[Flipside]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9434000/9434907.stm

Writings found that may date back to the decades after the crucifixion. And :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10849211

Possible remains of John the Baptist found.

Obviously, there's no point jumping to conclusions until more evidence is available, but these could potentially provide some fascinating information about our History for this period.

[Luis Dias]

So we have another divine sudary. Within ten years someone will figure out that at least one of those is a forgery.

[Flipside]

Well, care has to be taken, particularly in the case of John the Baptist, not to confuse the story with historical examination. It's easy to assume that just because the person exists that whatever was written about them was factual, but A does not neccesarily mean B, as it were.

Either way, it'll be utterly fascinating to find out what these finds reveal.

[Grizzly]

Didn't the Vatican kill the Templar knights over finds like this?

[headdie]

Didn't the Vatican kill the Templar knights over finds like this?

dont know, but there have been more than 1 Pope who have taken the short view in the name of scripture than the long view in the name of the evolving world

[Flipside]

Institutionalised religions always get nervous at finds like this because they have worked hard to promote the indelibility of their holy books. Say these metal tablets give a story that varies even slightly from the later texts of the Bible, because the Church has leaned so heavily on the fact that 'every word is fact', it leaves them in a very difficult situation.

In fairness to the Vatican, in certain regards they have become a great deal more flexible towards this sort of thing, they accept evolution, and the possibility of life on other planets, so I would say this is likely to be much more of a concern to Evangelistic groups etc.

[Mongoose]

To be honest, I'm most fascinated by the concept of a book made of lead pages and bound with lead rings.  Don't try inhaling that old-book smell with this one.

[Fearless Leader]

Bones? meh.
Although the organized church will refute the books, if there is anything in them that goes against their teachings, however, the find will mean a lot for christians with more gnostic viewpoints

Didn't the Vatican kill the Templar knights over finds like this?

In past centuries, lots of people and groups were killed for far less.