The Holy Shroud of Turin is indeed not painted. As stated by Adam Otterbein, ?photography has also been used to reduce the size of the two life-size images , thus defining then more clearly and anatomical details was thus revealed. The anatomical proportion of the two figures is superior to that of even the great masterpieces of painting. This fact and the absence of pigment from the cloth further weaken the painting theory.? (Otterbein 1996, p:250.) ?Scientific evidence which came to light after the Shroud was photograph for the first time in, 1898 by Secondo Pia, strengthens the view that the image was not painted but an actual imprint of a human corpse. It was then discovered that the image is a negative one like a photographic negative in which light areas appear dark and dark areas appears light. Before the discovery of photography (in about 1840), knowledge of negative images was limited. With this discovery, the possibility that the image had been painted became consequently more remote.?(Otterbein 1996, p: 250.) ?Air Force Scientist John Jackson and Eric Jumper, using a sophisticated image enhancement analyzer designed for the space program, discovered the shroud image contained encoded 3-D data not fount in ordinary reflected light photographs. This discovery indicated that the cloth must have been enfolded around a real human figure at the time the image was formed.? (www.shroud.com) Other strong evidences that can subject the Shroud to its authenticity, ?Microbiologist said there was a bacteria coating on the threads that could have altered the dating. Other expert said in 1532 fire that nearly destroyed the cloth altered the date. Renowned art experts said it?s not a painting and no artist could have produced it. Medical experts say it?s the image of a real human being. Blood Chemist say it is human blood from actual wounds. Spectroscopist say there was no evidence of paint binder. X-ray radiographers said there was no metallic based substances as might be used in paint. Spectroscopist said there was no significant trace of paint, ink, dye, pigment or stain. Textile experts said there are particles of Egyptian cotton indicating a Mid East origin. Botanist said pollen on the Shroud was from Israel and surrounding areas. Microscopists say limestone particles were similar to the hills around Jerusalem. Photographers said the image was a negative that becomes positive in a photonegative. DNA experts said there was evidence of human genomes found from blood cells.
Anthropologist said that the man appears to be a Semitic Jew from 30-40 years of age. Jewish scholars said that the Shroud was consistent with the 1st century Jewish burial practice. Archeologist said that the Shroud shows details of crucifixion unknown to the Middle Ages. Coroners said the body shows evidence of rigor mortis. Chemist said there was no evidence of body decomposition. Physicist said the image was the result of a dehydrated cellulose. Theorists say such dehydration may have been produced by heat light or radiation.? (www.infoseek.com/holyshroud) Was the body outline blood? Based from the internet information, ?The blood is in fact blood. Dr. John Heller confirmed by presence of heme, porphyrins and serum albumin. Confirmed also by spectographic analysis. According to Dr. Al Alder and Dr. Gil Lavoie, ?the blood marks seen on the Shroud were consistent with a contract transfer to the cloth of blood dot exudates that would have resulted from major wounds inflicted on a man who died in the position of crucifixion. Also according to Dr. Sam Pellicori, the remarkably fine detailing of the scourge marks, revealed by ultraviolet flourescence would be impossible to obtain by any other means that direct contact a body and the linen.? (www.holyrelics.com) ?Pollen particles were also discovered and according to noted Israeli Botanist and a professor of Hebrew University, Avinoam Danin confirmed Dr. Alan Whanger?s discovery of flower images on the Shroud. Of the 28 images found, pollen for 27 of them were confirmed to be from plants around Jerusalem. This evidence suggested that the shroud was used for an actual burial in the land of Israel. Max Frei, anoted criminologist, was given permission to take dust samples from the Shroud which contained pollen. He discovered 22 pollen species from plants that were unique to areas around Constantinople and Edessa, and seven pollen species from plants common only to the Middle East. The pollen trail confirmed the historical trail.? (www.yahoo.com/theshroudofturin) The body was also proportionate as the researcher thought it would be even in the first glimpse of the Holy Shroud this notion was proven by Dr. Pierre Barbet, a prominent French surgeon, published his landmark book, A doctor at Calvary documenting 15 years of medical research on the Shroud image. He described ?the physiology and pathology of the man on the shroud an ?Anatomically Perfect.? (www.shroud.com) Biblical accounts were also included in this research which corresponds to the imprints on the Shroud.
