Scholars, clergy slam Jesus documentary

[BuffyMars]

JERUSALEM (AP) — Archaeologists and clergymen in the Holy Land derided claims in a new documentary produced by the Oscar-winning director James Cameron that contradict major Christian tenets. "The Lost Tomb of Christ," which the Discovery Channel will run on March 4, argues that 10 ancient ossuaries — small caskets used to store bones — discovered in a suburb of Jerusalem in 1980 may have contained the bones of Jesus and his family, according to a press release issued by the Discovery Channel.

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One of the caskets even bears the title, "Judah, son of Jesus," hinting that Jesus may have had a son. And the very fact that Jesus had an ossuary would contradict the Christian belief that he was resurrected and ascended to heaven.

Most Christians believe Jesus' body spent three days at the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City. The burial site identified in Cameron's documentary is in a southern Jerusalem neighborhood nowhere near the church.

In 1996, when the BBC aired a short documentary on the same subject, archaeologists challenged the claims. Amos Kloner, the first archaeologist to examine the site, said the idea fails to hold up by archaeological standards but makes for profitable television.

"They just want to get money for it," Kloner said.

The claims have raised the ire of Christian leaders in the Holy Land.

"The historical, religious and archaeological evidence show that the place where Christ was buried is the Church of the Resurrection," said Attallah Hana, a Greek Orthodox clergyman in Jerusalem. The documentary, he said, "contradicts the religious principles and the historic and spiritual principles that we hold tightly to."

Stephen Pfann, a biblical scholar at the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem who was interviewed in the documentary, said the film's hypothesis holds little weight.

"I don't think that Christians are going to buy into this," Pfann said. "But skeptics, in general, would like to see something that pokes holes into the story that so many people hold dear."

"How possible is it?" Pfann said. "On a scale of one through 10 — 10 being completely possible — it's probably a one, maybe a one and a half."

Pfann is even unsure that the name "Jesus" on the caskets was read correctly. He thinks it's more likely the name "Hanun."

Kloner also said the filmmakers' assertions are false.

"It was an ordinary middle-class Jerusalem burial cave," Kloner said. "The names on the caskets are the most common names found among Jews at the time."

Archaeologists also balk at the filmmaker's claim that the James Ossuary — the center of a famous antiquities fraud in Israel — might have originated from the same cave. In 2005, Israel charged five suspects with forgery in connection with the infamous bone box.

"I don't think the James Ossuary came from the same cave," said Dan Bahat, an archaeologist at Bar-Ilan University. "If it were found there, the man who made the forgery would have taken something better. He would have taken Jesus."

Although the documentary makers claim to have found the tomb of Jesus, the British Broadcasting Corporation beat them to the punch by 11 years.

Osnat Goaz, a spokeswoman for the Israeli government agency responsible for archaeology, declined to comment before the documentary was aired.

____

On the Web: http://www.discovery.com/tomb

[Txbroadcaster]

Does anyone honestly think Christians would embrace this movie?

[BuffyMars]

I RESPECT JAMES CAMERON!

[BuffyMars]

Actually, I find anything of this nature to be very intriguing and interesting...whether I agree or not.

[kepdawg]

A political post one day. A religious post a few days later. Buffy's trying to stir things up!

[Blastoderm55]

Probably as much as Catholics embraced The Da Vinci Code.

[BuffyMars]

Originally posted by kepdawg
A political post one day. A religious post a few days later. Buffy's trying to stir things up!

No!

I blame it all on Yahoo....

[pirate4state]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[BuffyMars]

I guess I just don't think about these things.

I am innocent I swear!

The board was slow...so I thought reading some news would be good.

Consider it informational...that a new documentary is coming out...and if you wish to watch it...faaaaaaantastic! If not....faaaaaaaaaaaaaaantastic!

[pirate4state]

Originally posted by BuffyMars
I guess I just don't think about these things.

I am innocent I swear!

The board was slow...so I thought reading some news would be good.

Consider it informational...that a new documentary is coming out...and if you wish to watch it...faaaaaaantastic! If not....faaaaaaaaaaaaaaantastic!

So far, so good.

[Txbroadcaster]

Buffy is starting problems...BAN HER!!!!

[BuffyMars]

Originally posted by Txbroadcaster
Buffy is starting problems...BAN HER!!!!

Great Oden's Raven!!!

[pirate4state]

Originally posted by Txbroadcaster
Buffy is starting problems...BAN HER!!!!

LOL! NO!

[crzyjournalist03]

I find it interesting that archaologists are questioning the legitimacy. They're the ones who are the experts! Don't you think their opinions should count for something? Crazy business people driven by the dollar...

[Phil C]

Originally posted by Blastoderm55
Probably as much as Catholics embraced The Da Vinci Code.

Blast I admire the Catholic Church.