E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Documentary filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici, co-author of the new book "The Jesus Discovery," discusses how a robotic arm was used to make archaeological discoveries during a New York news conference today.
Now that the word about "the Jesus Discovery" is out in the open, outside experts are weighing in — and many of them look upon the robotic exploration of a 1st-century Jerusalem tomb as a technological tour de force resulting in an archaeological faux pas.
On one level, the "Jesus Discovery" investigators saw this project as a follow-up on the sensational claim they made five years earlier in "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," that Jesus and members of his family were buried in what is now a southeast residential neighborhood of Jerusalem. On another level, they set forth what they said were the earliest known evidence of Christian references in the Holy City — in the form of an inscription referring to resurrection on one casket, and a fishlike design on another casket.
Today, several experts specializing in 1st-century Christianity said the investigators failed to make their case on either level.
"In my assessment, there's zero percent chance that their theory is correct," said Andrew Vaughn, executive director of the American Schools of Oriental Research, or ASOR.
Christopher Rollston, an expert in Semitic epigraphy at Emmanuel Christian Seminary in Tennessee, said that although the underground chamber is "a nice tomb ... it's hard to press it into service as an impressive find."
Some archaeologists were familiar with the project months before it came into the spotlight, but non-disclosure agreements kept them from commenting until today's press announcement at Discovery Times Square in New York. The project has already spawned a book by scriptural scholar James Tabor and filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici, titled "The Jesus Discovery," and a documentary about the find is due to air on the Discovery Channel this spring.
When today's embargo lifted, the criticism from outside experts hit with full force on the ASOR Blog.
"Nothing in the book 'revolutionizes our understanding of Jesus or early Christianity,' as the authors and publisher claim, and we may regard this book as yet another in a long list of presentations that misuse not only the Bible but also archaeology," Duke University biblical scholar Eric Meyers declared.
Jodi Magness, a religious-studies professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said "it pains me to see archaeology hijacked in the service of non-scientific interests, whether they are religious, financial, or other." In her view, Tabor, Jacobovici and their colleagues set out to dig up evidence to support their earlier claims about a different tomb nearby, the so-called "Jesus Family Tomb" — and then rustle up a fresh round of media attention.
"Professional archaeologists do not search for objects or treasures such as Noah's Ark, the Ark of the Covenant, or the Holy Grail," she wrote. "Usually these sorts of expeditions are led by amateurs (nonspecialists) or academics who are not archaeologists. Archaeology is a scientific process."
Old and new claims
The main objection to the claims for the Jesus Family Tomb, like the claims themselves, retraces ground that's been well trod since 2007: Just because bone boxes are marked with the name "Jesus" and the names of his brothers and sisters, as mentioned in the Bible, doesn't necessarily mean these are the actual biblical figures.
Tabor and Jacobovici produced a statistical analysis looking at the frequency of names in ancient Jerusalem, and claimed that the close fit to the names on Jesus' family tree couldn't be just a coincidence. Last month, Tabor said further research has strengthened the case he and Jacobovici laid out in 2007.
The critics insisted once again that a statistical argument could never win the day. "Dramatic claims require dramatic evidence. ... The claims of Tabor and Jacobovici for this tomb are no more convincing now than they were then," Rollston wrote.
But what about the inscription in the more recently explored tomb, known as the Patio Tomb? And what about the fish? Rollston said the fish was more probably a type of ornamental design typically seen on Jewish bone boxes, known as a nephesh tower. Where Tabor and Jacobovici saw the "fins" of the fish, Rollston saw the eaves of the tower's roof.
Even if it was intended to be a fish, "it would most naturally be understood as simply a reflection of a nautical motif in a tomb," or perhaps representative of the deceased's occupation — for example, a fishmonger. Unlike Tabor, Rollston did not rule out the possibility that a Jew would have such a design engraved on the bone box.
James Tabor / UNCC
James Tabor, a religious-studies researcher at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, outlined these designs found in various contexts, including "nephesh" images that have been found carved on 1st-century Jewish caskets, a fish drawing found in a Christian catacomb, and the "Patio Tomb fish" design seen in the tomb that Tabor and his colleagues explored using a camera-equipped robotic arm. Tabor's critics say the fishlike design is actually a variant of the nephesh tower design.
