Three scholars address the Jesus Tomb thingy (reject, Earth, gospel)

[angellous_evangellous]

I've said elsewhere that scholars most likely would not review the Jesus tomb professionally.... I have found a few articles on it. These are written by members of Society of Biblical Literature, written for everyone and not other biblical scholars - so it's for the benefit of everyone.

http://www.sbl-site.org/

Has the Tomb of Jesus Been Discovered?
by Jodi Magness

Prosopography and the Talpiyot Yeshua Family Tomb: Pensées of a Palaeographer
by Christopher A. Rollston
Two Burials of Jesus of Nazareth and The Talpiot Yeshua Tomb
by James D. Tabor

[alwayswondering]

Thank you for posting these links. Actually, there have been a boat load of scholars who have jumped on the bandwagon of open criticism.

I have two problems with the refutation I've seen:

1.) Those who use the Bible itself to refute the story itself. For example, Jodi Magness (her article, "Has the Tomb of Jesus Been Discovered," is available on the Society of Biblical Literature's website, which angellous_evangellous posted) makes the following statement:

Now let us consider the claim itself. We have no contemporary accounts of the death and burial of Jesus. Our closest sources (in time) are the canonical Gospels, specifically the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke), which are thought to have been composed about 30-50 years after Jesus' death. Although the canonical Gospels are not accurate in every detail, most scholars agree they contain some historical information. The claim that the Talpiyot tomb is the tomb of Jesus and his family contradicts the canonical Gospel accounts and means that we must reject our earliest traditions about Jesus. Those who identify the Talpiyot tomb as the tomb of Jesus support their claim by citing later, non-canonical traditions such as the Gospel of Philip.

Also, because someone, anyone, makes a claim that is not in step with the modern Bible and/or its interpretations, it must be wrong? Phooey!

Further, I find it hard to put my faith in anyone who's best argument is based on evidence which they themselves acknowlede as faulty. Words like "not accurate," "most," and "some" do nothing to factualize any claim, including Magness'.

2. Scholarly rebuttal is not truly scholarly if it's based solely on what is presented in a television show. How many of these folks have actually examined the emperical evidence? None that I've seen. None.

James Tabor explores this topic in his blog, which can be read at jesusdynastydogcomslashblog.

And I guess my question is this: Say it really is true, and these ossuraries are, in fact, the family of Jesus. Why all of the whinging? Wouldn't the faithful all over the world be tickled pink with scientific proof that Jesus did, indeed, walk the earth?

[robtex]

I have read Jodi's thoughts on it so far and she makes some excellent points great website nate.

[michel]

Originally Posted by alwayswondering

And I guess my question is this: Say it really is true, and these ossuraries are, in fact, the family of Jesus. Why all of the whinging? Wouldn't the faithful all over the world be tickled pink with scientific proof that Jesus did, indeed, walk the earth?

Quite. But to be frank, I don't even need scientific proof; besides, now there's scope for conspiracy theories - you just gotta have them!

[angellous_evangellous]

Scholarly rebuttal is not truly scholarly if it's based solely on what is presented in a television show. How many of these folks have actually examined the emperical evidence? None that I've seen.

I was under the impression that all of the scholars had read the 1980 excavation report, which is the only empirical data available so far, aside from other archeological reports and studies related to the historical context.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by robtex

I have read Jodi's thoughts on it so far and she makes some excellent points great website nate.

I am very surprised to see James Tabor ask for more information.

I am more supportive of open criticism.

[alwayswondering]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

I am very surprised to see James Tabor ask for more information.

Evidently he's asking for a bibliography to support the claim. It will be interesting to see if one appears.