Rageh Omar presented an excellent programme on The Turin Shroud last Saturday and, after the Carbon 14 insistence that this was a medieval forgery, a good case seems to have emerged on many grounds to re-examine the claims of 1988 when an Oxford lab had dated this to the 14th Century.The case for it being considerably earlier and C14 being wrong [again] is quite strong. No matter.
Fascinating though the Shroud may be, it neither adds nor detracts one jot from Gospel accounts.
The Scriptures give us no hints that we should ever venerate: shrouds, cloths, bones of saints, 'actual' crucifixion nails, 'actual' crowns of thorns or holy grails.
As for the latter, what did the disciples do? Did they return to the upper room and nick the cup? I just don't see it.
Christianity is not proved by relics but a personal relationship with the Living Jesus.