As for the inscription, Rollston said the resurrection connection was questionable. Tabor, Jacobovici and their colleagues suggested that it could be interpreted as reading, "Divine Jehovah (Yahweh), lift up, lift up," or "The Divine Jehovah raises up from [the dead]." But Rollston said the first letter in the word that was said to refer to Jehovah — IAEO — looked like a T rather than an I.
"This can't be an iota," he told me, "and that's the one letter that has to be there."
He also questioned the interpretation of the inscription's key word, "UPsOO," or "hupso," which would be a form of the verb "to lift up." Even if one assumes that's what was intended, the word wouldn't necessarily refer to raising up in the resurrection sense, he said. And even if one assumes it was indeed meant as a reference to resurrection, there were some Jewish sects back then — such as the Pharisees — that believed in a general resurrection.
"For someone to state that this is an early Christian tomb, there really has to be some clear and decisive evidence to back up that statement," Rollston told me. "And it just really isn't here."
In a follow-up email, Tabor told me that the "tower will not float" as an alternate explanation for the fishlike image. He also pointed to the comments he posted on the ASOR Blog, taking further issue with the nephesh tower interpretation. In a comment addressed to Rollston, he said, "We have much to discuss, but I look forward to doing it face to face."
On the positive side...
Not every outside expert was totally critical: The Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted Yuval Baruch, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, as saying that Tabor and Jacobovici may well be right about the fish. Baruch noted that the fishlike image was not photographed "in the best light," but added: "If it is indeed a fish, it is fantastic. It has no parallel."
Baruch cautioned against reading too much into a single decoration, however. "Different decorations are being discovered all the time," he told Haaretz.
Rollston and ASOR's Vaughn both said the robotic-arm exploration technique that Tabor and his colleagues used to explore the 1st-century tomb held promise for future digs. Israel's religious and civil authorities are reluctant to have ancient sites disturbed, and even if the excavations are approved, they can create huge disruptions for residential areas like the one where the tomb currently in question is located. Tabor and his colleagues circumvented many of those typical problems by using a camera-equipped robotic arm that they snaked down through a pipe going into the tomb.
"The robotic-arm technology used by James Tabor is truly amazing," Vaughn said. "To be able to explore in a relatively non-invasive way, and to respect the artifacts and bones that may be present there, is certainly of much value."
Magness, however, stressed in her blog posting that robotic-arm video couldn't take the place of a full-fledged dig.
"The archaeological endeavor involves piecing together all available information, not just one artifact taken out of context," she wrote. "Context is the reason that archaeologists go to so much trouble to document the provenance of every feature and artifact dug up on an excavation. The current claim is based on finds that have no context, as they have not been excavated. All we have are photos taken by a robotic arm of objects (or parts of objects), the dates and identification of which are unknown or unclear."
Rollston said further analysis could well shed more light on the central question raised by the current controversy: How did the first Christian communities emerge and manifest themselves? But the process of getting definitive answers doesn't necessarily match the typical time frame for a television production or book project.
"The wheels of scholarship, like the wheels of justice, grind slowly but surely," he told me.
More about biblical brouhahas:
- New find revives 'Jesus Tomb' flap
- Claims about tomb stir tempest
- Messianic message stirs debate
- Return to King Solomon's mines
- Help scientists decipher 'lost' gospel
- Gallery: The archaeology of Christianity
- Experts stumped by markings in Jerusalem
Alan Boyle is msnbc.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter or adding Cosmic Log's Google+ page to your circle. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for other worlds.
Leave a Comment:
Simcha is just a charlatan seeing an economic opportunity in the desperate desire of Christians to validate the Christian myth by finding evidence of Jesus' existence and by extension prove the existence of god.
For those of us that believe, no explanation is necessary. For non-belivers, no explanation is possible !!!!
Well you've hit the nail on the head.
What does it matter? Doesn't change my faith. Anyone can make up a story for money or just be plain wrong. If you are interested in Jesus Christ try studying the Bible. If not interested, then don't as it doesn't really matter to me. If you read the Bible all inside is of FREE WILL. Jesus Christ never forced anyone against their will. You are free to serve or free to not serve.
