The Shroud of Turin has become a very controversial issue during the past few decades. Opinions about this linen cloth vary over a wide range. For some, on one end of the spectrum, it is merely a piece of cloth that was perhaps painted by a very talented artist - an icon of a crucified person, at best. For others, at the other end, it is a relic they venerate dearly as the authentic burial cloth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of humanity.
Who is right? Who is to decide who is right? Nowadays, most people will declare science as the best referee. Do they have a point? In this book, we will carefully weigh the claims that science makes pro and con the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin. We will assess what those claims are worth, so we may develop a more reliable and accurate perception of the Shroud of Turin.
"As you would expect from Verschuuren, what you get in this book is an extremely well-organized and well-argued assessment of the authenticity of the Shroud as the burial cloth in which Christ's body was wrapped before he was laid in the tomb. As readers may know, the Shroud has been extensively studied by scientists, extensively discussed as an artifact throughout history, and even more extensively reflected on in Faith. Verschuuren is in an excellent position to evaluate the competing claims, and does so here."
"It's fair to say that, despite the seemingly definitive tests in 1988, the status of the Shroud of Turin is murkier than ever. Not least, the nature of the image and how it was fixed on the cloth remain deeply puzzling."
"Dr. Gerard Verschuuren lays out how the Shroud has been studied throughout the years and clearly describes all of the ways it has been studied and never clearly disproved to not be Jesus’ burial cloth."
"In this study Verschuuren remains faithful to his twin vocations, both as a Catholic and as a scientist, achieving an admirable balance in a highly controversial area."
"In this fascinating yet easy-to-read book, Verschuuren walks us through not just the history of the Shroud, but through the battery of tests done over the centuries."
