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[[image:Shroud of Turin face.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Negative image of the face of the Shroud; the photographic qualities of the Shroud were unknown until 1898.]]

[[image:Shroud of Turin face.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Negative image of the face of the Shroud; the photographic qualities of the Shroud were unknown until 1898.]]

<center>''A million-dollar offer to recreate an image as found on this Shroud has gone uncollected.''<ref>https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/1-million-challenge-to-replicate-shroud-of-turin-is-expanded-to-u-s</ref></center>

<center>''A million-dollar offer to recreate an image as found on this Shroud has gone uncollected.''<ref>https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/1-million-challenge-to-replicate-shroud-of-turin-is-expanded-to-u-s</ref></center>

The '''Shroud of Turin''' (in Italian, ''la Sacra Sindone'') is the most-studied artifact in the history of the world.  It is a burial cloth 14.5 feet long by 4 feet wide, having attributes from the time and place of [[Jesus Christ]]. It has 372 blood stains and the perfect 3-dimensional image, including internal flesh and bones, of a [[Crucifixion|crucified]] man.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xxiR37eUt8 The TRUTH About the Shroud of Turin w/Fr. Robert Spitzer | Chris Stefanick Show] Scientific study exceeding 600,000 hours reinforces its authenticity. [https://mycharisma.com/culture/new-evidence-for-shroud-of-turin-expert-says-its-beyond-all-doubt/ New Evidence for Shroud of Turin: Expert Says It’s ‘Beyond All Doubt’], CBN News, 2025, citing [[New Testament]] scholar Jeremiah J. Johnston.</ref> Unable to replicate this, [[liberal denial]] entails implausible conspiracy theories.

The '''Shroud of Turin''' (in Italian, ''la Sacra Sindone'') is the most-studied artifact in the history of the world.  It is a burial cloth 14.5 feet long by 4 feet wide, having attributes from the time and place of [[Jesus Christ]]. It has 372 blood stains and the perfect 3-dimensional image, including internal flesh and bones, of a [[Crucifixion|crucified]] man.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xxiR37eUt8 The TRUTH About the Shroud of Turin w/Fr. Robert Spitzer | Chris Stefanick Show] Scientific study exceeding 600,000 hours reinforces its authenticity. [https://mycharisma.com/culture/new-evidence-for-shroud-of-turin-expert-says-its-beyond-all-doubt/ New Evidence for Shroud of Turin: Expert Says It’s ‘Beyond All Doubt’], CBN News, 2025, citing [[New Testament]] scholar Jeremiah J. Johnston.</ref> Unable to replicate this, [[liberal denial]] resorts to implausible conspiracy theories.

[[Forensic]] [[evidence]] indicates that this image is of man [[scourge]]d and crucified, and yet (as described of Jesus in the [[Bible]]) without breaking the victim's legs as typically done to expedite a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] execution.<ref name="Forensics">http://www.shroudstory.com/forensics.htm</ref>  The image was formed after the blood staining, suggesting that there was a flash of light at the [[Resurrection]] -- analogous to the flash of light at [[conception]] -- such that the image is like a negative in photography.<ref>"The Shroud of Turin is a negative image." [https://www.shroud.com/piczek3.htm]</ref>  The image is scientifically precise in ways unknown to medieval forgers; the thumbs are not visible because the nails were through the wrists,<ref name="BBC"/> not through the hands as mistakenly thought until the 20th century<ref name="Forensics"/> and mistranslated from the [[Bible]].<ref>In {{bibleref|John|20|27}}, the Greek term χερσὶν (chersin) actually includes "wrists", not merely hands.  [[Strong's]] narrow definition is incomplete, and at {{bibleref|Acts|12|7|version=NIV}} the same term must mean "wrists" because chains fell off them. [https://biblehub.com/greek/5495.htm]</ref> The disciples on the [[Road to Emmaus]] did not notice any wounds in Jesus's hands, which further suggests the nail wounds were in his wrists.

