Arken

Even if it is not a fake, which more and more evidence seems to point to, it isn't proof of a historical Jesus anyway. It's simply evidence that a man named (in the modern tongue) James had a brother named Joshua and a father named Joseph and the brother was important enough to be mentioned. I remember when this became a big media sensation that even then they were saying that all three names were extremely common and the probability that they would share that relationship was high enough that there could be multiple Jameses with brothers named Joshua and fathers named Joseph.

So, in the end, it doesn't matter much if it is a fake or not because it's far from conclusive proof (although I doubt its adherents would see it that way).

godfry n. glad

I'll agree to this, but with the caveat that I'm not quite sure what you mean by "if it's not a fake".

You mean the ossuary? I'll accept that outright...It well may be an ossuary that dates to anywhere from the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE.

That the inscription is authentic...well, I'll wait for more gruelling tests.

What do you mean by "more and more evidence seems to point to" it not being a fake? I haven't seen _any_ additional evidence provided since the circus that was the "gathering of expertise" at the showing at ROM. From the behavior of Shanks at the public panel, I'd say there were more and more attempts to obscure the truth. Have you information I lack?

godfry

Arken

Sorry if I was being unclear. I meant that more and more evidence seems to point to the inscription being a fake. Or at least that's my impression. They seem to keep finding more evidence that the inscription was a forgery.

godfry n. glad

Oh...I _did_ misinterpret you.

I thought you were saying that more and more evidence pointed to the authenticity of the ossuary and its inscription.

We shall see... <picture godfry inpatiently drumming his fingers>

godfry

Vorkosigan

Don't expect too much. There's enormous pressure on them to find for authenticity. And the Christians will be able to kick up enough dust to obscure anything negative in the report. Joe Kickell and Rochelle Altman will be writing reports on this piece of shit for years to come.

Our best hope is that Golan comes clean about everything -- the Tablet, the Ossuary, and some other stuff I suspect is his work too.

Vorkosigan

Haran

Well, if the rumors can be trusted, I think the panel has judged correctly on the Joash Inscription (and if anyone recalls, I stated this from the beginning).

I have no idea who is on the panel, so who knows what their biases may be. However, since the first judgement seems correct to me, I will be anxious to see what they have to say about the ossuary.

I'm sure whatever the decision is, it will be condemned by one side or the other. Right, Vork?

Haran

By the way...

Toto, are you reading ANE everyday??

Toto

No, that's not part of my daily routine. I found these articles on the bibleinterp.com web site, which I visit on occasion.

Haran

Ah... I've just noticed that you seem to get the news about JI and the ossuary pretty quickly most of the time. ANE was the only place I knew of that usually had any info that quickly. I wondered what your secret was on getting the 'scoop'.

Vorkosigan

It's a forgery, Haran. We already know that. The only question is how the commissions will frame their answer, politically. Much, including the freedom of one Oded Golan, hangs on that answer.

Vorkosigan