Religious relics, defined as "either portions of or objects
connected with the body of a saint or other holy person," are among
the most revered items in the world. Christian relics such as the
Holy Grail, the True Cross, and the Lance of Longinus are also the
source of limitless controversy. Such items have incited people to
bloodshed and, some say, have been a source of miracles. Relics
inspire fear and hope among the faithful and yet are a perennial
target for skeptics, both secular and Christian. To research the
authenticity of numerous Christian relics, Joe Nickell takes a
scientific approach to a field of study all too often tainted by
premature conclusions. In this volume, Nickell investigates such
renowned relics as the Shroud of Turin, the multiple heads of John
the Baptist, and the supposedly incorruptible corpses of saints,
first examining the available evidence and documented history of
each item. From accounts of true believers to the testimony of the
relics' alleged fabricators, Nickell then presents all sides of
each story, allowing the evidence to speak for itself. For each
relic, Nickell evaluates both the corroborating and contradictory
bodies of evidence and explores whether the relic and attributed
miracles can be reconstructed. In addition to his own experiments,
Nickell presents findings from the world's top scientists and
historians regarding these controversial objects of reverence and
ire, explaining the circumstances under which each case was
examined. Radiocarbon dating and tests to determine the validity of
substances such as blood or patina indicate a variety of possible
origins. Nickell even reveals some of the techniques used to create
archaeological forgeries and explains how investigators have
exposed them. Each relic is a mystery to be solved; guided by the
maxim, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof," Nickell
seeks only the truth.
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