[[Forensic]] [[evidence]] indicates that this image is of man [[scourge]]d and crucified, and yet (as described of Jesus in the [[Bible]]) without breaking the victim's legs as typically done to expedite a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] execution.<ref name="Forensics">http://www.shroudstory.com/forensics.htm</ref>  The image was formed after the blood staining, suggesting that there was a flash of light at the [[Resurrection]] -- analogous to the flash of light at [[conception]] -- such that the image is like a negative in photography.<ref>"The Shroud of Turin is a negative image." [https://www.shroud.com/piczek3.htm]</ref>  The image is scientifically precise in ways unknown to medieval forgers; the thumbs are not visible because the nails were through the wrists,<ref name="BBC"/> not through the hands as mistakenly thought until the 20th century<ref name="Forensics"/> and mistranslated from the [[Bible]].<ref>In {{bibleref|John|20|27}}, the Greek term χερσὶν (chersin) actually includes "wrists", not merely hands.  [[Strong's]] narrow definition is incomplete, and at {{bibleref|Acts|12|7|version=NIV}} the same term must mean "wrists" because chains fell off them. [https://biblehub.com/greek/5495.htm]</ref> The disciples on the [[Road to Emmaus]] did not notice any wounds in Jesus's hands, which further suggests the nail wounds were in his wrists.

The Shroud of Turin Research Project was led by "35 physicists, chemists, NASA image specialists, electrical engineers, a forensic pathologist,"<ref name="AMAC">https://amac.us/newsline/lifestyle/the-shroud-of-turin-gods-gift-to-all-people/</ref> concluding that:

The Shroud of Turin Research Project was led by "35 physicists, chemists, NASA image specialists, electrical engineers, a forensic pathologist,"<ref name="AMAC">https://amac.us/newsline/lifestyle/the-shroud-of-turin-gods-gift-to-all-people/</ref> concluding that:

<blockquote>The Shroud’s image appears to be created by an oscillating strobe of high-intensity light coming from inside the body;

<blockquote>The Shroud’s image appears to be created by an oscillating strobe of high-intensity light coming from inside the body;

<br>The burning event happened in 1/40 of a billion of a second, like a laser beam, moving 2.5 billion watts of electricity; ''to create a similar light, one would need all the electric power generated on Earth.''<ref name="AMAC"/></blockquote>

<br>The burning event happened in 1/40 of a billionth of a second, like a laser beam, moving 2.5 billion watts of electricity; ''to create a similar light, one would need all the electric power generated on Earth.''<ref name="AMAC"/></blockquote>

An [[agnostic]] [[British]] scholar studied the Shroud and concluded in his book, ''The Sign'' (2012), that the Shroud is authentic and was even the basis of [[disciples]]' acceptance of the [[Resurrection]].<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9162459/Mystery-solved-Turin-Shroud-linked-to-Resurrection-of-Christ.html</ref> The Shroud has caused some [[agnostic]] or [[Atheism|atheist]] [[scientist]]s to convert to [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.shroud.com/mrinobnf.pdf]</ref>  Other scientists, who have not converted, still consider the Shroud to be the authentic burial cloth for [[Jesus Christ]].  Some refer to the Shroud as the "Fifth [[the Gospels|Gospel]]."

An [[agnostic]] [[British]] scholar studied the Shroud and concluded in his book, ''The Sign'' (2012), that the Shroud is authentic and was even the basis of [[disciples]]' acceptance of the [[Resurrection]].<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9162459/Mystery-solved-Turin-Shroud-linked-to-Resurrection-of-Christ.html</ref> The Shroud has caused some [[agnostic]] or [[Atheism|atheist]] [[scientist]]s to convert to [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.shroud.com/mrinobnf.pdf]</ref>  Other scientists, who have not converted, still consider the Shroud to be the authentic burial cloth for [[Jesus Christ]].  Some refer to the Shroud as the "Fifth [[the Gospels|Gospel]]."

The image of the body shows a man who had died a violent death.  Upon both front and back are dumbbell-shaped markings; approximately 140 such marks were applied upon the back, chest, and legs.  Roman soldiers involved in "[[Scourge|scourging]]" as a form of punishment for offenders employed a whip called a "[[flagrum]]",<ref>[http://www.shroudofturin4journalists.com/terms/flagrum.htm]</ref> which was studded with either bone or lead knobs, and when used it tore into flesh and muscle.

The image of the body shows a man who had died a violent death.  Upon both front and back are dumbbell-shaped markings; approximately 140 such marks were applied upon the back, chest, and legs.  Roman soldiers involved in "[[Scourge|scourging]]" as a form of punishment for offenders employed a whip called a "[[flagrum]]",<ref>[http://www.shroudofturin4journalists.com/terms/flagrum.htm]</ref> which was studded with either bone or lead knobs, and when used it tore into flesh and muscle.

