Christ's tomb found?

[Principle]

http://www.thestar.com/Unassigned/article/185534

[Principle]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17328478/site/newsweek/

[DH]

It'll be interesting to see all of the debate that follows.  But one thing you can be sure of you, there'll be a lot of folks making BIG BUCKS off if it.  DH

[Principle]

Controversal issue...

If the evidence proves these findings to be true, it could shake many peoples beliefs.
Left to re-explain their own religion.

The Leaders of the Church will definetly claim all of these findings to be false even if proven scientifically,
enless they are contemplating their explainations.

[DH]

Controversal issue...

If the evidence proves these findings to be true, it could shake many peoples beliefs.
Left to re-explain their own religion.

The Leaders of the Church will definetly claim all of these findings to be false even if proven scientifically,
enless they are contemplating their explainations.

True.  If it proved to be true a lot of folks would try to re-frame their belief, as many Christians already have (like Marcus Borg in his recent book Jesus).  But I promise you there are millions who will never change their beliefs even if Jesus came back and said, "Guess, what folks, Mary Mag and I did have a great life together!"  I know some folks who already don't believe the news story and they haven't even heard it yet!  The mind is a terrible thing to clamp shut.  DH

[Berserk]

I wanted to postpone my comments until I actually saw the TV documentary.  I may post a detailed refutation later.   For now I just want to make two observations. 
(1) The scholars cited in support of the tomb's authenticity often have their comments taken out of context to suppress their disagreement.   

(2) The DNA testing of two ossuaries sparked my idea of what might constitute a decisive test.   In the 60s AD, the Jews were mobilizing for a revolt against Rome.   Dissidents were treated brutally and this created a crisis for the peace-loving Jerusalem church.   Their revered leader James [Jesus' brother] had just been stoned to death by order of the high priest Annas in 62 AD.  One day, they received a prophetic oracle accompanied by an angelic vision.  They were commanded to flee to Pella, a city 2 miles east of the upper Jordan River about 15 miles south of the Sea of Galilee.   So Pella is one of the most important but neglected archaelogical sites for Christian origins because the surviving apostles and members of Jesus' family relocated there.   After the martyrdom of James, the leadership of the Jerusalem church in exile was bestowed on Jesus' cousin, Simon the son of Clopas, Joseph's brother.  Jesus' cousin retained his leadership role for decades.

One of the most neglected Pellan archaeological finds is an early 5th century cathedral that was built over a first century Jewish coffin.   The significance of this location has in my view been overlooked.   Why would an encient Gentile Christian church be built over a first century Jewish coffin?  Most likely because church officials wanted to honor a first-century Jewish Christian founder of their community.  But Jesus' cousin looms as the most liikely candidate!  This is somewhat speculative to be sure.    But consider this.  What if this coffin yielded DNA?  What if that DNA matched that found in one of the ossuaries in the alleged tomb of Jesus' family or some other such tomb?   Or what if the DNA proved a family resemblance with DNA isolated from the disputed tomb of Jesus' brother James?   Such a match would constitute conclusive proof that both sources contained Jesus' family members.  I am no expert on DNA retrieval and such a project may not be feasible.  But just imagine if it were.

Don