Newbies need to know how to debunk the basic shallow skeptic assertions and they will with these links
Yes, Bip, I think that is a good approach, as if you can quickly debunk the common disinformation people see on the Shroud when they are surfing around, then those serious about knowing the truth of it will be far more likely to do a serious investigation.
Someone had said earlier that if the Shroud is authentic, it, at best, merely leads to deism. I totally disagree. Because as this artifact defies all science in understanding how it was produced, with it's incredible attributes - all these produced before the modern scientific area - AND including the fact that it perfectly matches up with the miraculous story of Jesus found in Scripture - well, what other supposed religion of the various asserted/followed gods has anything like it. As the Shroud has miraculous attributes, was long believed to be the burial garment of Christ, well before its incredible image was even discovered, then I think one would have to seriously consider the story of Christ found in the Bible.
Because the Shroud strongly suggests its attributes and image's origins are scientifically inexplicable and miraculous - ESPECIALLY when one considers the impossibility of pre-scientific age hoaxers having either the technical ability or even the need to create something so incredible. Add in the invisible (and yet accurate specificity) of the correct Jerusalem-area pollens and one must realize the impossibility of anyone faking this. So "IF" Jesus was God and was Resurrected, are not the Shroud's amazing attributes not precisely what we one would expect from the miracle of the Resurrection event described in Scripture? The Shroud's authenticity screams that one seriously consider the story of Jesus, that the miraculous is possible, that God did become man (in Jesus), that He died a hideous death followed by a miraculous Resurrection.
One last thought: IF ancient fakers had the technical ability to created the Shroud's incredible detail and amazing, 3D spatial image, do you not think the details would have long been talked about, that the Shroud contained an amazingly detailed image of a crucified man? And as for the NEGATIVE image - who would be fooled by THAT - not understanding it (pre-photography)? And yet, until photographed, none of these attributes were known to exist. It just makes no sense that someone would (much less COULD) make such a incredible artifact and not trumpet its impressive detail to all initially shown it. And yet all we have is silenced and belief on its origins, prior to it first being photographed.
Hope all is well with you and yours my friend.
God bless
Bippy
Bip, looks like God may be moving our business forward, after all this time!
Thanks,
Philip
