Magyar Egyház, 2007 (86. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2007-07-01 / 1-2. szám
12. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ saw the excavation of the site in the 1980s as the district archeologist of Jerusalem. He later published his findings in a professional archeological publication. The documentary was made according to the "imagination of people," Kloner said. "I don't accept the claim that this tomb was the burial place for the family of Jesus. "Jerusalem Experts Trash Jesus' Bones Claim Claims in a new documentary that an ancient tomb discovered decades ago outside of Jerusalem contained the bones of Jesus and his family may be a great money-making gimmick - but scientifically, it is nonsense, according to leading archeologists and scholars in Jerusalem, CNSNews.com reports. "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," due to air on the Discovery Channel on March 4, claims that a 2,000-year-old tomb containing 10 boxes of bones belonged to the family of Jesus of Nazareth. The documentary claims that inscriptions on six of 10 ossuaries found in a single tomb indicate that there is a one in 600 chance that bones in the tomb were those of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and a son, along with other family members. What is in question is the interpretation of the facts and conclusions drawn by the documentary filmmakers. The Israel Antiquities Authority loaned the ossuaries to Cameron and his colleague for their press conference in the interest of "artistic freedom," said IAA representative Osnat Goaz. Unlike previous "discoveries," there is no doubt about the authenticity of the ossuaries, Goaz said. That does not mean that the IAA backs the film's assertions, she added, although the IAA has chosen not to comment on the film. Discovery Channel Accused of Attacking Christianity As archeologists question filmmaker James Cameron's claim that he has discovered the tomb of Jesus Christ and his family, Christian groups are criticizing the Discovery Channel for what they call another attack on Christianity, CNSNews.com reports. The cable channel, which bills itself as "the number-one nonfiction media company," will air "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" on Sunday, March 4. According to Discovery Channel promotional material, the documentary produced by Academy Award winner Cameron and directed by Simcha Jacobovici presents "new evidence that Jesus and Mary Magdalene ... may have had a son named Judah." The filmmakers suggest that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and that they produced a child named Judah, because an inscription on one of the boxes says, "Judah, son of Jesus." As scientists criticize Cameron's "attempt to sell" his documentary, Christian groups are criticizing Discovery Channel for airing the claims. "Unfortunately, this is a story full of holes, conjectures and problems," Asbury Theological Seminary professor Ben Witherington said. "It will make good TV and involves bad critical reading of history." Some Christian leaders see the airing of the widely criticized claims as a direct attack on Christianity. "Not a Lenten season goes by without some author or TV program seeking to cast doubt on the divinity of Jesus and/or the Resurrection," Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said. James Cameron, Jewish Archaeologist Claim Discovery of Remains of Jesus, Jesus' 'Son' According to a Christian Post story, filmmaker James Cameron and Jewish archaeologist Simcha Jacobovici have claimed to have discovered the bodily remains of Jesus. On Sunday March 4, their findings will be revealed in a new documentary called “The Lost Tomb of Christ.” The filmmakers assert that they already have credible evidence that what they have unearthed are the remains of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and even a supposed son. Judah, who Jesus had with Mary Magdalene. Any existence of Jesus' body would negate his ascension and throw doubt upon his resurrection as well. The tomb in question was discovered about 27 years ago, and was intriguing for the names found inscribed upon the limestone boxes. The Aramaic inscriptions are believed to read: “Jesus son of Joseph," "Maria” (Mary), "Mariamene e Mara” (Mary Magdalene), "Matthew," "Yose (Joseph)" and "Judah son of Jesus." Through a statement, Cameron said: "It doesn't get bigger than this. We've done our homework; we've made the case; and now it's time for the debate to begin." Holy Land Scholars Slam Jesus Tomb Claims The Christian Post reports that archaeologists and clergymen in the Holy Land derided the claims in the new documentary, "The Lost Tomb of Christ." The documentary argues that 10 ancient caskets discovered in a suburb of Jerusalem in 1980 may have contained the bones of Jesus and his family. The burial site identified is in a Jerusalem neighborhood nowhere near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the spot where it is traditionally believed Jesus' body spent three days buried. Christian leaders in the Holy Land are bothered by the claims. "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. Stephen Pfann from the University of the Holy Land suggested nobody's mind is likely to be changed by the documentary, regardless of view they hold of Jesus. "How possible is it? On a scale of one through 10... 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." 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," he said. Other critics say the names on the coffins were so common in first-century Palestine that it's faulty to conclude this is "the Holy family." Answers in Genesis Founder Labels Claims in 'Jesus Tomb' as Nonsense Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis, says there's no new information in the "Lost Tomb of Jesus” documentary that chronicles claims by archaeologists that they have found a coffin containing the bones of Christ, OneNewsNow.com reports. According to Ham, the documentary is just the latest in a string of increasing attacks on the Bible. Says Ham, "Anyone can take a documentary and take certain evidence they find and then, because of their own anti-Christian bias or whatever it is, put their own particular interpretation on that and make it sound so good in a movie." People have been trying to discredit the Bible for thousands of years, even though eyewitness accounts from God's Word support the fact that Christ rose from the dead, Ham pointed out, though he did indicate the documentary represents another opportunity for Christians to become equipped. Christian Law Firm Promoting Stand for Purity in Public Schools For the fourth straight year, Liberty Counsel is helping public school students take a stand for purity this Valentine's Day. AgapePress reports that the "Day of Purity" is designed to help those students educate their peers on the value of remaining sexually pure — one benefit being the avoidance of contracting a sexually-transmitted disease. For the annual "Day of Purity," Liberty Counsel provides flyers, shirts, and wristbands students can take to
