Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Haran · 04-15-2006, 06:23 AM

The trial of Oded Golan was supposed to take place quite a long time ago now. Is there a case against Oded or not? Does anyone have any information on what is going on?

In James Tabor's new sensational book, The Jesus Dynasty (or via: amazon.co.uk), he says:

Quote:

Both the IAA committee conclusions and the indictment against Oded Golan were widely reported in the media, giving the public the impression that the experts had now concluded that the James Ossuary was a forgery. Such is hardly the case and the authenticity issue is far from settled.

S.C.Carlson · 04-15-2006, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haran

The trial of Oded Golan was supposed to take place quite a long time ago now. Is there a case against Oded or not? Does anyone have any information on what is going on?

I have not been following it closely, but according to my understanding from tidbits on Jim West's blog, the trial is still going on (or rather still being postponed). One of the indicted co-conspirators has copped a plea and turned state's evidence.

Stephen

Haran · 04-15-2006, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S.C.Carlson

One of the indicted co-conspirators has copped a plea and turned state's evidence.

That is news to me. Is Jim's blog your source for this?

I wish they'd hurry up. The IAA has given the appearance that they are biased and inept. I'm anxious to see all of this evidence against Oded. According to Tabor, there are still many experts who think the ossuary and its inscription are authentic.

yalla · 04-15-2006, 07:16 AM

http://www.bib-arch.org/BARND05_Fakes.pdf

According to this the trial may last a decade.

Toto · 04-15-2006, 09:53 AM

In an excerpt from the book linked in this thread on Tabor's book: Another historical Jesus theory (and the James Ossuary again) Tabor believes that the ossuary originally said "James the son of Joseph", and "that brother of Jesus" was added/forged; he claims that this ossuary is the missing 10th ossuary from a tomb that contained Jesus' family's ossuaries.

Doug Shaver · 04-15-2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

he claims that this ossuary is the missing 10th ossuary from a tomb that contained Jesus' family's ossuaries.

He claims that somebody found nine ossuaries all with names of Jesus' relatives, all in one tomb?

S.C.Carlson · 04-15-2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haran

That is news to me. Is Jim's blog your source for this?

Yes.

S.C.Carlson · 04-15-2006, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

In an excerpt from the book linked in this thread on Tabor's book: Another historical Jesus theory (and the James Ossuary again) Tabor believes that the ossuary originally said "James the son of Joseph", and "that brother of Jesus" was added/forged; he claims that this ossuary is the missing 10th ossuary from a tomb that contained Jesus' family's ossuaries.

The prosecution's theory of the case is that the first part is authentic and that the second part was added. It sounds like Tabor is saying that they put a forged inscription on the real deal. The problem with looting and forgery is that it destroys evidence: we don't know where the box really came from, and the original inscription was throughly cleaned of the old patina in order to put the fake patina over it. Because of Golan actions (he has admitted that the cleaning occurred in his position and he cannot substantiate where it came from), most if not all the evidence to support Tabor's claim has spoiled.

Stephen

David B · 04-15-2006, 10:56 AM

I have a strong memory of seeing a tv documentary on this, in the UK, and as I recall it the ossuary was found to be fake. The evidence presented was convincing to me.

David B

Haran · 04-15-2006, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

In an excerpt from the book linked in this thread on Tabor's book: Another historical Jesus theory (and the James Ossuary again) Tabor believes that the ossuary originally said "James the son of Joseph", and "that brother of Jesus" was added/forged

I believe this is a misunderstanding of his text. I have and have read the book, and he, in fact, appears to me to believe that the box and the entire inscription is genuine. If not, then he certainly wastes a lot of space strongly presenting information that sounds pro-authenticity...

Quote:

I {J. Tabor} first viewed the ossuary at the November meeting in Toronto at a private after-hours gathering of scholars at the Royal Ontario Museum. About twenty-five of us were invited — historians, archaeologists, epigraphers, and New Testament scholars. I stood next to Shanks and heard firsthand three of the top experts on ancient scripts in the world all agree that the inscription was authentic. The feeling in the room was contagious and electrifying yet strangely sober and subdued. I think most of us were convinced that we were standing before the actual 2,000-year-old stone box that had once held the bones of James the brother of Jesus of Nazareth.

Quote:

He {Oded Golan} has since been formally indicted and charged with adding the phrase "brother of Jesus" to an otherwise genuine ossuary that was inscribed with "James son of Joseph," attempting to coat the letters with a fake baked-on patina, and lying about when he acquired the ossuary — all for purposes of generating worldwide publicity and financial gain. Both the IAA committee conclusions and the indictment against Oded Golan were widely reported in the media, giving the public the impression that the experts had now concluded that the James Ossuary was a forgery.6 Such is hardly the case, and the authenticity issue is far from settled.

Quote:

André Lemaire, the Sorbonne epigrapher, continues to strongly defend the authenticity of the inscription and has offered detailed responses to the ossuary detractors. Ada Yardeni, not on the IAA committee but one of Israel's leading experts in ancient writing, agrees. She points out unique features about the Aramaic phrasing in the inscription that no forger could have possibly known. She even offered a concluding comment, "If it is a forgery then I quit." 8 To date not a single qualified epigrapher or paleographer has pointed out any evidence of forgery. In fact one member of the IAA committee who, against his better judgment, went along with the original vote now says he thinks the inscription is authentic. Other qualified experts have questioned the IAA geochemical tests on the patina. The IAA geologists have had to back down from their initially proposed theories as to how the allegedly fake patina was produced. One member of the IAA committee has said that she saw ancient patina in the last two letters of the inscription — the very part that is supposed to be forged. The geologists from the Geological Survey of Israel who initially found the inscription to be authentic have not changed their position, nor has the scientific team at the Royal Ontario Museum that examined the ossuary after it was broken.

And for the obviously overlooked icing on the cake from Tabor's book, Tabor states:

Quote:

The James Ossuary inscription is likely authentic.

I could be wrong, but that statement seems to imply that Tabor believes the inscription to be authentic en toto (no pun intended, of course).

He goes on to explain why he believes so. I have wondered and wondered why people are so vehemently against this ossuary's inscription being authentic. I think that atheists and mythicists do not want it do be authentic because it damages their case against Christianity, and Catholics do not want it to be authentic because it damages their traditions about Mary.

Who is there in all of this that is unbiased?? Not many, perhaps not any. Shame, that.

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04-15-2006, 07:16 AM	#4
yalla Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: oz Posts: 1,848	http://www.bib-arch.org/BARND05_Fakes.pdf According to this the trial may last a decade.

04-15-2006, 09:53 AM	#5
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	In an excerpt from the book linked in this thread on Tabor's book: Another historical Jesus theory (and the James Ossuary again) Tabor believes that the ossuary originally said "James the son of Joseph", and "that brother of Jesus" was added/forged; he claims that this ossuary is the missing 10th ossuary from a tomb that contained Jesus' family's ossuaries.

04-15-2006, 10:56 AM	#9
David B Contributor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wales Posts: 11,620	I have a strong memory of seeing a tv documentary on this, in the UK, and as I recall it the ossuary was found to be fake. The evidence presented was convincing to me. David B

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