks like interesting reading, and very well presented. The tomb may have belonged to somebody named Jesus, but from what I’ve read so far, most archaeologists and historians seem to agree that the name is as far as the connection goes.
I’ve written a comprehensive rebuttal to claims and evidence of this film. Please read it and decide for yourself.
Lot of critics (some not even Chrisitans) are saying that James Cameron, the producer (he did a little picture called “Titanic”), is grandstanding again, as he did with the underwater Titanic shots Jewish scholars point out that all the names on the ossuaries were extremely common at the time, and they were found far away from the spot where Jesus lay for three days before he rose again, WITH his human body. There was nothing left in the tomb. On the improbable chance that they can prove this is the real deal, I don’t think most Christians will take it to heart.
Modern man views everything through the lens of scientific proofs, including the writings of the Bible. That’s why I think we have so many unbelievers and doubters today. God, faith, spirituality, are so much bigger, deeper, grander than we can possibly grasp. These are the Truths…while modern man worries and picks at all the little truths, — fretting that if one little thing comes undone for them as not absolutely scientifically true, then their whole faith, their whole belief in the Bible would unravel.
Post-modern theology is not based upon “either/or” rigidity of thinking. It’s much broader and more inclusive, leaving room for the Mysteries of faith we don’t understand, and probably never will in this world. We can learn to grow into feeling comfortable not having the answers to everything. Do we really think we can capture God in a box anyway, or pin Him down like a butterfly for scientific examination dissection?
It’s the overall Principles of faith that are the important meat of the Bible, not the “adiaphora” (i.e., “not of central importance”) myriad details. That’s why “errors” or “contradictory information” in the Bible that agnostics or athiests point to don’t bother me. The Evolution of the Universe, and the species on this planet, serve to heighten my reverence for a grand Creator. Although we measure a day in 24 hours length, it seems presumptuous to insist that as the stars and planets and moons and our own sun were first being formed, God was using the same yardstick to measure time.
I’m unfazed by debates over whether baptism should be performed on infants or those of the age of consent. I have no problem with various denominations sharing communion, no matter what their beilefs are about the bread and the wine. I don’t care if Jesus married Mary Magdalene, or married both Mary AND Martha, and had children. It wouldn’t bother me if I learned that Jesus rose from the dead, but then having fulfilled his Father’s mission, went off into the desert somewhere to live out a quiet life with a wife and kids…and then died a natural death. I don’t CARE if the bones that were found were Jesus’ or not. It would not make my faith and dedication to the Gospel and “the Great Commission” of Jesus any less real or deep.
The mission of Jesus was to help people to restore a broken connection with God, – a disconnect as a result of their own turning away, their own sinfulness. As Martin Luther pointed out, we are saved by grace through faith, – it’s a free gift. But as we are sinful people prone to guilt, I think a lot of folks would have trouble forgiving themselves unless somebody else – Jesus – “took the rap” of punishment. In short, Jesus created a bridge between God and mankind.
There is a trilogy of books by Brian D. McLaren that are real cutting edge stuff – “post” modern – about the nature of God and Christianity:
A New Kind of Christian
The Story We Find Ourselves In
The Last Word and the Word After That
For people with nagging doubts, stuck-point dilemmas about faith, for Seekers of faith, and those who are open to broadening their faith horizons, these books have much to offer. Although they are not for happy fundamentalist Christians who don’t like their literal interpretation beliefs challenged, – i.e., if you are happy and dedicated in the faith the way you are, God bless you and don’t bother wasting your time with McLaren’s books, which will just anger and upset you. We can just live and let live, loving and respecting one another.
Thank you, Chris. Looks like interesting reading, and very well presented. The tomb may have belonged to somebody named Jesus, but from what I’ve read so far, most archaeologists and historians seem to agree that the name is as far as the connection goes.
I’ve written a comprehensive rebuttal to claims and evidence of this film. Please read it and decide for yourself.
You will find it at extremetheology.com
Lot of critics (some not even Chrisitans) are saying that James Cameron, the producer (he did a little picture called “Titanic”), is grandstanding again, as he did with the underwater Titanic shots Jewish scholars point out that all the names on the ossuaries were extremely common at the time, and they were found far away from the spot where Jesus lay for three days before he rose again, WITH his human body. There was nothing left in the tomb. On the improbable chance that they can prove this is the real deal, I don’t think most Christians will take it to heart.