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News Briefs 18-12-2009

By G. Calofon

My God, it’s full of… watery planets.

A plethora of thanks to the one they call Greg.

Quote of the Day:

“If we have learned one thing from the history of invention and discovery, it is that, in the long run – and often in the short one – the most daring prophecies seem laughably conservative.”

Arthur C. Clarke

G. Calof
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16 Comments

  1. Coffee and Eyeglue
    A few briefs comments if I may…

    “Flash of sunlight proves existence of water on Titan.”

    Actually, that would not be water, but liquid, and in all likelihood, liquid methane. It is far too cold on Titan for liquid water. (It’s okay… the website where the story appears initially points to Saturn, and not Titan, as the source of the reflection, lol.)

    “New evidence appears to disprove the shroud of Turin.”

    I am something of a fan of the shroud, though not as a prop for faith. In fact, a faith that is sure does not require relics while… those without faith would not believe regardless of what the experts say. So aside from being a curiosity or maybe, conversation piece, I often wonder about the church’s seeming obsession to them.

    Like, do they also have a museum for old roadside attractions and automobile hubcaps as well?

    Just saying…

    1. Relics and stuff
      Like you, I am also a shroud fan. The idea presented in the article, that their discovery disproves the shroud, is sheer hyperbole. Because one man uses a particular kind of cloth for his burial shroud does not mean that no other cloth was available. They can’t simply wish the shroud away.

      As for relics and the church, I can think of four points that support their use.

      1) Idolatry. Most of the people the church has tried to attract come from a tradition of idol worship. Relics and certain other religious paraphernalia, such as crucifixes and icons, serve as substitutes for the idols the church was trying to displace.

      2) Relevancy. People feel a greater connection with physical objects than abstract concepts. Additionally, if your relic is of someone who lived recently or locally, it is more likely to be a point of identification with worshippers.

      3) Infrastructure. Once you have a relic, it has to be maintained with a reliquary, a shrine, and so forth. The more money sucking items you can rack up, the better. Ask any bureaucrat.

      4) Status. Churchmen used relics as status symbols to elevate themselves in competition with their fellows. The relics were honors or revenue generators and therefore desireable.

      Ultimately, relics genuine or fake have been more trappings of religion than true accessories of faith.

      1. indeed
        [quote=Delaiah]
        3) Infrastructure. Once you have a relic, it has to be maintained with a reliquary, a shrine, and so forth. The more money sucking items you can rack up, the better. Ask any bureaucrat.

        4) Status. Churchmen used relics as status symbols to elevate themselves in competition with their fellows. The relics were honors or revenue generators and therefore desireable.
        [/quote]

        Are we talking about Zahi again?

        1. Common Points
          3 & 4 are applicable in some sense to any sizable organization and I’m pretty sure Zahi has got ’em down cold. Hopefully, for our sakes, he is getting old enough for legacy building to start to kick in. Does he really want a name other than Hawass to be attached to the revealed secrets of the Great Pyramid and the Giza Plateau? Go, go, ego!!!

      2. 2) Relevancy. People feel a

        2) Relevancy. People feel a greater connection with physical objects than abstract concepts. Additionally, if your relic is of someone who lived recently or locally, it is more likely to be a point of identification with worshippers.

        Yeah but you know, I can play some Diane Arkenstone and just stare at the damned thing for hours, picking out small things I had never noticed before. It is quite a work, by god or man… quite a work.

        1. It is incredible…
          no matter the source. I have often wondered whether the image stops with the fabric. Could the image somehow continue into the rock of the Tomb itself? It likely would have to be invisible to the naked eye for it to be unknown. Today’s technology, however, might be able to pick such an image up if it exists.

      3. Good points
        I’ve also a soft spot for the shroud. And the idea that this new discovery disproves the authenticity of the shroud seems a bit exaggerated.

        Say an archeologist from the future finds a metal coffin from our time, and then goes to another cemetery and then finds a plethora of wooden caskets. Would he be right in concluding that this new finding proves the metal coffin is a forgery, since in our days people used wood to build burial coffins?

        My God, imagine what they’ll think when they uncover Jacko’s golden casket! 😉

        Furthermore, if you bare to give a modicum of credence to the tale of the gospels, Jesus’ burial was far from proper. It was done in a hurry because the Sabbath was upon them, so they had little time to prepare the body.

        And the idea of putting a secondary cloth in the head in order to prevent premature burials of catatonics would be fine with people dying from natural diseases. But *maybe* the people that buried Jesus were pretty certain than a man that has just been crucified an stabbed to the thorax with a pillum had very few chances of being taken mistakenly for dead 😉

        So, do I base my faith in the shroud? No; to me it’s an interesting ‘what if?’.

        1. Other cloth…
          Any 1st-year student of archeology would be able to discredit the theory that this article puts forth. There were MANY types of weaving, many types of cloth during this period.

          The story says that Jesus was buried in the tomb of a rich man. Wouldn’t it follow that his shroud might also have been made of upscale material provided by the tomb owner for a hasty burial?

          I have absolute belief that the Shroud of Turin is a 1st century cloth. Whether it is Jesus’ cloth or has any connection to Him I cannot say. But it absolutely is 1st century AD.

          This entire story is just another case of some individual needing their 15 minute’s a fame, and nothing more.

          respects,

          2. Amazing…

            Yes,

            We prolly have a lot more in common than this, but hey….

            It’s a great time of year, I saved up enough money to restock my liquor cabinet, and I intend to make good use of it over the next couple weeks, 🙂

            I hope you have a wonderful and profitable year, mia amigo, and look forward to another good year of TDG.

            Respects,

      4. Not sure I get your point
        Worshiping a relic is different from worshiping an idol, how?

        Regardless if you call it ‘worship’ of an object, it’s still substitutes the material for the spiritual. I don’t get it.

        1. Idolatry, et al…
          FWIW, no one that I know worships the shroud. Many, many venerate it as a relic associated with the Christ. That’s far different from worship. It’s akin to touching a piece of armour that, say, the Black Prince once wore. It gives you a bit of a bond, a connection with the past, but nothing more.

          For example: Joshua Chamberlain was a famous American Civil War period General, a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Governor of the state of Maine, etc. He died in the early 20th century. I was born decades afterward. However, I have also spoken with, and shaken the hand of a lady who, as a young girl, used to sit upon his lap and listen to his stories. Accordingly, I’m only a handshake away from a hero of the 1860’s. I have also held his sword, and touched his clothing. It creates, like it or not, a special bond.

          Same with the shroud. Those who have viewed it feel it brings them closer to Jesus. I’m not a Christian, but I can fully understand their emotions, and especially their connections.

          It’s not worship, far from it. However, it is veneration, allocating a special place to the object as a talisman, a portal, a connection to the past. Not a proof, but a part of something that may become a proof.

          Respects,

  3. Virgin Mary billboard
    Here is my version…

    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2680/4200979914_51a5f58480_b.jpg

    HAHA

    (wind blowing through trees and snow. a fire softly crackles)

    “And Christmas tames all,
    and your bonnie clay as though,
    Happy breastling to you, people.
    All our best from me to you
    and the beasty dragon mutton,
    to the heather and little inn,
    I’ll be struttin’ oot in ma tether.
    To yer arms once back again,
    Och away, ye bonnie…”

    (wind blowing snow…fade)

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