What media outlet did the worst job covering the Talpiot tomb news?
posted 2/28/2007 12:11PM
The only thing more ridiculous than filmmakers' claims that a tomb outside Jerusalem once held the bones of Jesus of Nazareth, Mary Magdalene, a son of Jesus, and other family members is some of the media ...
Chuck Colson gives the following media examples in his commentary for today:
At the website Get Religion (which analyzes the media's coverage of religion), Daniel Pulliam put it this way: Many "news organizations [are] reporting [Cameron's] words as gospel truth." He's right. A headline in the New York Times's blog read "Raising the Titanic, Sinking Christianity?" Time followed, proclaiming that "this time, the ship [Cameron's] sinking is Christianity."
While Newsweek magazine did manage to quote Cameron's critics, as Pulliam pointed out, "their words [were treated] as equal to that" of the moviemakerwho, by the way, admits he's not a "theologist or an archaeologist," just a filmmaker.
http://tinyurl.com/2ohhuu
nashville star
Posted: March 05, 2007 11:51 AM
WKRN did a good job covering this story without hype. They have a religion reporter who covers faith several times a week. He reported on what effect a Jesus casket would have on Christian faith. Is it bad coverage to ask the questions?
Gordon
Posted: March 04, 2007 1:56 PM
The "best" coverage of this issue by far is this satirical report in The Jerusalem Post, entitled "Leonardo emerges from Talpiot tomb to redo 'Last Supper'":
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1171894550667&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Brad
Posted: March 04, 2007 8:14 AM
Submission for most wacked article:
The TV Review from the NY Times:
http://movies2.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/arts/television/03stan.html
Here's how it starts:
"Creationists reject the theory of evolution. Religious pilgrims still line up for the Shroud of Turin. So it is unlikely that many Christians will lose sleep — let alone faith — because of “The Lost Tomb of Jesus” on the Discovery Channel tomorrow."
Here's the caption under the picture leading into the story:
"Worshipers at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus is traditionally believed to be buried. But a new documentary says he might have been buried elsewhere."
Job.A.Raj
Posted: March 03, 2007 10:46 AM
The very christianity is existing on the resurrection of Jesus. The chrisitians believe and as per the Bible he was Ascended in to heaven and all the disciples are the witnesses. Also the Bible says Mary Magdelene went to the tomb where she finds only the linen in which he was covered,and the tomb was empty, and the tomb was belong to a man called Joseph a council member and belong to Arimathea, the bible dont mentioned it as it belong to the family. so let me conclude by refering Luke24:5(later part)" Why do you seek the Living among the dead". thats how the christianity exists. Let not people try to waste their time in order to gain momentary fame and money.
r.thomsen
Posted: March 03, 2007 7:12 AM
must still have water from the titanic rushing through his head.
Lud Marrone
Posted: March 03, 2007 12:38 AM
Because of the recent discovery in Jerusalem (1980), I've heard Maria, Jose, Jesus and Mathiew are now forbidden names in the Hispanic culture. Should any of these names be used in one family or any family members with these names be entombed in Guadalupe, Mexico, the state government is threatening to do a Discovery Channel speicial saying "they've" discovered the real Tomb of Jesus. Who am I to believe?
Eugene
Posted: March 02, 2007 8:30 PM
If Jesus did not rise from the dead, why did all the disciples willingly suffer death reather than deny this statement? When one considers their fear before they saw the risen Jesus, their subsequent behavior must be considered either the response to an actual fact or they suddenly all went crazy. Somehow I cannot see eleven men turning from cowardly wimps into courageous prophets who died horrible deaths when they refused to recant. Jesus rose and was seen by others before he ascended into heaven, but his glorified body was no longer subject to the "rules" of matter. If you don't believe that, you should study more history. This is all part of a scam, motivated by greed, to sell books and motion pictures. They have tapped into the history of the past heresies for material and gullible people untutored in history and archaeology have their faith disturbed. This shows how deeply some men have sunk in the quest for riches. Truly, man cannot serve both God and Mammon.
CathyAR
Posted: March 02, 2007 2:00 PM
If more Christians would educate themselves, there'd be no funding this stuff. Instead, we've ceded the field to those bent on destroying us. There's lots of impeccable scientific research and scholarship already available. But you're not going to find it among the me-centered garbage crowding the shelves of most Christian book stores. This is not about faith vs. fact; it's about fact-based faith.
