Is it real, or isn't it? A team of scientists who have been investigating the so-called Shroud of Turin say the purported burial cloth of Jesus is likely authentic. But the scientists add they have not yet reached a definite conclusion.
The scientists say their research does undermine previous theories that the shroud was faked. The cloth bears an image of a bearded man. The theory is the image was transferred to the cloth during the process of Christ's resurrection. Speculation is that the energy transferred during the return of life to the body of Jesus somehow imprinted the cloth.
Protestants, especially, have been wary of such claims because of historic fakes like pieces of the cross and the bones of saints which too many have used as focal points of worship.
The shroud could be real, or not. What is real is that Jesus died and rose again and was seen by many witnesses, none of whom recanted what they saw under pain and imprisonment and death. It doesn't matter if the shroud is real or not.
I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.
Publication date: December 22, 2011