According to the gospel account of St. Matthew, ?then Pilate?s soldiers took Jesus into the governor?s palace, and the whole company gathered around Him. They stripped off His clothes and put a scarlet robe on him. Then they made a crown out of thorny branches and place it on his head, and put a dark stick in his right hand, then they knelt before Him and made fun of Him. Long live the King of the Jews!? they said. They spat on Him, and took the stick and hit him over the head. When they had finished making fun of Him, they took the robe off and put his own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.? (Matthew, the Disciple. Good News Bible, 95.p:47.) The theory that the researcher has regarding on the body imprinted on the cloth was by mere contact with the severely wounded body alone of the tortured Christ. This idea was supported by scientific theories. ?One of the favorite theories of scientific Shroudies was that the image was not in itself a miracle, but that it was the by product of one, the Resurrection. This is the Nuclear Flash Theory by STURP co-founder John Jackson and taken up enthusiastically by many others. They suggest that, as the image resembles a scorch mark, it was caused by a split second burst of high energy radiation emanating from Jesus? body as it regenerated. Since the carbon dating, believers have hastily capitalized on this theory: hey claim that if the Shroud had been subjected to a blast of radiation, the amount of radioactive Carbon-14 would have increased and the Shroud would appear to be much younger than it really is.? (Picknett & Prince 2000, p:103.) There was a second category of theories to account for the formation of the image. ?The rare natural process, chemical reaction between the body of Jesus and the cloth of the Shroud. The first such idea was Paul Vignon?s ?Vapourographic Theory,? put forward in the early years of this century. He speculated that the cloth was impregnated with aromatic oils that contained myrrh and aloes which reacted aith ammonia gas given off by the body. The corpse of people who die after prolonged torture and covered with sweat with an unusually high urea content, in which ammonia was abundant. Vignon carried out some experiments with these substances and after much trial and error, he was able to produce vaguely shroud like stains.? (Picknett & Prince 2000, p:106.)
The Biblical reports of Jesus? burial are brief the evening of his death, the researcher red in news clippings regarding Matthew?s Gospel, ?a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph , begged the body of Jesus wrapped it in clean linen cloth, and laid in his new tomb, which he had hewn out of the rock. ?John, the disciple who was present at the cross, adds that Joseph and Nicodemus, who brought a large amount of aloes mixed with myrrh, spread these spices on the linen as they wrapped Christ?s body for burial.? Tessa Lobregat said ?the resurrected Savior left the ?Linen cloth? lying in the tomb, and a small head cloth folded in a place apart. Medical men speculated that ammonia escaping from the body caused a chemical reaction in conjunction with the aloes on the sheet, or that the body?s moisture soaked the aloes, staining the linen whenever it adhered to it. Possibly as Jesus stirred to Resurrection, something like an electric flash broke from the body and produced the image.? (Lobregat 1996, p:13 cols 1-6.)
ConclusionThis research paper needs a lot of time and effort. As of now arguments still rage about the Holy Shroud?s authenticity but the researcher was convinced enough that it was genuine based on certain facts. Ironically, if it turns out to be the work of some unknown medieval artist-genius, the message doesn?t change! Whether it is authentic or not, this is what the Shroud represents. The message doesn?t change; it remains the same. The researcher views the Shroud as a picture that speaks every language. It speaks to the simple and the sophisticated, to the illiterate and the intellectual. In a sense, it is scripture in a picture! When the researcher focused on the message of the Shroud instead of being preoccupied with whether it is authentic or not, the Shroud becomes a powerful way of presenting the Gospel message while fascinating public readers with its mystery. What is that message? It is the message of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospels. There is no difference. They are identical, and the conveyance of that message does not hinge on the Shroud?s authenticity. As with so many things in life, it is not the destination that is all that important, but rather the journey itself. So it is with the Shroud. If experts finally prove it one way or the other, it would be far less interesting. The mystery would be gone. Even if it were proven authentic and found to be first century after all, would the world suddenly believe the claims of Christ? Doubtful indeed. That?s why it will probably always remain a mystery. Why? Because that?s how God works, in mysterious ways. The great truths of God are all mysteries that are revealed only to the individual who invests the time and effort to discover them. God purposely hides himself and is found by those who indicate more than just a casual or occasional interest. The same holds true for the Shroud. It is the message that matters and the message of the Shroud is the message of the Gospel. As the researcher it is faith that makes one a true believer. In conducting a research paper an individual must be systematic and true to his work. That is the basic thing to do. In the words of John Walsh, ?Only this much certain: The Shroud of Turin is either the most awesome and instructive relic of Jesus Christ in existence showing in its dark simplicity how He appeared to men or it is one of the most ingenious, most unbelievably clever, products of the human mind and hand on record. It is one or the other, there is no middle ground.? (Walsh 1963, p: 171.)
BibliographyA. Books Matthew, The Disciple. ?Matthew 27, 27-30: The Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus.? Good News Bible. Manila: Philippine Bible Society Press, 1995.
Picknett, Lynn & Clive Prince. Turin Shroud In Whose Image? London.: Transworld Publishers, 2000.
Walsh, John. The Shroud. N.Y.: Random House Inc., 1963.
B. EncyclopediasOtterbein C. SS. R., Adam J. ?Holy Shroud.? The Catholic Encyclopedia for School and Home. 1965 ed.
?Great Mysteries of the Middle Ages: The Shroud of Turin.? Reader?s Digest Almanac of the Uncanny. 1995 ed.
C. Periodical Lobregat, Tessa. ?The Shroud of Turin.? Sun Star Cagayan de Oro Tribune. 31 May 1996, p.13, cols 1-6.
D. Internet & CD ROM_______, _______. ?Holy Shroud.? Compton?s Interactive Encyclopedia CD.1995 ed.
_______, _______. ?Bio of Jesus Christ.? Multimedia World History CD.1995 ed.
_______, _______. ? The Turin Shroud. ?Encyclopedia Britannica CD. 1999 ed.
_______, _______.?Shroud of Turin.? Grolier Interactive Multimedia Encyclopedia CD. 1998 ed.
_______, _______. ?The Holy Shroud of Turin .? Encarta Encyclopedia CD. 1996 ed.
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