The wrists and feet bear large bloodstains consistent with historical descriptions of [[crucifixion]].  The feet themselves are placed one on top of the other within the image; both front and dorsal images display a single large bloodstain, indicating one nail was driven through both feet upon the cross.  The left wrist likewise displays a large bloodstain; however, the left-hand covers the right, preventing a view of the wound there.  Blood flows are present on both lower arms, displayed to flow in a direction as if the victim was hanging on a cross.  A single large bloodstain is also present on the right side of the chest - nearly obliterated by the 1532 burn damage - and appears to have been mixed with a clear liquid from the body.  Blood stains are also present about the [[scalp]], and the marks of a severe beating are evident on the face.

The wrists and feet bear large bloodstains consistent with historical descriptions of [[crucifixion]].  The feet themselves are placed one on top of the other within the image; both front and dorsal images display a single large bloodstain, indicating one nail was driven through both feet upon the cross.  The left wrist likewise displays a large bloodstain; however, the left hand covers the right, preventing a view of the wound there.  Blood flows are present on both lower arms, displayed to flow in a direction as if the victim were hanging on a cross.  A single large bloodstain is also present on the right side of the chest - nearly obliterated by the 1532 burn damage - and appears to have been mixed with a clear liquid from the body.  Blood stains are also present on the [[scalp]], and the marks of a severe beating are evident on the face.

The Shroud contains blood stains consisting of human male [[DNA]], and a [[blood type]] that is AB - the same rare blood type<ref>Less than 5% of Europeans have AB blood type.</ref> found on the [[Sudarium of Oviedo|face covering for Jesus]] preserved in Spain,<ref name="Oviedo">The [[Shroud of Oviedo]].</ref> and the same rare blood type common in "68 skeletons of Jewish residents from 1,600 to 2,000 years ago in and around [[Jerusalem]]."<ref>http://www.rhesusnegative.net/staynegative/blood-types-ancient-hebrews/</ref> The height of the man was between 5'9" and 5'11"; his weight, 168-180 pounds; his age, between 30 and 45 years old.<ref>[https://www.shroud.com/meacham2.htm Excellent scientific article about the Shroud]</ref>  Coins visible only to modern technology had been placed over the man's eyes, an ancient Roman tradition not known to historians until modern archaeological excavations revealed the practice.<ref>Coins over the eyes were particularly necessary to keep the eyes shut if the person died with his eyes open.</ref> The coin over the right eye was minted by [[Pontius Pilate]], and the coin over the left eye was minted only in A.D. 29, merely a few years before the estimated date of the [[Crucifixion]].<ref name="Coins">http://www.shroudstory.com/faq-coins.htm</ref>  The angle of the man's arms during the [[crucifixion]] can be inferred from the flow of blood seen on the Shroud:  65° for one arm; 55° for the other.  The cloth was a finely woven linen that would have been available to a wealthy man as described in the [[Gospels]], and was cut from the same fabric containing the same pollen as the face covering preserved separately in Spain.<ref name="Oviedo"/>

The Shroud contains blood stains consisting of human male [[DNA]], and a [[blood type]] that is AB - the same rare blood type<ref>Less than 5% of Europeans have AB blood type.</ref> found on the [[Sudarium of Oviedo|face covering for Jesus]] preserved in Spain,<ref name="Oviedo">The [[Shroud of Oviedo]].</ref> and the same rare blood type common in "68 skeletons of Jewish residents from 1,600 to 2,000 years ago in and around [[Jerusalem]]."<ref>http://www.rhesusnegative.net/staynegative/blood-types-ancient-hebrews/</ref> The height of the man was between 5'9" and 5'11"; his weight, 168-180 pounds; his age, between 30 and 45 years old.<ref>[https://www.shroud.com/meacham2.htm Excellent scientific article about the Shroud]</ref>  Coins visible only to modern technology had been placed over the man's eyes, an ancient Roman tradition not known to historians until modern archaeological excavations revealed the practice.<ref>Coins over the eyes were particularly necessary to keep the eyes shut if the person died with his eyes open.</ref> The coin over the right eye was minted by [[Pontius Pilate]], and the coin over the left eye was minted only in A.D. 29, merely a few years before the estimated date of the [[Crucifixion]].<ref name="Coins">http://www.shroudstory.com/faq-coins.htm</ref>  The angle of the man's arms during the [[crucifixion]] can be inferred from the flow of blood seen on the Shroud:  65° for one arm; 55° for the other.  The cloth was a finely woven linen that would have been available to a wealthy man as described in the [[Gospels]], and was cut from the same fabric containing the same pollen as the face covering preserved separately in Spain.<ref name="Oviedo"/>

Invasive radiocarbon dating of the Shroud is subject to several inherent uncertainties: the probability that the sample was taken from the original cloth rather than a patch, the probability that the miracle did not undermine the assumptions of radiocarbon dating, and the probability that centuries of mold, bacteria and fungi, and the 1532 fire (and drenching the Shroud to save it) that damaged the Shroud, did not distort the dating.  If each of these probabilities is roughly 50%, then the chance of radiocarbon dating of the Shroud being accurate is only (1/2)³ = 12.5%.