Oh kent! if only other Christians shared that accepting view! Unfortunately they are usually trying to stuff their beliefs down my throat with bumper stickers, protests, billboards, radio ads, TV ads, legislation, etc, etc.. So called secular "attacks" on religion are really just the backlash from people who are sick of being brow beaten all the time. Good, patient, accepting people can only be told they and their family are going to hell so many times before can't take it and tell ya to blow it out your ###.
don't be a christian, be christ like.
lord, protect me from your followers..
Just follow the word of Jesus and keep your religion private and we'll be ok.
The Bible instructs us to share our faith as believers NOT to shove down anyone’s
throat. I can see how many could be turned off by the approach. The best way is
to live by example. There are many Christians in different maturity of the
belief and I have also been turned off by many of the same faith. However the
same can be said for people in general. I also have some family I would be
willing to trade at times...Imagine how Christians like being told we have to
contribute to abortions, birth control, or have to help those able to work and
not willing. At least you have a choice.
Were these folks looking for an Archealogical find to help humanity learn its history, or is this a way of stirring up controversy? This is not about left wing media ect.. They are just trying to do business and are good at stretching the facts or you wouldn't watch it. If you have faith in something that is a higher power and it helps you deal with life's struggles then why listen to this? I wouldn't argue about their findings too much, but I am curious to see how this pans out.
Maybe, just maybe, if all the "experts" and even amatuers spent as much time trying to debunk the mythical claims of Islam & Muhammad, and putting doubt into their believers minds, the religious scourge of our time might just end in a whimper, as they are obviously "trying" to do to Christianity.
I'm not gonna let Christians off the hook completely, some bad things were done in the middle ages in the name of Christ. But recent events of the past 100 years (and I'm being generous in just going back a century), clearly shows that the new purveyors of religious intolorence are Muslims!
I often think, "do these people not study history of other religious movements?" Do they not see that those who not learn from others mistakes are doomed to repeat them? Perhaps another way of putting it is "a wise man learns from other, while a fool repeats the same mistakes!"
The nonsensical violence that always surrounds manufactured desercrations of Islam in some form or another is becoming insane, and the world can only stand so much tolerance! The non-Islamic world has to start holding these people accountable for continued violence for what it is; "violence" and not an act of religion!
It just sickens me to no end that they get "a pass" for their destructive behaviors!
planeguy2, i think if you review about 3,000 posts on a previous thread related to the Koran burnings and killings, you'll see that no one got "a pass" on anything.
The missionaries go forth to Christianize the savages - as if the savages weren't dangerous enough already.
Edward Abbey
This is what cracks me up with todays inferior heehaws. I live in the bible belt. They are rooty tooty for this santorum inferior but get this,he is catholic. This bible belt crowd is evangelical christian whose teachings say the only way to heaven is to be saved thru the blood of jesus christ which means santorum is going to hell as a catholic because he is not saved. What a bunch of goobers.
Dewayne- Catholic can go to heaven, so can anyone who calls on the name of the Lord and confesses him as savior, asking forgivness
What did they discover about Jesus.....that He was a Jew, and didn't look like Leonardo DaVinci's boyfriend? That He wanted us to love one another, and treat each other well, as opposed to looking down on people because they are "whatever" that we perceive to be "beneath" us? I was wondering when SOMEONE was going to figure those things out....it's about time....
Jesus never authorized a new religion. He lived and died a Jewish Rabbi. He was olive skinned, brown hair and eyes. He was killed because he successfully preached pacifism to the Roman soldiers. He was crucified because to Pontius Pilate this was treason. Then came Lincoln, Ghandi and Marin Luther King. The world remains unprepared for this philosophy.
Aaaah, Lincoln chose to go to war; I don't believe he deserves to be in the same category as Ghandi & MLK. We stupid Americans always seem to think war is the answer, and in Lincoln's case, the cause of the secession was slavery, which like in Brazil, would have run it's course and been delegated an institution no longer acceptable to free men and women! The secession of states should never gone that far. There were diplomatic routes unexplored (IMHO), and the abolishionsts would have had to compromise a bit, just as the south would have too!
