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© Copyright 2001, Jim Loy
Many people claim that the Shroud of Turin was the burial shroud of Jesus, and that His image was miraculously transferred onto it. Well, Jesus' image is made of paint, and radiocarbon dating of the cloth shows that it comes to us from about the year 1325 (plus or minus 65 years). Supposedly it was woven from plant fibers which grew about that time. But we already knew that, because the shroud was completely unknown until 1355, and was found to be a forgery in 1389, apparently due to the confession of the forger. Over the years, several investigators have claimed to have discovered evidence of its authenticity, such as pollen from Jesus' era and region, or blood, or human (?) DNA on the shroud, or perfection of Jesus' image. All of these data were shown to be false (blood or perfection of Jesus' image), or probably natural (DNA), or fraudulently added later (pollen). Besides, the Gospel of John completely contradicts the use of a shroud on Jesus' body. And at one time, there were dozens of cloths that people claimed were the authentic shroud, all over Europe.
But people (including some scientists) really really need to believe in the authenticity of the shroud. And so they continue to believe, regardless of the evidence.