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Originally posted by David unfamous:
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The 20-inch-long box resides in a private collection in Israel... Its history prior to its current ownership is not known.
So... we don't know where it came from, or where it is now. Don't you just love this kind of evidence?
What Tenchi didnt quote, funnily enough, was
"BAR editor Hershel Shanks told CT the ossuary had been in the private collection of an Israeli citizen for about 15 years. "I asked the owner why he didn't recognize it. He said, 'I never thought that the Son of God could have a brother.'"
Shanks became aware of its existence in June after the owner contacted French epigrapher Andre LeMaire to evaluate it for him. The owner "got it from an Arab antiquities dealer," he said. "He only paid a few hundred dollars for it. The antiquities dealer told him it was found in the section of Jerusalem called Silwan, just south of the Mount of Olives. It's an area that's pockmarked with burial caves. Some people have their basements in ancient burial caves."
So we are asked to believe that an Israeli citizen had the box for about 15 years and didnt know who the 'Jesus'was because it said he had a brother called James! He knew that Jesus was the Son of God though!
This is simply ludicrous, Jesus, Joseph and James on the same burial box and the owner doesnt catch on. What about all the other people that may have handled it during its murky past, I take it they didnt recognise the names either.
An Arab antiques dealer with no knowledge of the founder of the Jerusalem church, the Messiah or the messiah's father is beyond belief.
I am sure it is just a matter of time before this is exposed as a fake. But that will probably make no difference to the true believer, they will say that the claim that it is a fake will be a hoax!
I really think they should have waited a bit longer before triumphantly claiming this as genuine. You also have the possibility that it has nothing to do with the god-man Jesus, as these three names are very common.
It still doesnt prove Jesus was divine either, just that he may have existed. Hardly anything to get excited about, unless you are Roman Catholic and the perpetual virginity of Mary is jettisoned, although im sure there will be some ambiguous wording to allow them to keep that particular fantasy entact.
Best Wishes
Brian
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Remembering events that never happened is a dangerous thing!
[This message has been edited by Brian Johnston, 11-19-2002]