Mageth

According to this link, Gibson is "not religious".

Toto

Gibson does appear to pander to the religious market.

Jerusalem body 'has links to the Crucifixion'

Gibson excavated a corpse from the first century, and based on no evidence at all, proclaimed that the man must have been a witness to the crucifixion (since Jerusalem was such a small town in those days. . .)

Here's a more neutral and more interesting description: Jerusalem Shroud. It's hard to blame Gibson - he has to hype his findings to get his share of attention.

But is there any indication that John the Baptist used a cave?

funinspace

Not sure, but maybe there was some sort of "Johanites" or not.

The Mandaeans are a still, but very small, ethnic/religious sect that is now in Iraq. They are more of a duelistic faith, that maybe has Jewish/Egyptian traits. They claim the JtheB was one of their key prophets, and Jesus was a follower, and then traitor. Their history is real fuzzy, and they don't like to show their holy books much. How old their written books go back is debatable and hard to know since they are shy. There are hints that they were driven out of the Palistine area between 50-150 AD...lots of speculation few facts.

Mageth

For the money and notoriety, perhaps?

Maybe those were honey pots?

Enfield

Seems odd.

Woulnd't mind seeing another group come along and do dating tests and whatnot.

It cannot be varafied it is his cave. As for the foot washing, there was obviously Christians (early ones) in the 2nd and 3rd century, it could have been a place of worship, not neccessarily a cave for John the Baptist.

anthrosciguy

Gibson also has a book out on this, which just could account for highly speculative ideas being presented as solid info.

Shameless Hussy

Yes, a bit secretive, but that's gnostics for ya! According to my copy of Eerdman's handbook (second edition), the earliest surviving Mandaean texts are lead amulets from around the 3rd century CE. Next oldest are the "magic bowls" of around the 7th century CE (not sure if the bowls have text on them, or are just artifacts). No evidence of their existence before 2nd century CE, though some want to argue they predate Xtianity (without evidence, natch). All current evidence points to them evolving parallel to the Xtians. Unfortunately, the Freemason/Illuminati people have latched on to Mandaeans, so now if one mentions Johannesbusch/Johannites (followers of JtheB) or Mandaeans, one tends to get odd looks. ("I am not now, nor have I ever been, a Rosicrucian...")

As for non-Mandaean followers of JtheB, so-called Johannites (I think that's the correct term, but will check further), I'll try to get back with some online sources, which I think are more helpful in these discussions than hard text, seeing as not everyone lives in a library. But I could swear I remember either Harpur or Wilson talking about this...

Toto

Evangelicals are already claiming this one

Magdlyn

What a bunch of hokum.

Yes, what "tradition" says JtheB was from Ein Kerem/Jerusalem?

Who says JtheB baptized in --a cave?

Did the Jordan River used to run thru Jerusalem? Thru a cave in Jerusalem?

If JtheB wore camel hair, why does the tunic have-- spots? Did camels used to be spotted like a leopard?

A portrait on a cave wall is invariably a representation of a severed head? :rolling:

EverLastingGodStopper

When I saw this line: “There are a lot less atheists than there were 50 years ago because our science is better,� Borton said, I clicked their "comment" link, informed them that Borton was WRONG, and gave them THIS line:

"According to the ARIS 2001 survey, the total "No Religion Specified" category has grown to 29,481,000, roughly 14.1% of the population."
From: http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/atheist4.htm
ARIS 2001 SURVEY: http://www.gc.cuny.edu/studies/aris_index.htm