But again, in Brazil, they abolished slavery with a stroke of a pen (quill); here, we have to go to war!
I'm far from liberal or pacifist, too!
Why are we looking for something that doesn't exist. Christ rose from the dead--there is no tomb. His earthly family may have a tomb, but not Jesus. More confusion, more misleading, more false teaching.
The Reason You Can't find The Real JESUS CHRIST'S Tomb is because He was ressurected and is Not Here.
The Reason Most People Hate and Try and Deny The Ressurection is it Proves GOD'S Love . No Other Religion has a GOD That is Willing to DIE for Them.
It is so simple People want to Make It Complicated.
BY THe Way:
MY JESUS LIVES!! DOES YOUR GOD????
thanks. such tortured, circular logic, referrencing one aspect of a fairy tale to support another. absolutely beautiful!! thanks for the laugh :-)
What was so special about jesus's sacrifice? people are killed everyday. Someplace, somewhere, right now, a person is giving their life to save another with no garauntee that they are going to some amazing place and that they we be a god. I submit to you that jesus death was no great sacrifice and that people sacrifice more for less everyday, unsung.
you might want to take it easy on the kool-aid. It does something to rational common sense.
I would rather live my life believing in GOD then finding out when I die that there wasn't,
than not believing in GOD then finding out when I die that there was!
Can you tell the rest of us how you force yourself to believe this? Or does your God not know what you think, only what you say?
Personally I would rather lead my life based on what I believe is morally correct and make the most of the one life I know I have, and not fear eternal hell for working on Sunday, thinking the wrong thoughts or countless other petty sins.
Wow. That might be the shallowest thing I have heard all week. Way to say... nothing.
Which god? Allah? Vishnu? Your version of the god of the christian scriptures?
It is ok to work Sundays. It is not ok on the Sabbath. Praise Father G-D!
Its really amazing how people don't want to hear anything that Jesus didnt rise from the grave, what a joke you LOST souls are. Get a bloody life and finally realize Jesus was just some ordinary smuck, ya SMUCK. Bible thumpers are totally LOST and desperate for an explanation of why they are here. As for god ,lol,lol,lol, one sec im pretty sure I just saw Santa fly by with his reindeers being chased by the easter bunny,
Religion is like a cancer. A way to control the masses. More wars have been started and more people killed in the name of religion than any other cause. The only thing more corrupt then churches (catholic comes to mind first.) is the US government.
I'm with you Chris couldn't have said it better myself.
And now you come to this conclussion? I came to the same conclussion from day one. These clowns couldn't "discover" their ears if not attached to their faces. What is the next project? To "discover" the existence of Loch Ness? Yeti? Save time and effort, volunteer at a homeless shelter and maybe there you can do someting nice for a change.
What an archeological bonanza when they dig up L Ron Hubbards apartment a few thousand years from now.
I WONDER...., WHAT RELIGION DID THE DINOSAURS BELIEVE IN? I believe that we should all believe in something, but all of you are taking this religion thing WAY too far. We are all part of this universe and world, so whatever and wherever the source is of our consciousness is, we're all going to go back to it in the end. All of our spirits (consciousness) came from the same place and we all share and feed off of the same energy, so all of these so called religious "books", are written by man, not a deity.. so these are "man's" rules.. not God's.. so please.. if all of us are going to survive as a species.. stop believing in these man written books. If you think they mean anything... just ask the dinosaurs. Like they needed a book to know the difference between right and wrong.
Jesus tomb was only temporary, remember? 3 days, and He was gone... Of course this place is infested with the fallen, who have but a short time to mock the Risen Son of God.
Did you mean "Raisin Son of God" or " Rising Son of God"
Jesus sucks.
Amen Brother Brain!
Why should anyone be surprised. They should be ok with people making up information considering that the religion itself is made up. Jesus may have been a man but that was all. The rest of it is Constantine's political maneuvering in order for the Romans to retain power when the majority of the people in their empire no longer shared their religion.
Just remember that the pontifex maximus used to be the head of Roman polytheism and that will tell you everything you need to know about Christianity.
