Jesus In The News

See also:
The DaVinci Code

Still the Way, the Truth, and the Life

Dec. 7, 2009 - A growing number of Christians, including some evangelicals believe that Jesus is unique, but so are the leaders of the other world religions. They feel that this view is necessary in order for equality to be established among religions. They consider this concept a necessary a basis for interreligious dialogue.

According to a 2008 national survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 52 percent of all American Christians believe that non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life.

Further, despite a recent countertrend, the number of evangelicals who believe this remains remarkably high.

Source: John R. Franke - Christianity Today

Pope confirms visit to Shroud of Turin; new evidence on shroud emerges

July 31, 2009 - The Shroud of Turin will go on public display for the first time since 2000 in Turin's cathedral April 10-May 23, 2010. Pope Benedict XVI plans to visit the display at that time.

A Vatican researcher, Barbara Frale, told Vatican Radio July 26 that her own studies suggest the letters on the shroud were written more than 1,800 years ago.

She said that in 1978 a Latin professor in Milan noticed Aramaic writing on the shroud and in 1989 scholars discovered Hebrew characters that probably were portions of the phrase "The king of the Jews."

Source: Catholic News

'Merry Christmas' Billboards Prove Popular

Dec. 23, 2008 - Three Ohio women have spearheaded a campaign to buy billboard space with the message "Merry Christmas." Last year they raised enough donations to have four billboards, an this year they were able to have ten of them.

The messages read, 'It's OK to say Merry Christmas' and 'I miss hearing you say Merry Christmas.' Both billboards were signed by Jesus.

Source: CBN

Shroud of Turin Stirs a New Controversy

Aug. 19, 2008 - In 1978 University of Colorado physicist John Jackson and a team of other scientists ran tests on the "Shroud of Turin," an artifact that could have been the linnen that wrapped the body of Christ before the resurrection. Their tests indicated that the stains really were from blood. But later radiocarbon dating tests, in 1988 indicated that the shroud originated in the 13th or 14th century. However, Jackson believes that the shroud has been contaminated by carbon monoxide, and gave false results.

Jackson hopes to be allowed to reexamine the shroud, which is owned by the Vatican and stored in Turin’s Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

Source: NewsMax

Jesus 'Tomb' Controversy Reopened

Jan. 17, 2008 - Prof. James Charlesworth, A New Testament expert from Princeton Theological Seminary has convened a conference in Jerusalem of over 50 archeologists, statisticians and experts in DNA, ceramics and ancient languages. They will discuss a tomb that some claim was the tomb of Jesus and His family. If it is considered valid it will cast doubt on the Gospel accounts.

Source:TIME

Update: Jan 28,2008- Conference scholars reject 'Jesus coffin' - WorldNetDaily

'Islamic Jesus' hits Iranian movie screens

Jan. 14, 2008 - Nader Talebzadeh, an Iranian filmaker has produced what he says is the first film giving an Islamic view of Jesus Christ. The movie is called, "Jesus, the Spirit of God." He hopes the movie will be a bridge between Muslims and Christians. The movie is true Islamic teaching that Jesus was a prophet, but that he was not crucified. The film received only modest attendance in Tehran theaters.

The film, funded by state broadcasting, faded off the billboards but is far from dead, about to be recycled in a major 20 episode spin-off to be broadcast over state-run national television this year.

Source: ABS-CBNNews

Star of Bethlehem: Fact or Fiction?

Dec. 24, 2007 - Professor and Attorney Rick Larson has provided research for a DVD about The Star of Bethlehem. He builds on the findings of modern astronomer John Mosley and historian Ernest Martin to show how credible the story of the star really is.

SourceCBN

The Star of Bethlehem - Research about the Christmas Star - Rick Larson

The Star of Bethlehem - Movie produced by Stephen McEveety (The Passion of the Christ)

The Christmas Star - Article and DVD by Barry Setterfield

Christmas in Prophecy - Prophecy Central

New film claims Jesus buried in Talpiot

Feb. 26, 2007 - Filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici is releasing a documentary that suggests that Jesus and his family were buried in a cave in Jerusalem. This is based on a much earlier discovery of ossuaries found with the names of Jesus, Mary, a second Mary, and relatives Matthew, Josa and Judah.

Bar-Ilan University Prof. Amos Kloner, the Jerusalem District archeologist who officially oversaw the work at the tomb in 1980 disagrees:

"It makes a great story for a TV film," he told The Jerusalem Post. "But it's impossible. It's nonsense."

Source: Jerusalem Post

Scholars, Clergymen Criticize New Documentary on Alleged Tomb of Jesus Christ - Fox

'Lost Tomb of Jesus' Claim Called A 'Stunt' - Free Internet Press

Christian Scholars Poke Holes in Cable Documentary on Jesus Christ by Film Director James Cameron of ’Titanic’ - Assist News Service

'Jesus tomb' documentary ignores biblical & scientific evidence, logic, experts say - BP News

Author: Shroud of Turin wrongly condemned

April 11, 2006 - William Meachen's book, The Rape of the Turin Shroud – how Christianity's most precious relic was wrongly condemned, and violated, exposes errors in the 1988 Carbon-14 dating procedures that concluded the material was made in medieval times (about A.D. 1260-1390).

Source: WorldNetDaily

Jesus' Shroud? Recent Findings Renew Authenticity Debate - From 2004 - National Geographics

The Shroud of Turin Website

The Judas Gospel

April, 2006 - National Geographics aired a documentary on "The Gospel of Judas," found in the 1970's but only recently translated. They summarize the book this way:

According to a recently translated ancient text called the Gospel of Judas, the disciple infamous for betraying Jesus may well have been Christ’s most faithful servant and—because the Savior asked him to—accepted perpetual disgrace to bring about Jesus' death.

Source: National Geographics

The Gospel of Judas was attacked as "heresy" by St. Irenaeus in A.D. 180, but the only known copy was made sometime between A.D. 220 and 340. - National Geographics

Responding to The Gospel of Judas - R. Albert Mohler Jr. - Crosswalk

‘Gospel of Judas’ is heresy & unreliable history, profs say - Tim Ellsworth - BP News

Engaging the Da Vinci Debate: Author Challenges Christians

Mar. 2, 2006 - Christian apologist Lee Strobel will host a CNN satellite presentation on the subject.

Source: Crosswalk

'Da Vinci Code': Blockbuster or blasphemy? - WorldNetDaily

Italian Lawyers Asked to Prove Jesus Existed

Jan. 21, 2006 - An Italian court is hearing a case brought by Luigi Cascioli, a life-long athiest, against Catholic priest Enrico Righi, for asserting that Jesus did indeed exist, and that he was born of a couple named Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem and lived in Nazareth. Cascioli says that this teaching violates two Italian laws ...

... by making the assertion: so-called "abuse of popular belief" in which someone fraudulently deceives people; and "impersonation" in which someone gains by attributing a false name to someone.

Source:Fox

The Jesus Trial - Commentary by Joseph Farah - WorldNetDaily