Cameron's Folly

Bones of Jesus Discovered, Millions Leave Christian Faith

Could that be James Cameron's dream headline after promoting his "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" documentary?

Why would ossuaries discovered 27 years ago and already documented in 1996 by the BBC be re-documented in 2007? The only reasons I can think of would be to offer new and substantiative evidence or to make a quick buck. Given the credibility and tendencies of Hollywood and its "documentaries," I'm betting on the latter. Someone should give Cameron an introduction to Al Gore and Michael Moore. He'd fit right in. Then again, maybe that's what he wants to do.

Even the article from Fox News has the decency to point out,

William Dever, an expert on near eastern archaeology and anthropology, who has worked with Israeli archeologists for five decades, said specialists have known about the ossuaries for years.

"The fact that it's been ignored tells you something," said Dever, professor emeritus at the University of Arizona. "It would be amusing if it didn't mislead so many people."

So why is James Cameron making this gaffe of Titanic proportions? Perhaps because he knows how to follow marketing trends and he believes that his move from Christian-bashing to Christ-bashing puts him on the cutting edge in Hollywood. That certainly would raise his political capital with the Hollywood elite, who for time out of mind have been anxious to paint Christians as ignorant trailer trash.

The article also points out,

Pfann is even unsure that the name "Jesus" on the caskets was read correctly. He thinks it's more likely the name "Hanun." Ancient Semitic script is notoriously difficult to decipher.

Kloner also said the filmmakers' assertions are false. "The names on the caskets are the most common names found among Jews at the time," he said.

Jesus, as most Biblical scholars know, is a variant of Joshua. Mary is a variant of Miriam, which is still a popular Jewish name 2,000 years later. If ancient Semitic script is difficult to decipher and the names are so common, what makes Cameron think he's got a case here? He doesn't appear to, which makes his chase of the almighty dollar all the more likely. He wouldn't be the first to put money ahead of religion.