Authenticity Of The Shroud Essay Research Paper

Authenticity Of The Shroud Essay, Research Paper The Shroud of Turin has caused much controversy in the latter part of this century, most of it dealing with its authenticity. It is held by many that this is indeed the burial shroud of Jesus Christ, and the image found on the shroud was burned in-for lack of a better word-during the resurrection. This subject has appeared throughout numerous forms of media, ranging from television specials on networks such as Discovery and The Learning Channel, to magazines, newspapers, books and even the Internet. One should not be surprised that a host of web pages have dedicated themselves to one side of the argument or another. Despite the few arguments used to disprove its authenticity (which under light hold no real value), there is by

far too much evidence to arrive at any other conclusion except that it is indeed the burial shroud of Jesus Christ.Disregarding the very extreme, doubting researchers in the field, the Shroud’s history can be traced back undisputedly to the Middle Ages where a French knight named Geoffrey de Charny was in possession of the Shroud, whom many say acquired it from Constantinople (Wilson). After the knight’s death, the Shroud stayed in his family as it was passed down to his son. By the early 1400s, the Shroud was moved to the castle of Montfort as to protect it from hostile invaders (Markwardt).Over the next hundred years, the Shroud changed hands and places only to wind up at the Royal Chapel of Chamb?ry Castle, as much fear that the constant moving might cause damage or

destroy it caused it to reside there some time. Until the late 1800s, the Shroud saw nothing more than the rare showings to the public and changed hands when necessary to protect it from the chaotic, war like state Europe seemed to be constantly in. It was not until 1898 when an Italian attorney, named Secundo Pia, took the first actual photograph of the Shroud (D’Muhala). Although the actual taking of the picture was of little historical importance, what happened when Secundo Pia developed the film, was. The negative of the image seen, while the film was being produced, was startling. The negative of the Shroud upon the film, actually looked as if it were a positive (Appendix A fig. 3). This unforeseen event marked the Shroud of Turin’s launch into the scientific age.In

1978, a public exhibition commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Shroud was held. During this five-week period, the Shroud was publicly displayed to more than 3.5 million visitors. Later that year, a large group of scientists from the United States were brought to spend five days of continuo study of the Shroud (D’Muhala).Although the Shroud’s history can only be undisputedly traced back to the 1300s, there was an item known as the Mandillion, which roughly means “the little towel that heals.” (”In Pursuit of the Shroud”) It is recorded that this towel had the face of Jesus Christ on it and had certain healing powers. Its records began shortly after the crucifixion and writings of the New Testament and it traveled around much of the area. Eventually it found its

way to Constantinople and spent its last recorded years there. According to the Mandillion’s records, a French knight came through the city and reported seeing a cloth with the face of Christ Jesus upon it. One year later, the Crusades came and sacked the city, taking back the spoils of war to Western Europe. It is at this point in time where the records of the Mandillion end, and the records of the Shroud of Turin begin.As a final point in regards to general history, one should also note that researchers have found that if the Shroud was folded along the major crease lines that are prominent in the linen, the Shroud of Turin becomes a small rectangle, with the face of Jesus in the center. (”In Pursuit of the Shroud”).Before discussing what the Shroud of Turin is, which