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Post by admins on Feb 12, 2009 14:33:06 GMT 10
NICOSIA -- Authorities in northern Cyprus believe they have found an ancient version of the Bible written in Syriac, a dialect of the native language of Jesus. The manuscript was found in a police raid on suspected antiquity smugglers. Turkish Cypriot police testified in a court hearing they believe the manuscript could be about 2,000 years old. An undated handout photo February 6, 2009 shows an ancient manuscript which authorities in northern Cyprus believe is an ancient version of the Bible written in Syriac, a dialect of the native language of Jesus. [Agencies]
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Post by admins on Feb 12, 2009 14:34:34 GMT 10
The manuscript carries excerpts of the Bible written in gold lettering on vellum and loosely strung together, released photos provided showed. One page carries a drawing of a tree, and another eight lines of Syriac script. Experts were however divided over the provenance of the manuscript, and whether it was an original, which would render it priceless, or a fake. Experts said the use of gold lettering on the manuscript was likely to date it later than 2,000 years. "I'd suspect that it is most likely to be less than 1,000 years old," said leading expert Peter Williams, Warden of Tyndale House, University of Cambridge. Turkish Cypriot authorities seized the relic last week and nine individuals are in custody pending further investigations. More individuals are being sought in connection with the find, they said. Further investigations turned up a prayer statue and a stone carving of Jesus believed to be from a church in the Turkish held north, as well as dynamite. The police have charged the detainees with smuggling antiquities, illegal excavations and the possession of explosives. Syriac is a dialect of Aramaic - the native language of Jesus - once spoken across much of the Middle East and Central Asia. It is used wherever there are Syrian Christians and still survives in the Syrian Orthodox Church in India. An undated handout photo February 6, 2009 shows an ancient manuscript, which authorities in northern Cyprus believe is an ancient version of the Bible written in Syriac, a dialect of the native language of Jesus. The manuscript was found in a police raid on suspected antiquity smugglers. [Agencies]
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Post by admins on Feb 12, 2009 14:35:46 GMT 10
Aramaic is still used in religious rituals of Maronite Christians in Cyprus. "One very likely source (of the manuscript) could be the Tur-Abdin area of Turkey, where there is still a Syriac speaking community," Charlotte Roueche, Professor of Late Antique and Byzantine Studies at King's College London told Reuters. Stories regarding the antiquity of manuscripts is commonplace. One case would be the Yonan Codex, carbon dated to the 12th century which people tried to pass off as earlier. After further scrutiny of photographs of the book, manuscripts specialist at the University of Cambridge library and Fellow of Wolfson College JF Coakley suggested that the book could have been written a good deal later. "The Syriac writing seems to be in the East Syriac script with vowel points, and you do not find such manuscripts before about the 15th century. "On the basis of the one photo...if I'm not mistaken some words at least seem to be in modern Syriac, a language that was not written down until the mid-19th century," he said. www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-02/07/content_7454194.htm
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Post by rafael on Feb 24, 2009 2:00:19 GMT 10
I will respond in three words. The God Debate.
When atheists make sense
You might be shocked to know that some of the observations from which atheists argue make perfect sense! When you consider the observations and knowledge of religion and history that avowed atheists embrace, it is easy to see why they struggle with believing in a Creator God! Much of the historical evidence of religion, biblical interpretation and deeds done in the name of God discredit religious people's efforts to justify their belief in God. Some facts to consider:
• The many gods in varied cultures through history do not represent the true God. These "gods" are, in fact, fictional and do not, nor have they ever, existed.
• The varied practices, doctrines and historic acts of Christians through the ages (in the Middle East, Europe, America and around the world) are confusing and hypocritical.
• The confused and often contradictory interpretations of the Holy Bible by so many denominations, sects, groups and individuals are mind-boggling. These individuals have misrepresented the Bible!
• Many of the practices that began in the church of Rome in the second and third centuries were borrowed from the pagan customs of the pre-Christian world. The observance of Christmas, Easter, New Year's Day and even worship on Sundays is not taught in the Bible!
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Post by Always on Feb 24, 2009 3:26:55 GMT 10
I will respond in three words. The God Debate.
When atheists make sense
You might be shocked to know that some of the observations from which atheists argue make perfect sense!
Then tell me, which of your argument has ever won against me
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Post by rowtide on May 23, 2009 2:28:59 GMT 10
Let's move on Shroud of Turin Fact or Fiction? 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. This web site will keep you abreast of current research, provide you with accurate data from the previous research and let you interact with the researchers themselves. We believe that if you have access to the facts, you can make up your own mind about the Shroud. Make sure you visit the page where you can Examine the Shroud of Turin for yourself
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