Invasive radiocarbon dating of the Shroud is subject to several inherent uncertainties: the probability that the sample was taken from the original cloth rather than a patch, the probability that the miracle did not undermine the assumptions of radiocarbon dating, and the probability that centuries of mold, bacteria and fungi, and the 1532 fire (and drenching the Shroud to save it) that damaged the Shroud, did not distort the dating.  If each of these probabilities is roughly 50%, then the chance of radiocarbon dating of the Shroud being accurate is only (1/2)³ = 12.5%.

Cotton fibers were found in the samples used to date the Shroud, indicating they were taken from a patched area rather than the original.<ref>In violation of the 1978 protocol, the three samples for the 1988 cardon-dating were all taken from the very same area and thus were flawed due to the reweave there, possibly intentionally so. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPLEu1MMYfo Summary on YouTube]</ref> In addition, radiocarbon dating "is vulnerable to contamination, and often yields imprecise results, particularly for the period" of [[Jesus]] because "[t]here are fewer artefacts with known dates to calibrate the scrolls' age against."<ref>https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2025-06-05/dead-sea-scrolls-ai-dating-palaeography/105374410</ref> [[Carbon dating]] test results of the Shroud conflict with each other and thus are not credible.  In 1988, a small snippet of the Shroud was extracted, '''''but the "C-14 results of the three labs fall outside the bounds of the Pearson's chi-square test," illustrating a flaw in the dating''''' that was likely due to a repair seam that ran diagonally "through the area from which the sample was taken."<ref>http://www.juliantrubin.com/encyclopedia/bible/shroud_of_turin.html</ref>  A peer-reviewed scientific paper later demonstrated the invalidity of those results, suggesting instead that the Shroud is between 1,300 and 3,000 years old,<ref>Rogers, Raymond N., "Studies on the radiocarbon sample from the Shroud of Turin". Thermochimica Acta, Volume 425 Issue 1–2, pp. 189-194 (Jan. 20, 2005)[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6THV-4DTBVHC-1&_user=10&_handle=B-WA-A-W-WE-MsSAYWA-UUA-AAUYYDZUYC-AAUZVCZYYC-YZEWAVVVC-WE-U&_fmt=full&_coverDate=01%2F20%2F2005&_rdoc=26&_orig=browse&_srch=%23toc%235292%232005%23995749998%23553672!&_cdi=5292&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=3d89246a5d4144616be7657f0d83b6cf]</ref><ref>Mark Antonacci "Resurrection of the Shroud: New Scientific, Medical, and Archeological Evidence"</ref> disproving the 1988 results that claimed that the Shroud originated between A.D. 1238 and 1430.

Cotton fibers were found in the samples used to date the Shroud, indicating they were taken from a patched area rather than the original.<ref>In violation of the 1978 protocol, the three samples for the 1988 carbon-dating were all taken from the very same area and thus were flawed due to the reweave there, possibly intentionally so. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPLEu1MMYfo Summary on YouTube]</ref> In addition, radiocarbon dating "is vulnerable to contamination, and often yields imprecise results, particularly for the period" of [[Jesus]] because "[t]here are fewer artefacts with known dates to calibrate the scrolls' age against."<ref>https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2025-06-05/dead-sea-scrolls-ai-dating-palaeography/105374410</ref> [[Carbon dating]] test results of the Shroud conflict with each other and thus are not credible.  In 1988, a small snippet of the Shroud was extracted, '''''but the "C-14 results of the three labs fall outside the bounds of the Pearson's chi-square test," illustrating a flaw in the dating''''' that was likely due to a repair seam that ran diagonally "through the area from which the sample was taken."<ref>http://www.juliantrubin.com/encyclopedia/bible/shroud_of_turin.html</ref>  A peer-reviewed scientific paper later demonstrated the invalidity of those results, suggesting instead that the Shroud is between 1,300 and 3,000 years old,<ref>Rogers, Raymond N., "Studies on the radiocarbon sample from the Shroud of Turin". Thermochimica Acta, Volume 425 Issue 1–2, pp. 189-194 (Jan. 20, 2005)[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6THV-4DTBVHC-1&_user=10&_handle=B-WA-A-W-WE-MsSAYWA-UUA-AAUYYDZUYC-AAUZVCZYYC-YZEWAVVVC-WE-U&_fmt=full&_coverDate=01%2F20%2F2005&_rdoc=26&_orig=browse&_srch=%23toc%235292%232005%23995749998%23553672!&_cdi=5292&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=3d89246a5d4144616be7657f0d83b6cf]</ref><ref>Mark Antonacci "Resurrection of the Shroud: New Scientific, Medical, and Archeological Evidence"</ref> disproving the 1988 results that claimed that the Shroud originated between A.D. 1238 and 1430.

