Discuss Hershel Shanks' Dec. 9 Blowback

Similarly, the judge is determining that the AIA's fraud case is illegitimate. The scientists will thrash out the authenticity and historic significance once the specious criminal case is out of the way.

Jonathan Laden @ 8:27 AM PST, Dec 10, 2008

Pluto was demoted to "dwarf planet" because the consensus of scientists is, and has been for some time, that Pluto isn't a planet. It isn't like the 8 planets, it is like any of a number of Kuiper objects that have been recently discovered.

Jonathan Laden @ 8:25 AM PST, Dec 10, 2008

I have tremendous respect for Mr. Shanks, certainly he must realize that no religious believer needs these artifacts for their faith. They are nice to find if they are real, but not necessary. But for the unbeliever, they raise great fear. They must be discredited with extreme prejudice regardless of any facts. Therein lies their bias and one day their judgment.

greg @ 9:41 PM PST, Dec 9, 2008

Since Mr. Shanks sees fit to mention Ms. Burleigh's gainful employ by People Magazine, it is worth noting that his publication, Biblical Archaeology Review, is kept afloat by back-page advertisements for dubiously provenanced "antiquities". That and a penchant for tossing gasoline on smouldering scholarly controversies is Mr. Shanks' stock-in-trade. He is hardly a good faith defender of the discipline.

Ploni Almoni @ 8:15 PM PST, Dec 9, 2008

It seems to me that the strongest "drive" of Holy Land archaeology is not those trying to find physical proof for the Bible but: firstly from ultra Zionist Israelis who are trying to establish that there was no exodus and they have always inhabited the land; secondly from accademies and accademics looking for evidence against the authenticity of the Bible; and a distant third are the "faithful" desirous "for material proof [of the Bible]"

Costa Di Biase @ 8:14 PM PST, Dec 9, 2008

I read "the book" when it first came out, and I've wondered many times what has happened to all the careful scientific experiments and evaluations by experts that were performed early on.

Marilyn S. @ 8:00 PM PST, Dec 9, 2008

This Article to some degree seemingly typifies the confusion, misconceptions, beliefs, and of course unbelief that abounds around the world. To put it all in perspective, see "WISDOM" at: www.ShareHopeInPromise-Ministry.org

Al Brown @ 2:28 PM PST, Dec 9, 2008

Failure to prove that the bone box is a hoax as part of a criminal prosecution does not mean that the bone box is authentic. Outside the courtroom, it is up to those who claim the authenticity of the bone box to prove it. Ignore claims by those who stand to profit. A better measure is if the Vatican or a reputable museum vouches for its authenticity. (The exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum explicitly presented the bone box as "controversial" and made no claims of authenticity.) Don't look for that to happen. Instead, the knowledgeable will stay clear of it and the gullible will line up happily to be fleeced. As they always do.

John Galt @ 12:50 PM PST, Dec 9, 2008

What's happened to world of science? First Pluto is demoted to "dwarf planet" status based on a show of hands. Now the authenticity of the supposed James ossuary is being determined by a judge. Science is not a democracy. It's not a popularity contest. It's based on facts slowly agreed upon by the scientific community. Good lord.

Stephen S. Power @ 10:24 AM PST, Dec 9, 2008