Why did the team not do DNA testing on the proposed remains of Jesus' Mother Mary, Father, and Brother? Would it not be more important to prove Jesus was related to Mary, and not Joseph, thus bringing us closer to a conclusion that this was more likely to be the true tomb of Jesus, rather than banter off on an expedition to prove he had a wife hidden throughout time? I am concern more so that this was just another humanization of the Christain Savior rather than the discovery of facts.
As explained the the interview with Ted Koppel, the ONLY ossuaries that still contained bone fragments were the ones marked Jesus and Mariamne.
You have to remember, when these ossuaries were found, the bones inside were removed and handed over to the Jewish religious authorities, who re-buried them, as they do with all bones dug up in that region.
Only two ossuaries had some bone fragments remaining, and these were tested for DNA. The other ossuaries looked like they had been vacuum cleaned at some stage while they were in custody of authorities.
It might be possible to obtain DNA from scrapings taken from these other ossuaries, but it would probably be much harder. Certainly, other scientists can give it a try, it's definitely interesting.
Amazing that the only two not vacumed clean were the "jesus" and "mary" ones. Oh what about the "James" ossuary? You absolutely have to agree although there is definitely that demand investigating here that this particular show was done so in the since as to influence the viewer to see it their way and not draw a conclusion from an unbais report.
Ah the conspiracy theories are already starting...convenient that the "Jesus" and "Mary Magdalene" ossuaries are the only ones that haven't been vaccuumed out. Oh the show only presented what facts the filmmakers wanted us to receive; wow that only describes every documentary i've ever seen. Of course the filmmakers are only going to represent the views they want to have represented. What, are they going to show you opposing viewpoints to make you think twice? Obviously the guy's making the show are trying to get their viewpoints across.....so what? So does every other filmmaker who tries to make a buck. Again, who cares? Is it something so horrific that it makes you question your own faith? If you are that easily swayed that something in this show makes you question Jesus and his teachings then you clearly don't understand anyting about faith and if that's the case then the discussion is over because this show was presented in such a way that the filmmakers were basically coming up with a hypothesis and then researching available data and resources to prove or disprove whether this hypothesis was possible or not. At no time during this entire broadcast did I feel that the filmmakers were trying to persuade me to join the Catholic Church, the Gnostic Church, the Church of Satan, or any other church for that matter. They simply presented what they found and I was thoroughly entertained and found the program very entertaining. At no point did I find my faith shaken or did I feel that the facts presented were manipulated in any way.
Who did all this cleaning of the remains, anyway? And WHY was it done, if not to cover the facts that DID NOT AGREE with the show, or with what the "experts" want us to think!?
I would like to congradulate the the person responsible for making the film, I found it to very informing, and interesting. I just hope we haven't heard the last of this infomation. Keep up Good work!...
My Faith was not "Shaken" either, however it is Deceptive and wrong of them to present a Doc. in the sense of searching for the truth when they clearly avoided all avenues available to them. They want people to believe Jesus was mortal and they want you to take the rabbit trail and believe he was married and had offspring. This is round two of the DiVinci code with more to come. This fight is not one that will destroy my faith, but what about the many who are young in their faith's? This arguement is acceptable if they would not have conviently ommited DNA testing of Joseph, Mary, Judah, James, Matthew. Instead they tested and showed the one that would lead you to think and believe what they wanted. Heck the gentleman that did the dna test even sent a letter of clarification because they exploited what he said was an implication, instead they made it fact. Just because something does not shake your faith does not mean it is okay for them to Decieve. They should be held accountable to be true journalist, and that entales telling a complete unbais story! Not one with predetermined conclusions that shows only facts to support such.
I think the film maker did a fine job and as he stated many times last evening he's just getting the ball rolling again. It was a 2 hour special and made no "bones" about parts of it being dramatised ( are you not upset my Al Gore doing the same thing?). That's the world we live in now, no? It is done so to spark conversation, which by the way he has obviously done. He has invited the world to continue to question, run other tests and include other folks. I find it all very interesting, it does not "shake my faith" and remember too, these conversations and questions have been taking place for 2000 years and it has not ruined the church or chistianity. Let not your heart be troubled but open your mind to possibilities.
Hold the film makers accountable....that is not our place. That right belongs to the Lord God Alimighty. We can be offended and upset, but not shaken in our faith. Really we shouldn't be offended, Jesus told us that because he was hated, so we would be for His namesake. *See the 24th chapter of Matthew* This show, like DaVinci Code, is snare set up by the enemy to knock people off course in their walk with the Lord. It is a sign of what is coming. It is the spirit of the Anti-Christ, which has been with us since Christ's ascension. But apart from the biblical perspective of how believers out to handle this "documentary", I have a question regarding the DNA testing to add to the already wonderful questions previously posted. Did the run tests on the supposed remains of Jesus to see what the approximate age of death was? Jesus was around the age of 33 when He was crucified. Also, the name Marieme, or whatever it is, yeah right, is all I can say. Of all the research I've done on the woman known as Mary Magdelene, I found that yes, her name was Mary and she came from the region of Magdalena, and that is why she was referred to as Mary Magdelene. She was a disciple of Christ, nothing more, nothing less. There were a lot of women who followed Jesus - go read your gospels James Cameron.
Also, if Christ had not really ressurected physically from the dead, and seen by over 500 people, why would the disciples and apostles have risked and given their lives for a lie, or a joke?!? When facing execution don't you think they would have come clean about Jesus if it wasn't true?!?
I hold fast the FACT that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Most Hight God, that he was crucified, dead and buried, and that on the 3rd day He rose (physically) *John 20:26-29* from the grave and ascended into heaven, where He sits on the right hand of God the Father awating to return for His bride, and rid the world of it's wickedness.
