The Shroud of Turin, a 14-foot-long linen cloth revered by many as the burial shroud of Jesus Christ, has sparked centuries of debate and fascination. The cloth, which bears a faint image of a man with wounds consistent with crucifixion, has been at the center of intense religious devotion and scientific scrutiny since it first emerged in the 1350s. Now, new research by Italian scientists suggests that the shroud may indeed be around 2,000 years old, potentially aligning with the time of Christ, and reopening the conversation about its authenticity.
The Shroud of Turin first came to public attention in the mid-14th century when it was presented by French knight Geoffroi de Charny to the dean of the church in Lirey, France. Touted as the Holy Shroud, the cloth was believed to be the very one used to wrap Jesus’ mutilated body after his crucifixion. The image on the shroud, depicting a gaunt man with his arms folded and bearing wounds that correspond with biblical accounts of Christ’s crucifixion, quickly became an object of veneration.
However, skepticism over the shroud’s authenticity has been a persistent theme. In 1988, a team of international researchers conducted a carbon dating analysis on a small piece of the shroud. The results, which dated the cloth to between 1260 and 1390 AD, seemed to confirm that the shroud was a medieval forgery. This conclusion led many to dismiss the shroud as a pious fraud, manufactured centuries after the death of Christ.
Despite the 1988 findings, the Shroud of Turin has continued to be a subject of scientific interest and religious devotion. In recent years, a team of Italian researchers from the Institute of Crystallography of the National Research Council conducted a new study using Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS), a technique that measures the natural aging of flax cellulose, the primary material in linen.
The researchers analyzed eight small samples of fabric from the shroud, using X-rays to uncover tiny details in the linen’s structure and cellulose patterns. By studying the breakdown of cellulose over time, the team was able to estimate the age of the shroud. Their findings suggest that the cloth was likely manufactured around the time of Jesus, approximately 2,000 years ago. This conclusion is supported by comparisons with other ancient linens from Israel, such as those found at Masada, which date back to the first century.
The study also addressed potential flaws in the 1988 carbon dating analysis. Lead author Dr. Liberato De Caro pointed out that contamination in the samples used for the carbon dating could have skewed the results. He argued that if the cleaning procedures were not thoroughly performed, the carbon-14 dating could be unreliable. The new research suggests that the shroud’s cellulose breakdown is consistent with linens dating from the first century, rather than the Middle Ages.
The implications of this new research are significant. If the shroud is indeed 2,000 years old, it would lend credence to the belief that it is the actual burial cloth of Jesus Christ. The Bible recounts how Joseph of Arimathea wrapped Jesus’ body in a linen shroud before placing it in a tomb. Matthew 27:59-60 states, “Then Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.”
The Shroud of Turin has captivated the imagination of believers and skeptics alike for centuries. Its image, depicting a man with sunken eyes, lacerations on the back, thorn marks on the head, and bruises on the shoulders, aligns closely with the biblical description of Christ’s crucifixion. Historians have noted that the markings correspond to the wounds inflicted during Jesus’ final hours, including the crown of thorns and the scourging by Roman soldiers.
Despite the new findings, the Shroud of Turin remains a deeply polarizing artifact. While some scholars and religious leaders see the latest research as a validation of the shroud’s authenticity, others remain unconvinced. The 1988 carbon dating results are still cited by skeptics who argue that the shroud is a medieval forgery, created during a period when relics of Christ’s passion were in high demand.
Moreover, the scientific community remains divided. Some researchers have raised concerns about the reliability of the WAXS technique and the interpretation of the data. The challenge of accurately dating ancient textiles, particularly those that have been subjected to varying environmental conditions over the centuries, continues to complicate the quest for definitive answers.
The Shroud of Turin is not just a religious relic; it is also a scientific enigma. Over 170 peer-reviewed academic papers have been published on the shroud since the 1980s, each contributing to the ongoing debate over its origins and significance. Testing in the 1970s examined whether the images on the shroud were created through painting, scorching, or other means, but no definitive conclusions were reached. Other studies have analyzed the bloodstains on the shroud, with some researchers identifying substances that suggest the presence of real blood from a torture victim.
The Shroud of Turin is currently housed in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, where it has been preserved since 1578. It is only publicly displayed on special occasions, drawing pilgrims and tourists from around the world. Despite the ongoing controversy, the shroud remains one of the most intensely studied human artifacts in history, symbolizing both the deep mysteries of faith and the relentless pursuit of scientific truth.
As new technologies and methodologies continue to emerge, the Shroud of Turin will likely remain a focal point of research and debate. Whether it is ultimately proven to be the burial cloth of Jesus or a remarkable medieval forgery, its impact on religious and scientific communities is undeniable. The story of the Shroud of Turin is not just about a piece of cloth; it is a testament to humanity’s enduring quest for understanding in the face of mystery.
The Shroud of Turin stands at the intersection of faith, history, and science, challenging our understanding of both the past and the present. The latest research using Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering offers compelling evidence that the shroud may be much older than previously thought, potentially dating back to the time of Jesus. However, the debate over its authenticity is far from settled, with both believers and skeptics continuing to search for answers. As the shroud continues to be studied, it remains a powerful symbol of the enduring mysteries that lie at the heart of human belief and inquiry.
