Book description
Religious relics, defined as “either portions of or objects connected
with the body of a saint or other holy person,” are among the most
revered items in the world. Christian relics such as the Holy Grail, the
True Cross, and the Lance of Longinus are also the source of limitless
controversy. Such items have incited people to bloodshed and, some say,
have been a source of miracles. Relics inspire fear and hope among the
faithful and yet are a perennial target for skeptics, both secular and
Christian. To research the authenticity of numerous Christian relics,
Joe Nickell takes a scientific approach to a field of study all too
often tainted by premature conclusions. In this volume, Nickell
investigates such renowned relics as the Shroud of Turin, the multiple
heads of John the Baptist, and the supposedly incorruptible corpses of
saints, first examining the available evidence and documented history of
each item. From accounts of true believers to the testimony of the
relics' alleged fabricators, Nickell then presents all sides of each
story, allowing the evidence to speak for itself. For each relic,
Nickell evaluates both the corroborating and contradictory bodies of
evidence and explores whether the relic and attributed miracles can be
reconstructed. In addition to his own experiments, Nickell presents
findings from the world's top scientists and historians regarding these
controversial objects of reverence and ire, explaining the circumstances
under which each case was examined. Radiocarbon dating and tests to
determine the validity of substances such as blood or patina indicate a
variety of possible origins. Nickell even reveals some of the techniques
used to create archaeological forgeries and explains how investigators
have exposed them. Each relic is a mystery to be solved; guided by the
maxim, “extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof,” Nickell seeks
only the truth. Joe Nickell, Senior Research Fellow of the Committee
for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), is the author of more than twenty
investigative books, including Secrets of the Sideshows and Real-Life
X-Files: Investigating the Paranormal.
