The Talpiot Tomb
James Cameron, director of the movie Titanic, has teamed up with Simcha Jacobovici to "unearth" the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. They will air the documentary on March 4th on the Discovery Channel. I think you should watch it. If I had the Discovery Channel I would watch it--I just hope that Leonardo DiCaprio doesn't die this time.
I don't know what Cameron's religious beliefs are, though one can guess. I have no idea who Simcha Jacobovici is, but my suspicion is that he is not a devout Primitive Baptist.
Do you know the worst part about this special? I fear that it will crank up the church machinery again. You know the one. It's the machine where we get angry and denounce Cameron, call into question Jacobovici for his anti-Christian bias, develop curricula on the archaeology of the ancient near east, and then launch a thousand sermon series on why Jesus is the real "King of the Woooooooorld!"
In fact, if you listen really closely, you can hear some preacher/publisher, somewhere whispering in the church's ear, "This may be the evangelistic opportunity of a lifetime. Buy my video refutation of Cameron or people will die in ignorance."
Or we can state the case once, for those who care to listen, and move on. We're grown up Christians now, right? We know that there is an endless supply of DaVinci Code, Gospel of Thomas, and Jesus-wasn't-real propaganda.
We're partly to blame. There is a huge wing of the church that refuses to give any credence to archaeological finds that challenge our understanding of scripture. In the face of that kind of evidence the church has sometimes embraced some convoluted arguments. We sometimes become irrational. So now, when a movie director makes the same fantastic leaps we do (but in the opposite direction) we invoke the scientific principle.
Anybody who thinks that we live in an age of reason doesn't pay enough attention to pop culture. People believe all sorts of silly things. Exhibit A? Read what Cameron said in a recent interview:
“We now know more about [Jesus] than we''ve known for literally thousands of years. I think that’s pretty amazing,” he said. “I think that’s the power of film.” link
Are you kidding me? We know more than Peter or Mary or John or Paul knew about Jesus? We know more about Jesus than the gospel writers knew? We know more about Jesus than the martyrs of the early church knew? And what would the power of film have to do with it? Did Cameron find my hidden stash of the Dead Sea 8mm Videos?
This type of thing will continue. Let the church's witness to the life of Jesus be authentic and the Cameron Crazies will be wasting their breath.
Peace to you.
By the way, if you want something more researched than my ramblings on the question, check out these resources:
Tales from the Crypt
Ben Witherington's Blog (NT professor at Asbury)
3 comments:
Dr. Rollston also guest blogged about it here:
http://drjimwest.wordpress.com/2007/02/26/christopher-rollston-on-the-talpiot-tomb/
Aaron, I think we (that is, the church in it’s most human form) are completely to blame. Not just because we shun archeology when it works against us, but for other, more sinister reasons, I fear.
First, we are quick to flip-flop on our ‘sources’. The large rush to boycott the Discovery Channel (I’ve already received email) is equal to the great enthusiastic support given the Discovery Channel when it was promoting the James Ossuary. The Discovery Channel has gone from faithful reporter of the truth to anti-Christian bastion of the liberal media.
This is even more humorous given that Simcha Jacobovici and James Cameron are praising the ossuary as the ‘missing link’ from the tomb. That sounds evolutiony. Goodness, what are we good, Bible believing Christians to do now regarding the ossuary?
Second, and this chafes me more, is the hum of the great machinery of Christian capitalism gearing up. As you rightly said, there is money to be made by the church. Lee ‘The Greatest Outreach Opportunity Since Narnia’ Strobel will soon have Case for the Resurrection followed closely by the DVD curriculum of same name. TBN will produce a cheesy, low budget sci-fi film about a rogue archeologist who stumbles on the truth behind an Islamic plot to deny the resurrection. Celebrating 40 Days with the Resurrection church campaign is on the way. A professor or two from Asbury might pen a book….
Why can’t we leave well enough alone? Does anyone even remember The Last Temptation of Christ? The movie flopped (because it sucked, not because it was heretical) – and yet we acted as if the world were coming to an end. We look for offense.
We like, I think, to roil the waters. Yes, we often have the best of intentions (defending the faith), but it is far too often mixed with self-interest. It is a shame that the teachings of the homeless Messiah have been mutilated into a marketing campaign.
Arg. Sorry to hijack your blog. But I do feel better.
Thanks, Amber. I checked Rollston's blog. Looks good. Looks very, very, complete.
Nate,
I feel your pain (though maybe not as acutely!). You're welcome to hijack the blog, but I'm not giving you my password!
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