Indeed, there is strong evidence that the sample for the 1988 analysis was actually taken from cloth woven into the Shroud during the [[Middle Ages]], thereby giving a false result.  The sample contains a dye and also vanilla which are not found in the original Shroud.<ref name="Vanilla"/>  Moreover, "the 12th Century Hungarian 'Pray Manuscript' come to depict Jesus being wrapped in the shroud - with authentic herringbone pattern and burn marks - 100 years before carbon-dating says the material originated."<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/>

Indeed, there is strong evidence that the sample for the 1988 analysis was actually taken from cloth woven into the Shroud during the [[Middle Ages]], thereby giving a false result.  The sample contains a dye and also vanilla which are not found in the original Shroud.<ref name="Vanilla"/>  Moreover, "the 12th Century Hungarian 'Pray Manuscript' come to depict Jesus being wrapped in the shroud - with authentic herringbone pattern and burn marks - 100 years before carbon-dating says the material originated."<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/>

== Criticisms ==

== Criticisms ==

There have been many arguments against the authenticity of the Shroud, some of which have been disproved.  For example, some claimed that a misspelling on one of the coins over an eye could not be authentic, but in fact several other coins having the same misspelling have since been found.<ref name="Coins"/>

There have been many arguments against the authenticity of the Shroud, some of which have been disproved.  For example, some claimed that a misspelling on one of the coins over an eye could not be authentic but, in fact, several other coins having the same misspelling have since been found.<ref name="Coins"/>

Over the centuries there have been critics and doubters of the Shroud being the authentic burial cloth of Jesus. One of the earliest known critics was Pierre d'Arcis, Bishop of Troyes who wrote a scathing letter to the pope in 1389 claiming that the Shroud was a "cunning" painting and that the artist had been discovered.<ref>The Shroud, Ian Wilson, 2010, page 102.</ref> A harsh critic of the Catholic Church, [[John Calvin]], repeatedly ranted against relics and he wrote against the Shroud in 1543:  

Over the centuries, there have been critics and doubters of the Shroud being the authentic burial cloth of Jesus. One of the earliest known critics was Pierre d'Arcis, Bishop of Troyes who wrote a scathing letter to the pope in 1389 claiming that the Shroud was a "cunning" painting and that the artist had been discovered.<ref>The Shroud, Ian Wilson, 2010, page 102.</ref> A harsh critic of the Catholic Church, [[John Calvin]], repeatedly ranted against relics and he wrote against the Shroud in 1543:  

:''"How is it possible that those sacred historians, who carefully related all the miracles that took place at Christ's death, should have omitted to mention one so remarkable as the likeness of the body of our Lord remaining on its wrapping sheet? This fact undoubtedly deserved to be recorded. St John, in his Gospel, relates even how St Peter, having entered the sepulchre, saw the linen clothes lying on one side, and the napkin that was about his head on the other; but he does not say that there was a miraculous impression of our Lord's figure upon these clothes, and it is not to be imagined that he would have omitted to mention such a work of God if there had been any thing of this kind."''<ref>[[John Calvin]]: ''Traité des Reliques'', Geneve 1543, translated by '''Valerian Krasinski''': ''A treatise on Relics'', Edingburgh 1854</ref>

:''"How is it possible that those sacred historians, who carefully related all the miracles that took place at Christ's death, should have omitted to mention one so remarkable as the likeness of the body of our Lord remaining on its wrapping sheet? This fact undoubtedly deserved to be recorded. St John, in his Gospel, relates even how St Peter, having entered the sepulchre, saw the linen clothes lying on one side, and the napkin that was about his head on the other; but he does not say that there was a miraculous impression of our Lord's figure upon these clothes, and it is not to be imagined that he would have omitted to mention such a work of God if there had been any thing of this kind."''<ref>[[John Calvin]]: ''Traité des Reliques'', Geneve 1543, translated by '''Valerian Krasinski''': ''A treatise on Relics'', Edingburgh 1854</ref>