As to all you staunch "scientists," those of you demanding the Christians look outside Scripture, you could use some outside reading yourselves. There is a wealth of scientific, scholarly research into the veracity of the life of Christ, His Resurrection, and the birth and spread of Christianity. Set aside your biases, get some facts. The best also happens to be Christian in most cases (much of it as a result of their research!), but none of you "scientific" types would balk and hide behind ad hominem, right?
Kudos to all of you pointing out the obvious silliness of the "DNA testing.
David Jones
Posted: March 02, 2007 1:21 PM
This story has inspired me to research, write, and produce a documentary on whether Waldo really ever existed, because I could never find the guy. Still, I am told, that many have found him, and have found him in various places and locations at various times in their lives, and are absolte in their witness of this. While not totally skeptical, I have decided to also go to the eye doctor to see if my eyes are troubled, or whether I really just don't want to find Waldo.
Dave
Posted: March 02, 2007 11:19 AM
Rather than sitting around looking for the worst article on this story and reconfirming our own faith, shouldn't we be sad that we live in a culture in which many people are going to be misled by this? Too many Christians spend too much time patting themsevles on the back for the strength of their faith, while a whole world of unbelievers spins away to judgment. Last time I checked Jesus wanted us to do something about that. Maybe we need to be praying and proclaiming the Resurrection more and disparaging its critics less. They have a way of taking care of themselves -- so does God.
Hope
Posted: March 02, 2007 10:10 AM
Dear Aftab, Islam may say it hold Jesus as a prophet in high regard but in reality considers him a fraud (faked his death) and a liar (was not the son of God). Most Muslims of the Middle East are descendendents of Christians that freely accepted Christ from the impressive oration and good works of peaceful missionairies and peaceful religoius orders. Arab armies marched and conquered a great portion of Christian lands under the banner of Mohammed and Islam. Some of the conquered literally coverted at the tip of the sword but most reluctantly switched over the centuries to avoid the head tax and dhimmi status. It's hard to study the potitical history of Islam and not believe that Chrisitanity was under attack. Karen Armstrong is not very reliable because her positve views of Islam were largly a reaction to her hatred of the Catholic Church (she is an ex-nun!).
Mark Andrews
Posted: March 02, 2007 5:50 AM
I find it interesting that they used, or are using, DNA testing to prove their point. How can they confirm the DNA of a person who existed on the earth 2,000 years ago? It's ironic that if they stick to their belief that they have found Jesus' remains, therefore refuting in their own hearts that Jesus rose again, and is therefore not the Messiah, they couldn't get to heaven to take the "DNA sample from Jesus" that they would need to prove or disprove their "theory." No, this has not shaken my faith one bit, because along with the fact that the Gospels and letters confirm that Jesus died and rose again, the Bible also confirms that there would be skeptics and especially those who consider the gospel foolishness or a "stumbling block" ( 1 Cor.1). So I say, fellow believers, don't worry about this and don't take it so seriously--only be ready to give an answer to those unbelieving family, friends, acquaintances who might question you about it.
Krista Dominguez
Posted: March 02, 2007 1:05 AM
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/185708 Thiis is a pretty bad article, talking about everything like it's fact with very little opinion from the opposing position.
Aftab
Posted: March 01, 2007 11:28 PM
Dear Prosonto, Islam holds Jesus in high regard-please read Karen Armstrong. If you haven't heard of her go to your bookstore or, better still, visit Google on your computer.The othe religions you mention have never harmed Christianity. Its the Jews who have ALWAYS held Him to be an imposter and do so even now. If you do not believe me open any Jewish website and see for yourself what they say about Him;and, still, Christians like you have fallen into the trap of blindly supporting the Israelis who crucified Him and have always been the worst enemies of Christ. This 'discovery' is a part of their devious plot', of which The Da Vinci Code was one, to undermine your faith. Wake up!
Joe
Posted: March 01, 2007 10:16 PM
“This is probably going to be the biggest New Testament find in my lifetime, as big as the Dead Sea scrolls.” - Ben Witherington, 2002
"This is the biggest archeological story of the century. It's absolutely not a publicity stunt." - James Cameron, 2007
I guess it is true that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So far, only the press in Witherington’s native Kentucky have delicately raised the issue of the pot calling the kettle bla…that is, the pot calling the ossuary cracked in Witherington’s overheated (the gentleman protests too much) protestations against the latest “biggest New Testament find” in his lifetime.