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – A 35-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder after his mother’s body was found near her Kamloops, B.C., home a year ago.
Mounties say 57-year-old Jo-Anne Donovan was found dead about a week after she had been reported missing.
RCMP says its serious crime unit launched an investigation after the body was found.
Police say they arrested Brandon Donovan on Friday after the BC Prosecution Service approved the charge.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
TORONTO – Strength in the base metal and technology sectors helped Canada’s main stock index gain almost 100 points on Friday, while U.S. stock markets climbed to their best week of the year.
“It’s been almost a complete opposite or retracement of what we saw last week,” said Philip Petursson, chief investment strategist at IG Wealth Management.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 297.01 points at 41,393.78. The S&P 500 index was up 30.26 points at 5,626.02, while the Nasdaq composite was up 114.30 points at 17,683.98.
The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 93.51 points at 23,568.65.
While last week saw a “healthy” pullback on weaker economic data, this week investors appeared to be buying the dip and hoping the central bank “comes to the rescue,” said Petursson.
Next week, the U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut its key interest rate for the first time in several years after it significantly hiked it to fight inflation.
But the magnitude of that first cut has been the subject of debate, and the market appears split on whether the cut will be a quarter of a percentage point or a larger half-point reduction.
Petursson thinks it’s clear the smaller cut is coming. Economic data recently hasn’t been great, but it hasn’t been that bad either, he said — and inflation may have come down significantly, but it’s not defeated just yet.
“I think they’re going to be very steady,” he said, with one small cut at each of their three decisions scheduled for the rest of 2024, and more into 2025.
“I don’t think there’s a sense of urgency on the part of the Fed that they have to do something immediately.
A larger cut could also send the wrong message to the markets, added Petursson: that the Fed made a mistake in waiting this long to cut, or that it’s seeing concerning signs in the economy.
It would also be “counter to what they’ve signaled,” he said.
More important than the cut — other than the new tone it sets — will be what Fed chair Jerome Powell has to say, according to Petursson.
“That’s going to be more important than the size of the cut itself,” he said.
In Canada, where the central bank has already cut three times, Petursson expects two more before the year is through.
“Here, the labour situation is worse than what we see in the United States,” he said.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.61 cents US compared with 73.58 cents US on Thursday.
The October crude oil contract was down 32 cents at US$68.65 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was down five cents at US$2.31 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$30.10 at US$2,610.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents US$4.24 a pound.
— With files from The Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State has asked a judge to decide key parts of its lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference without a trial, hoping for a quicker resolution and path to a possible exit from the league.
Florida State requested a partial summary judgment from Circuit Judge John Cooper in a 574-page document filed earlier this week in Leon County, the Tallahassee-based school’s home court.
Florida State sued the ACC in December, challenging the validity of a contract that binds member schools to the conference and each other through media rights and claiming the league’s exit fees and penalties for withdrawal are exorbitant and unfair.
In its original compliant, Florida State said it would cost the school more than half a billion dollars to break the grant of rights and leave the ACC.
“The recently-produced 2016 ESPN agreements expose that the ACC has no rights to FSU home games played after it leaves the conference,” Florida State said in the filing.
Florida State is asking a judge to rule on the exit fees and for a summary judgment on its breach of contract claim, which says the conference broke its bylaws when it sued the school without first getting a majority vote from the entire league membership.
The case is one of four active right now involving the ACC and one of its members.
The ACC has sued Florida State in North Carolina, claiming the school is breaching a contract that it has signed twice in the last decade simply by challenging it.
The judge in Florida has already denied the ACC’s motion to dismiss or pause that case because the conference filed first in North Carolina. The conference appealed the Florida decision in a hearing earlier this week.
Clemson is also suing the ACC in South Carolina, trying to find an affordable potential exit, and the conference has countersued that school in North Carolina, too.
Florida State and the ACC completed court-mandated mediation last month without resolution.
The dispute is tied to the ACC’s long-term deal with ESPN, which runs through 2036, and leaves those schools lagging well behind competitors in the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten when it comes to conference-payout revenue.
Florida State has said the athletic department is in danger of falling behind by as much as $40 million annually by being in the ACC.
“Postponing the resolution of this question only compounds the expense and travesty,” the school said in the latest filing.
The ACC has implemented a bonus system called a success initiative that will reward schools for accomplishments on the field and court, but Florida State and Clemson are looking for more as two of the conference’s highest-profile brands and most successful football programs.
The ACC evenly distributes revenue from its broadcast deal, though new members California, Stanford and SMU receive a reduced and no distribution. That money is used to fund the pool for the success initiative.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Lawyer says Chinese doping case handled ‘reasonably’ but calls WADA’s lack of action “curious”
Dolphins will bring in another quarterback, while Tagovailoa deals with concussion
B.C. to scrap consumer carbon tax if federal government drops legal requirement: Eby
RCMP say 3 dead, suspects at large in targeted attack at home in Lloydminster, Sask.
Ceiling high for Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ahmed: Canada coach
David Beckham among soccer dignitaries attending ex-England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson’s funeral
A linebacker at West Virginia State is fatally shot on the eve of a game against his old school
Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime lift Canada over Finland 3-0 in Davis Cup tie
