Posted by giveawayboy on October 22, 2002 at 08:27:40:
In Reply to: Re: Ossuary of James, brother of Jesus? posted by PS on October 22, 2002 at 02:04:02:
: : Check this out!
: : http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/10/21/jesus.box/index.html
: And also be sure and watch the video.
Phenomena like this can be great supports to one's faith. I personally feel something like this carries slightly more weight than even images of Mary holding Jesus appearing in a watery stain on the side window of some bank building, hints of a large boat on top of some mountains in Turkey, or even the Shroud of Turin, which I take slightly more seriously. However, I'm back w Steve on the old point of faith idea. These things should excite us and help us along in the sense that they can remind us or help us elevate our thoughts to God. They should be mini-confirmations of the normative path of a Christian, the one that follows Christ. Quite simply we should be helped by the signposts around us so we can stay on the path. We don't stop and camp out at the signpost. That is all. This being said, I believe God can know before he creates a world that one day people will see him in a waterstain and then decide to create the world anyway, knowing that, although some might put undue emphasis on the waterstain, still others might behold HIM in this accident (not mistake but specific situation) of the interplay of his created world, and that their gaze might be lifted to higher contemplation of Him through it. Same with images of crucified men appearing on burial shrouds. My guess is that I hold out for authenticity and know that my faith is NOT shaken if something is proven a hoax, but that inspite of a hoax (assuming the Shroud is proven false), God was still glorified. No one ever thought that the man on the shroud was anyone but Jesus. Throughout history the Shroud was a witness to Christ, hoax or not. In the same way God can use a box of bones. He can make them rise up out of the dead ones and speak. Even the very rocks praise him. Just ask Michelangelo. The main thing is not losing the path for the signposts. They are like faithful assitants to our journey.