Thinking ‘Inside’ the Box:
Tombs, Ossuaries, Inscriptions,
and the ‘Family’ of Jesus
On March 4, the Discovery Channel premiered a documentary that sent shock waves through most of the Christian world. Simcha Jacobovici, along with producer James Cameron, revealed that they had “re-discovered” the family tomb of Jesus, and demonstrated scientific evidence to support their claim. “Re-discovered” here refers to the fact that the tomb and its contents have long been known to scholars in the field, where very different conclusions have been offered.
Dr. Rebecca Denova, Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies, will discuss the details of the Talpiot tomb, the different opinions of archaeologists and New Testament scholars, and an overview of the Christian belief in “bodily” resurrection. What does this discovery mean for the faithful, and what can we learn about the first Christian generation to follow Jesus, when it comes to ideas concerning the “body?” Is it possible that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, fathered a son, and that the whole “family” has been resting in a tomb in southern Jerusalem for two thousand years?
Friday, April 6, 2007
2:00 pm
Kurtzman Room
William Pitt Union
This lecture is sponsored through the Honors College and the Department of Religious Studies and is free and open to the public.
