Jesus wasn't resurrected

[User Name]

So says James Cameron in Time Magazine:

Brace yourself. James Cameron, the man who brought you 'The Titanic' is back with another blockbuster. This time, the ship he's sinking is Christianity.

In a new documentary, Producer Cameron and his director, Simcha Jacobovici, make the starting claim that Jesus wasn't resurrected --the cornerstone of Christian faith-- and that his burial cave was discovered near Jerusalem. And, get this, Jesus sired a son with Mary Magdelene.
No, it's not a re-make of "The Da Vinci Codes'. It's supposed to be true.
Let's go back 27 years, when Israeli construction workers were gouging out the foundations for a new building in the industrial park in the Talpiyot, a Jerusalem suburb. of Jerusalem. The earth gave way, revealing a 2,000 year old cave with 10 stone caskets. Archologists were summoned, and the stone caskets carted away for examination. It took 20 years for experts to decipher the names on the ten tombs. They were: Jesua, son of Joseph, Mary, Mary, Mathew, Jofa and Judah, son of Jesua.
Israel's prominent archeologist Professor Amos Kloner didn't associate the crypt with the New Testament Jesus. His father, after all, was a humble carpenter who couldn't afford a luxury crypt for his family. And all were common Jewish names.

There was also this little inconvenience that a few miles away, in the old city of Jerusalem, Christians for centuries had been worshipping the empty tomb of Christ at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Christ's resurrection, after all, is the main foundation of the faith, proof that a boy born to a carpenter's wife in a manger is the Son of God.
But film-makers Cameron and Jacobovici claim to have amassed evidence through DNA tests, archeological evidence and Biblical studies, that the 10 coffins belong to Jesus and his family.
Ever the showman, (Why does this remind me of the impresario in another movie,"King Kong", whose hubris blinds him to the dangers of an angry and very large ape?) Cameron is holding a New York press conference on Monday at which he will reveal three coffins, supposedly those of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother Mary and Mary Magdalene. News about the film, which will be shown soon on Discovery Channel, Britain's Channel 4, Canada's Vision, and Israel's Channel 8, has been a hot blog topic in the Middle East (check out a personal favorite: Israelity Bites) Here in the Holy Land, Biblical Archeology is a dangerous profession. This 90-minute documentary is bound to outrage Christians and stir up a titanic debate between believers and skeptics. Stay tuned.
--Tim McGirk/Jerusalem

 

[grinningghost]

I gotta get the jumbo bag for this thread.

 

[Kitty 34]

I gotta get the jumbo bag for this thread.

MY DH is eating one of those big cans of popcorn (leftover from my Valentine gift to him) if you'd like some.

 

[Cool-Beans]

James Cameron isn't the first person who doesn't believe Jesus was resurrected. I don't think it makes any difference at all.

 

[grinningghost]

James Cameron isn't the first person who doesn't believe Jesus was resurrected. I don't think it makes any difference at all.

Around here? Oh, it will.

 

[grinningghost]

MY DH is eating one of those big cans of popcorn (leftover from my Valentine gift to him) if you'd like some.

That would work.

 

[minkydog]

better get your flame suit out

 

[dcentity2000]

Well, I'm interested. I won't know what to make of it until I've heard it. The only thing I do know is that this is going to meet HUGE resistance.



Rich::

 

[MAKmom]

Christianity is the teaching of Christ. Which stands alone to me. They are not depending on his rising from the dead or being the Son of God.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Christianity is the teaching of Christ. Which stands alone to me. They are not depending on his rising from the dead or being the Son of God.

It is a pretty big deal, though. At least in the Catholic faith. It's even in THE prayer of what we believe... "...he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day, he rose again, if fufillment of the scriptures." And Easter is THE holiest of holy days.

But everyone is entitled to believe what they want. This is America. If James Cameron wanted to make a movie saying Jesus was really Satan, he could. The believers will still believe. The non-believers still won't.

I really don't think anybody will care all that much. But I've been wrong before.

 

[Micca]

Cameron and Mel Gibson are going to have a major smackdown.

 

[JoyG]

Christianity is the teaching of Christ. Which stands alone to me. They are not depending on his rising from the dead or being the Son of God.

Well, I wouldn't be a Christian if Jesus didn't raise from the dead.

I wouldn't worship someone b/c he was a good teacher. There were plenty of good teachers in history but I don't worship them.

I worship Jesus because he was the only teacher that was also God.

I obviously don't believe that Cameron's claims have any weight at all, but I think it's dangerous for christians to think "Well, if he's right, it won't make any difference" because really the fact that Jesus was God and raised from the dead makes all the difference.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

My faith won't change because of some guy in Hollywood who gets an oscar and yells "I'm the King of the world!"
Robin M.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

It is a pretty big deal, though. At least in the Catholic faith. It's even in THE prayer of what we believe... "...he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day, he rose again, if fufillment of the scriptures." And Easter is THE holiest of holy days.

But everyone is entitled to believe what they want. This is America. If James Cameron wanted to make a movie saying Jesus was really Satan, he could. The believers will still believe. The non-believers still won't.

I really don't think anybody will care all that much. But I've been wrong before.

It will bring the extremists out to battle. I think most mainstream Christians could care less.

Cameron and Mel Gibson are going to have a major smackdown.

My faith won't change because of some guy in Hollywood who gets an oscar and yells "I'm the King of the world!"
Robin M.

 

[grinningghost]

I liked Titanic.

 

[MassJester]

I may have missed the mention of james Cameron's credentials in the fields of History and Archeology.

Let him tell hi stories. If they are good stories, perhaps the movie will sell--but I can't see it making much a difference to people of faith.

 

[Honu]

Well, I wouldn't be a Christian if Jesus didn't raise from the dead.

I wouldn't worship someone b/c he was a good teacher. There were plenty of good teachers in history but I don't worship them.

So what happens in your case if the findings in Talpiyot are proven to be true?

 

[GeorgeG]

Wars have been started over less...

There's a lot that relies on one's faith in the story that has been told for the past few thousand years. Not all believers interpret the bible in the exact same way, but that Jesus died and was resurected is a major basis for the beliefs of Christianity.

I'm surprised this hasn't come out before since this supposed discovery doesn't appear to be very recent. As far as the movie goes, one can read into something like that anything they want. When (and if) it comes down to conclusive evidence, the staunchest believers will never accept it no matter what, anyhow. I guess we'll have to wait to see how it all unfolds once the dust settles.

Non-believers can be more objective and might formulate some plausible theories of their own about what might have really happened during those times. I believe the whole truth has never come out and time, archaeology, and science will eventually confirm or invalidate traditional beliefs. I guess we can look forward to some heated debate either way.

The one thing that puzzles me about this new claim is that DNA was used to confirm identities. I thought that would require some comparison with known family members. Could it be they also have that kind of resource?

Interesting...

 

[JoyG]

So what happens in your case if the findings in Talpiyot are proven to be true?

They won't find proof that Jesus didn't raise from the dead.

But I've already stated, that if Jesus didn't raise from the dead, I wouldn't be a Christian.

 

[MAKmom]

It is a pretty big deal, though. At least in the Catholic faith. It's even in THE prayer of what we believe... "...he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day, he rose again, if fufillment of the scriptures." And Easter is THE holiest of holy days.

But everyone is entitled to believe what they want. This is America. If James Cameron wanted to make a movie saying Jesus was really Satan, he could. The believers will still believe. The non-believers still won't.

I really don't think anybody will care all that much. But I've been wrong before.

I wish more people would remember about freedom of religion is this country. You are Cool Beans