Oh boy...religious folks are going to be up in arms again....

[rennch]

From 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

[Rick Lee]

Fascinating. Which will be better? Cameron's research or the true believers' reactions? Is this too hot for the mainstream media?

[rennch]

Well, we'll find out on Monday I guess...

[Nathans_Dad]

Yeah, I'm sure that a 10 year long investigation into whether they have found Jesus' body has gone completely unnoticed by the rest of the world...

[Rick Lee]

Reminds me of Geraldo's Al Capone's Vaults.

[Nathans_Dad]

Just noticed this part:

"But film-makers Cameron and Jacobovici claim to have amassed evidence through DNA tests..."

DNA tests? Of who? Oh, that's right...I forgot there were descendants of Jesus that we all know about to compare to...

[trekkor]

... Another smoke screen.


KT

[rennch]

I have no idea what that means. Can you 'splain?

[trekkor]

"For many deceivers have gone forth into the world, persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist."

2 John 4:7


KT

[rennch]

So...if it turns out to be 100% true, then what happens? james cameron is the antichrist?

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by Nathans_Dad

DNA tests? Of who? Oh, that's right...I forgot there were descendants of Jesus that we all know about to compare to...

Well DUH. Just head down to your local Hispanic neighborhood. You will find plenty of guys named Jesus.

[rennch]

Here's a LOT of discourse on it:

http://digg.com/world_news/James_Cameron_to_announce_Jesus_tomb_discovery

[Nathans_Dad]

Actually very little of that link actually discusses the plausibility of this claim. Here are a few problems that immediately come to mind:

1). Who are you comparing the DNA to?
[James Cameron walks up to a non-descript house in Ohio]
Cameron: *Knock knock*
Person behind the door: "Yes?"
Cameron: "Um...Mr. Christ? I hate to bother you again, but we think we have found the bones of your great-great-great-great-great-great-great....
*time lapse*
...great-great-great grandfather. Can we get a quick cheek swab for a DNA comparison?"

2). The names Jesus, Mary, Joseph, etc were very common in those days. It would be sort of like finding a family named Bob, Sue and Richard and thinking you had found THE Bob, Sue and Richard of legend.

3). Ok, let's say that Jesus actually did not rise from the dead (just for the argument). So, day 3 comes and.....nothing. His 11 disciples want to push forward on this religion, but they need something else...a catchy twist. A ha!! Resurrection. Of course. So, what do they do with the body? Oh, sure. Of course. They take the body, allow it to decompose by traditional Jewish methods, put it in a ossuary, put his name on the front in big letters and....bury it in the family tomb. THey clap their hands with glee and think "No one will EVER find it here!!" R-I-G-H-T....

P.S. You may be wondering why I am up this late posting on PPOT. Well, my daughter has been puking all night long and every time she wakes up and pukes, we get to bathe her and change sheets, clean carpet, etc. FUN!

[Milu]

It sounds like the film of "the Jesus Scroll" by Donovan Joyce.
Written about 30 years ago. Non fiction and quite thought provoking.

[livi]

Being nursed scientifically, learning to always take a humble approach as all news and 'truths' have expiring dates - who knows ? The Bible may finally need a new edition.

[Nathans_Dad]

I can't find any mention of this story anywhere on the main stream media sites...wonder why?

I would think "James Cameron Claims to Have Discovered Body of Jesus" would be big type, bold, front page kind of stuff. Extra, extra, read all about it.

Of course then we only hear about the alien abductions in the Enquirer too...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

People who are believers are going to believe it anyway. Even if you somehow were able to prove it with authenticated written documents and records and accounts, there's a percentage that would always cling to their beliefs.

Personally I think the whole thing is ridiculous. Jesus was a very bright, visionary guy and left the world a lot of great stories and great guidance. Call him a prophet or whatever, fine. There is nobility in his teachings - but I also think a tremendous amount of self-promotional nonsense and delusional fantasy.

In any case, it's pretty evdent that about 90% of "Christian" believers really don't give a damn about Jesus or the true message behind his teachings - they use them to establish an isolationist cult that wags its finger at everyone else and uses religion as a cudgel to bash them over the heads with. For one, I'd actually like to see some of "Chrisianity's" credibility suffer, since it'll expose the pseudo-religious nutjobs that masquerade as "followers of Christ". It'll force the hand of a lot of these nutjobs and expose them, since they'll feel forced to come forth and defend their cult. It'll also expose the true believers, which is something I can respect. The manner of response from the two groups will be the "wheat from the chaff" and will be very, very telling.

If one wants to believe in the teachings of Jesus or Mohammed or Buddha or whatever, that's fine - there's value in all of it. Where it becomes problematic is when indiscriminate nutjobs start taking everything literally and out of context with regards to these teachings. They can be spiritual, uplifting and good sources of guidance. They can (and unfortunately are, more often) also be used as weapons of discord, hatred, intolerance, violence and destruction.

[Jims5543]

Jeff - its so funny, I am a Christian, I go to church yada yada yada, yet I agree with you 100%.

Christians can be really uplifting people and at the same time be the most intolerant, evil, hateful people you ever meet. Its a true conundrum for me sometimes. I really do not like being around the people of my church, they always seem to just be looking at each other to find fault so they can feel suprior about themselves.

My extent of involment in church is to attend, listen, learn and leave, then apply what I learned to my life and aviod the other people there completely.

It will be interesting to see how this little news snippet plays out. I doubt this is real and Rick broke it odwn perfectly. Too fancy a grave for such a humble man and his humble followers.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

That's cool - and commendable. Nothin' wrong with that. Ultimately it's up to each of US to decide what's right and wrong about the information we're presented with - not some preacher asking for your cash to buy a new bass boat or Cadillac with.

Should be interesting to see though. I've gotta' go buy me some popcorn today. Gonna' be a good show.

FWIW I loved "DaVinci Code". Great writing. Some elements of truth, but intended to be fictional. This one is a bit different. We'll see if anyone takes a potshot at the authors like they threatened Dan Brown with.

[sammyg2]

Cameron is a clown and a hollywood whore who will say or do anything for a dollar or to get his name in the paper. This is just one more example.