There are stupid people out there, but you take the cake. Were you there to imply like you were a seer, instead of what you are a clown that Jesus may have been a man? You sound to meesed up to make any sense. For starters, the world, thank God, oops my bad, you don't believe in God either has many well known scientists that have acknowledged the essence of God and guess what, if you put me to choose between an ignoramus, ahem you, and Socrates, Einstein, Voltaire, then you are dumber than I give you credit for. Why is it that people who know not about something are the ones that tried, unsuccessfully I say, to explain something they don't even understand and then trying to sound oracles is the epitome of narcissism, but w/o any basis for that exaltation. At least, Narcissus was well known for his beauty, so much so that he felt in love with himself, but you have none of that and judging by your comment what you lack in brains you have in ego. Before you can run, you have to learn to walk, ergo, before you can comment on religion, you have to study, understand religion. I heard clowns were unemployed and I know you might need to go into another career, but w/o intelligence is an effort in futitlity. Give it up!
Hell no,
Did Socrates believe in your god? Did Einstein? And Voltaire? Really?
Also, do you believe in your god because Einstein does? That's a very silly thing to stake and afterlife on, don't you think?
Your post is a somewhat nonsensical rant.
I'm glad you asked. I studied Greek, Latin for over 10 years and we had to translate Greek into Latin and viceversa and I know by your comment that what I'm trying to explain will sound Greek to you, but it's worth a try and that will be my good deed for today.
I hope you know that during Socates' era, worshipping many gods was the religion then. When Socrates was forced to drink the cicuta that killed him, he said: Causa causarum, misere mei. I hope that you will understand that the definition of God maybe not homogeneous, equal, but what Socrates meant was, for the world, the universe to exist, there had to be a super natural force to regulate the universe, of course, knowing you, you might say he was wrong, but then again, if I'm to choose between you, an ignoramus and Socrates, well it's a no brainer.
Now let's take Einstein. To understand him, you have to understand God and obviously if you don't believe in God, there is no way in hell you will understand what Einstein said. Einstein believe in God, but not in a god that is responsible for every thing that happens to us. Let me first copy what he said: ""I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exist", but not in a God who concerns himself with fates and actions of human beings". Of course, this is quite understandable, because many Christians believe this is where free will to do whatever comes into place and you yourself will be responsible for your actions. I'm not a rocket scientist, but this statement corroborates centuries later what Socrates had said. Socrates call it: Causa causarum, in other words, a force, unnatural, that regulated the universe. He believed in some type of order, because if you believe that the universe is there w/o some type of order, cause then I see why you don't believe in God, you are too stupid to recognize Him. Einstein referred to that order as harmony, but no matter the words, he was referring to the same order, the same God, not just with the same word. He also, chastised those who believe, like you, that he didn't believe in God. He believed in God, but not a personal god. Now here the second part and the kicker to your stupidity galore: ""In view of such harmony in the cosmos which I, with my limited human mind, am able to recognize, there are yet people who say there is no God. But what really makes me angry is that they quote me for the support of such views." How you like them apples and just in case, he also meant you.
Let's now take care of Voltaire. It was reported and yes, we also had to study the greatest men on Earth and Voltaire was one of those, but contrary to you, and being an atheist like you, when laying in his bed and being well known in all Paris, France for his atheism, his friends were astonished to hear him asking for a priest to confess his sins and when they asked him why the change of mind, his reply was: I better take an umbrella in case of rain or let me translate it for you: It's much better to be prepared in case there is a god. FYI, being culturally deprived is more of a crime than a virtue. More knowledge never killed anybody. Going back to Socrates. One of the most admired men of all times and remember, one of his disciples was Plato and yet he is known for having said: ""I know one thing, that I know nothing." If that doesn't convince you of his greatness, then nothing that I could say, even the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth will change that ignorant and stubborn mind of yours, but then again, that is your problem. I hope is not contagious, otherwise, I will be forced to call CDC.
Yes, but my other question was "why does it matter"?
I don't believe what I believe because "smart" people believe it. I believe what I believe because it was the conclusion I came to after much study and education. How dare you call me an ignoramus and stupid just because I asked you a couple of questions. You don't know my level of education or intelligence, you just dislike being questioned. You would have hated Socrates.
