Let's assume that the Shroud of Turin is not a fraud, that it is 2000
+/- 100 years old (whatever the uncertainty in the measurement is).
There would be an immediate clamor to do some DNA testing to "prove" or
"disprove" the Virgin Birth. (who was the Father?). If the Roman
Catholic church (who owns the shroud, I believe) denies access to
scientific investigations, it will be accused of hiding any evidence
(remember the fuss about the C-14 analysis). If DNA testing were done
and showed "normal" patterns (I'm not a biologist, but I would think
that biologists can differentiate patterns) the divinity of Christ would
be questioned and Christians would argue that the sample had been
contaminated and the analysis flawed.
In brief, we'd only have another controversy except that this one would
get right into the most fundamental aspects of our faith, i.e. that
Jesus of Nazareth was/is the Son of God and a member of the Trinity.
I don't need any physical proof of the historical fact that God came to
earth to die on the cross for our sins. The Holy Spirit and the written
word of God are sufficient. An authenticated burial cloth, on the other
hand, might cause some to stumble.
Hope this helps.
Shalom
Chuck T.T. Vandergraaf
Geochemistry Research Branch
Whiteshell Laboratories
Pinawa, MB R0E 1L0
Canada
*vandergraaft@aecl.ca
((204) 753-2311 xt. 2592
>----------
>From: Arthur V. Chadwick[SMTP:chadwicka@swac.edu]
>Sent: November 19, 1997 10:16 PM
>To: asa@calvin.edu
>Subject: RE: [Fwd: Age of universe]
>
>>Personally, I hope that the Shroud of Turin is a fraud. Imagine the
>>consequences if it is not!
>
>I can't. Help me out. I guess i don't have an active enough imagination!
>Art
>http://chadwicka.swau.edu
>
>
>