The Truth about the Shroud of Turin: Solving the Mystery

by Robert K. Wilcox

Book Overview

Is the shroud of Turin--an ancient linen bearing the mysterious image of a man, purported to be Jesus of Nazareth--the ingenious work of an artist, or the true shroud of Christ? For centuries, this question has perplexed and enticed the most brilliant minds. Now, in The Truth about the Shroud of Turin: Solving the Mystery, journalist Robert K. Wilcox investigates every aspect of the shroud's history, from the ancient Egyptian weave of the cloth...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 159698600X
• ISBN13: 9781596986008
• Release Date: March 2010
• Publisher: Salem Books
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

The truth, The Shroud, the book.

"The Truth About The Shroud of Turin" is very full in its presentation of the history and science of The Shroud over 2000 years. Within the pages there is even some historical information written in a rather dramatic, novel-like fashion. I found this book extremely interesting even as a life long follower of Shroud writings for the past 59 years. R Paolini, Sr.

Compelling Mystery

I guess I'm behind the times but I knew little about the Shroud of Turin when I ran into this book, very reasonably priced. Material evidence of Jesus? That was interesting. I had some idea of Veronica's Veil, but this ancient cloth has a strange total body image, front and back, on it. It has a tradition of being Jesus's burial cloth and a very plausible history back to the tomb in the Bible. But it's the science about this linen cloth that is really impressive. The image is like a photographic negative. But in fact something etched the images in such precision that it goes beyond a photo. Sophisticated computers can read the image to the point that a 3-dimensional holograph can be made of the man in the shroud. No paintings or conventional photos can be converted like that. Wilcox, a journalist, weaves a good story here - a great story. He starts with the first photographs taken in 1898. That was the start of scientific interest in the shroud. Doctors say the man in the shroud pictures is a real corpse. It exhibits astounding anatomical realism. It's not a traditional Christ which argues against a forgery. Some scientists say they can see flowers in the images, like funeral wreaths, which are native to Jerusalem and only bloom around Easter. The Vatican says it's found documents that plug important gaps in the shroud's history. For someone like me who didn't know much about the shroud this is a great primer. Wilcox takes the reader on a search literally around the world. He apparently thinks the shroud is authentic but lets the reader decide. This is a genuine mystery of awesome proportions and those wanting to get an up-to-the-minute read on this phenomenon should get this book. You won't be disappointed!

Phenomenal Book

since the time i picked up this book i could not put it down. there is something for everyone in this book. it doesnt matter if you beleive in the shroud of Turin or not Mr. Wilcox took this from an analitical point of view and made me Believe and understand more than i thought i knew. i highly recomend this book for anyone even slightly curious about the shroud of Turin.

Make up your own mind!!!!!

The Shroud of Turin is a centuries old linen cloth that bears 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 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 we know more about it today than we ever have before. And yet, the controversy still rages. In The Truth About the Shroud of Turin: Solving the Mystery by Robert K. Wilcox what we have is a very history of the shroud and an examination of all the arguments for the authenticity of the shroud and all the arguments against. I would encourage everyone to check it out. When it comes down to it scientists, historians, textile experts, etc., have studied the shroud for over 200,000 hours and what do we know? First off it is not a fake, scientists, artists, etc., have not been able to duplicate it. Second a naturalistic explanation is not yet available. Maybe one days science will have an answer, but so far they have just been able to shoot down every theory. The Best theory they have now is some kind of low level radiation over a short time did this, and there is no natural explanation for this. WAS IT THE RESURRECTION? thats up to the reader to decide. Now what can science tell us? 1. The Cloth is unique, no burial cloth has ever left behind a figure like this and we have them back to 10,000 BC. 2. The Cloth is OLD. Anywhere from 600 to over 2000 years old. (the Carbon dating done in the 80s was wrong, because they dated a repair) 3. The Linen and Herringbone twill fit with those of the time of Christ. 4. Imprints on the cloth are those of a real corpse in riga mortis. 5. And all but one wound's, on the man, were made when HE was alive, the one wound to the side was made after he died. fits with New testament account of Jesus' death. 6. The Man interred in manor of the Jews of the 1st century. 7. When you look at all the evidence of its history and the scientific evidence etc., the Odds of this not being Jesus are huge. Its to much for me to write hear in this short review. I would encourage everyone to read this book and get the latest up to date information on the shroud. Its a MUSt READ. People ask for proof of the LORD all the time, and hear it may be looking them right in the face. you should look at the evidence and make up your own mind!!!

Investigative journalism at its best!

I read Robert K. Wilcox's first book on the mysterious Shroud about a year ago. The present book is a revision and significant updating of that first book, bringing the reader completely up-to-date with the latest scientific findings. Wilcox takes the approach of an investigative journalist. He comes to the Shroud with no evident preconception or religious/irreligous prejudice. He is thorough in exploring every conceivable hypothesis of what the Shroud is -- from the Shroud being a Medieval painted forgery to it being as old as the time of Christ and from the same Palestine area. Wilcox takes the reader as he travels to continents and countries to interview and consult with a diverse range of experts, including archeologists, artists (painters), photographers, theologians, and top atomic physicists. He is facile at translating complex scientific concepts to make them readily understandable to the lay reader. One by one, Wilcox demonstrates how each alternate hypothesis for the Shroud falls apart, leaving in the end only one possible conclusion. Readers of the secular rationalist bent will appreciate Wilcox's meticulous empiricism, while readers of Christian faith will find their faith vindicated. This is not to say that the two groups are mutually exclusive categories. In fact, the Shroud is the best confirmation that faith and science are not antagonistic, but can be mutually reinforcing. In the end, what is most intriguing about the Shroud is that its astounding characteristics and true nature are increasingly revealed as human beings grow more in knowledge and our science becomes increasingly advanced and sophisticated. Instead of science showing the Shroud to be a fake, it is with science that the Shroud's miraculous character is revealed.