Lexington County Herald, 2/27/07
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/news/nation/16791591.htm
"On his blog, Witherington fired a final salvo by referring to the Titanic and saying Cameron “has now jumped on board another sinking ship full of holes, presumably in order to make a lot of money before the theory sinks into an early watery grave. Man th
Del
Posted: March 01, 2007 9:44 PM
Way too much to do about nothing. Time to grasp AND live in the power of the resurrection. He did. We will. So what's the conversation about anyway? For Christians to try to give a response to every nuance society throws on the table would be like Hollywood trying to give a sensible answer to the behavior of Britany Spears.
Ken Parks of ETC Ministries
Posted: March 01, 2007 7:04 PM
There is nothing new under the sun. For more than 2,000 years, there have been many attempts to disprove the divinity of Jesus Christ. And this is another smoke and mirror act.
The first question that should be raised: How could the Jesus family afford such a luxury, to have a tomb made and have multi-generations buried there? A carpenter of that day could not possibly afford having a tomb made.
If Jesus had married, there would have been historical evidence to indicate this. The Jews of that day would have recorded the genealogy, and the gospels would definitely have made mention of His family condition... but, it never happened.
The science of James Cameron is severely lacking in credibility. True secular archaeologist have already dismissed his so-called scientific claims.
What next, a David Copperfield act?
Maria
Posted: March 01, 2007 6:27 PM
COMMENTAIRE DE MARIA (1)
Une onde de choc parcours la terre par l'annonce de la découverte de la supposée tombe de Jésus et de sa famille. Nos chers médias qui sont silencieux sur toute la stratégie sur le Nouvel Ordre Mondial afin d'amener un gouvernement complètement sous le règne des mystères de Babylone, nous montre bien son intention de détruire toute pensée chrétienne par sa mobilisation que l'on trouve sur tous les postes de télévision.
Est-ce une suite logique de cette anarque, en ces temps troubles dans l'histoire de l'humanité? Bien sûr!
«Pourquoi ce tumulte parmi les nations, Et ces vaines pensées parmi les peuples? Les rois de la terre se sont soulevés, et les princes se sont liguent-ils, contre le Seigneur et contre son Oint.» Psaume 2 : 1-2 et confirmé dans Actes 4 : 25.
Michele
Posted: March 01, 2007 6:09 PM
It's amazing so many people are easily duped. This is not a scientific inquiry, it is a documentary for the "discovery" channel which has shown other nutty documentaries. The scientists are scratching their heads in disbelief! The hoopla has been engineered to get viewers and book sales (money). THe DNA pitch is dumb. How could they know who it belongs to? The statistical theories may seem a little compelling but they are using new testement information to back up their claims but essentilally are making those same writers out to be liars because they believed that Christ rose from the dead.
Irene Wagner
Posted: March 01, 2007 5:51 PM
!!!YouTube Add Comments Feature Disabled after "Lost Tomb of Jesus" Trailer Firestorm!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPNOKiWTouI
Christie
Posted: March 01, 2007 4:26 PM
I think the wackies coverage was on The View, the hot topic discussion. You can view the clip on this site: http://abc.go.com/fsp/index.html?channel=TheView, scroll to the topic the remains of Jesus. Except for Elisabeth, they take the subject callously and sarcastically. Ended the discussion with Joy Behar saying, "Jesus and Anna Nicole Smith..."
R. Bartholomew
Posted: March 01, 2007 4:24 PM
Larry King's interview with Cameron was pretty empty-headed (a broadcasting standard pioneered by King). It featured questions like this: (King to Cameron) "If what you say is true, is the Easter Bunny dead?" Inane.
jan
Posted: March 01, 2007 4:14 PM
I know this is a contest for bad media coverage, but partially in response to Cathy's inquiry and partially to show that the mainstream media sometimes actually does a good job: Newsweek had excellent coverage of this topic with a couple of articles addressing issues on both sides of the argument. I think they were about as unbiased as one could be with a blatantly unscientific argument on one hand and a strongly religious argument on the other, so it's well worth the read.
Rosie
Posted: March 01, 2007 4:14 PM
AMEN, to all that was said....my question exactly.....to what are they comparing the DNA....how ridiculous....the fact is, Jesus lived, Jesus died, Jesus was buried, and he rose from the dead....AND Jesus is coming again....BELIEVE IT, OR NOT!
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