Shroud of Turin

             "The Shroud of Turin is either the most awesome and instructive relic of Jesus Christ in existence.... or it is one of the most ingenious, most unbelievably clever, products of the human mind and hand on record; there is no middle ground." (John Walsh, The Shroud, 1963)
             The Shroud of Turin is a centuries old linen cloth that bares the image of a crucified man; a man that millions believe to be Jesus of Nazareth. Is it really the cloth that wrapped his crucified body, or is it simply a medieval forgery, a hoax perpetrated by some clever artist? Modern 20th century science has completed hundreds of thousands of hours of detailed study and intense research on the Shroud. It is, in fact, the single most studied artifact in human history, and more is known about it today than ever before. Yet, the controversy still rages on. This paper will provide different arguments and theories that have been proposed by those on both sides of the issue because then, by knowing the facts and theories, one can make up their own mind about the Shroud. To begin with we will examine the actual Shroud itself.
             The Turin Shroud is currently kept inside three locked containers in the Turin Cathedral: a wooden case, an asbestos-covered iron chest, and a silver-decorated wooden casket. Inside its casket, the Shroud is rolled around a velvet-covered staff and wrapped in red silk. It has a backing of Holland cloth, which was added in 1532 after it was damaged in a fire. It is a strip of pale biscuit-colored linen, 4.4meters by 1.9meters with an additional 8centimeter strip on its left-hand side. It bears various folds and blemishes that have been accumulated throughout its long life. Most conspicuous are the marks of the aforementioned 1532 fire, which burned through one corner of the cloth, damaging it in several places, most notably through the shoulders of the image. The burn-holes have been repaired with patches of altar cloth, but ...

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Shroud of Turin. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 00:43, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/31714.html