And your response was somewhat pathetic, if you think about it. Because you studied Greek, you know what Socrates meant? You know what words he said, but not necessarily what he meant. I always find it really impressive when people have to tell random, anonymous strangers about their educations.
And I know Einstein believed and some sort of force or order. Good for him. He was definitely smarter than I am, but that doesn't mean I have to believe in the unprovable things he believed. Any of his opinions outside of science, and more specifically, physics, are not all that impressive. I also heard he was a womanizer and married his cousin. Are these things I should emulate as well?
Same with Voltaire's death-bed request. Maybe he lost his nerve. Maybe I will. I don't claim to know everything. That's why I ask questions.
Meanwhile, judging by your posts, you seem to "know" there is a god. Now who's being ignorant?
Chad, the third or fourth comment is right. Scientists don't do this stuff. They do everything to prove "Christianity" wrong and prove their beliefs in aliens and other carp, right.
This is not going to be good for Easter. I hope it does not wreck the Economy! All the Big Shopping days are built around this Myth. Crap now what can I believe in!
I believe you can be spiritual without being religious. My beliefs are my beliefs. If you wish me to share what I believe, then I will be happy to, but I am NOT going to stand on a street corner and scream it to the masses. That being said, it matters not to me whether the stories in the Bible are true or not (even though serious archeology research has shown that many of the places described in the Bible did actually exist). The important thing is the moral guides found inside. When reading the Bible, I believe that you have to take it in its proper context. When Moses wrote Genesis, he was trying to explain how this earth came to be to a people that would not have been able to grasp the concept of evolution, so he broke it down into a series of days to explain the process. Just my thoughts, you don't have to agree or disagree.
Earlier posts asks how a loving God could send someone to hell. God doesn't send people to hell, he just pronounces their sentence. It could be compared to our judicial system. If we are law abiding citizens we won't have to worry (usually) about being sentenced for a crime. God has told us what to do to escape punishment. Accept Jesus as our Savior and live for Him, if we reject Jesus then we have made our own choice. God has given us free will, because He wants us to worship Him because we want to--- not because we have to.
You do realize this is only one of many perspectives on one of many gods in which people believe. You also realize that you're taking John 14:6 out of context, right?
Ah, you might want to re-think your reasoning on that. In order to get the "Big Reward" you MUST WORSHIP!
Rhonda Lucky-296458- “A little bit of science averts people from God, a lot of it takes us back to Him.”
Very well put!
I have yet to see any compelling evidence that jesus ever existed as a discreet being. It is much more likely that he was a composite figure based on the lives of several men either alive at the time or from earlier cultures. This is also, by the way, where christianity came from, it was copied from earlier people. There is very little in christianity that was new or ground breaking. They simply stole ideas from earlier religions.
People get so caught up in their egos that they think their beliefs are sacred. After all, how could someone as special, smart, and blessed as they obviously are, be wrong? It is ok that the mormons would leave the vast majority of people out of heaven. Catholics, baptists, muslims, pentacostals, pick your flavor, they all exclude more people than they include. Some muslims are willing to kill you to prove that their religion is correct, not so different from some christians. How many people were killed, maimed and tortured in order to save them?
I will opt for science, logic, and rational thought. There are mountains of evidence of evolution and the actual age of the Earth. We don't know all the details, but it makes so much more sense than a story based on mysticism and superstition. Time to quit mumbling into your hands to your imaginary friend and get with reality. The world would be much better off.
The Roman historical record clearly indicates thatJesus existed, and was crucified.
People seem to miss the potential importance of this tomb. If the fish motif is correct and the phrase is correct and at this point there is no reason to doubt beyond what a few outside observers say based on their preconceived notions then it suggests that Christianities symbols were being used at a much earlier date than before assumed. This in turns means that the history of Christianity as an organized religion can now be pushed back closer to the supposed date of Christs life. The tomb would not be that of Christs but as the original article states it could have belonged to an early Christian follower who may have witnessed Christ at some point in person. Much of the criticism of Christianity comes from the fact that the New Testament was codified so long after the actual events took place. This tomb, if legit represents a Christian burial tradition using established symbols and ritual rhetoric that predate much of the writing of the New Testament.
Lets not be quick to claim this as the actual tomb of Jesus but also lets not disregard what it could be!