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The Lost (and Boring) Tomb of Jesus

March 5th, 2007 · 6 Comments · 25 views

So I DVR’d the “controversial” film by James Cameron - the same man who brought us Terminator (thank you) and Titanic (I take it back).

Honestly - I was disappointed.

I’ll be short because I honestly think there was more research done on the Davinci Code than this film.

Remember in the original Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indiana Jones said “Archeology is the search for FACT, not truth. If you are looking for truth, the philosophy department is down the hall”? That would have been a good starting point for this film.

Lot’s of conjecture, one-sided arguments from a “what-if” position (which in my world we call “faith”), and only using those portions of Jewish and Christian history that was convenient and some that was ridiculously over the top - as in Mary Magdalene was the “refounder” of the Christian faith.

I loved how in translating the letters on the box they use Hebrew when needed and Aramaic when needed. Great filmmaking (maybe), not so great scholarship.

But for a much better review and critique from a non-believer, read this. It’s from the Washington Post.

I’m finding it astonishing that the harshest critics of the film are from scholars who are not Christian. I mean - how bad does a film have to be for the Washington Post and the Houston Chronicle to critique it?

Tags: theological ramblings

6 responses so far ↓

  • 1 rob // Mar 5, 2007 at 6:53 am

    I didn’t watch it. Didn’t think anyone really took it seriously. I thought it was on the Sci-Fi channel?

  • 2 Chris Rosebrough // Mar 5, 2007 at 7:27 am

    Before you make up your mind about the “Lost Tomb of Jesus” you need to see and hear the rest of the evidence.

    For a comprehensive and scholarly rebuttal of the film’s evidence please visit ExtremeTheology.com.

    Read and hear the evidence for yourself.

  • 3 MikeS // Mar 5, 2007 at 7:58 am

    Didn’t get a chance to see it, but had already done some research on my own as to what others - scholars - were saying.

    Seems Cameron and Discovery Channel are the only ones really believing their story. Too bad they didn’t search for truth through the facts, rather than making the facts fit their “truth.” Whether it’s theology or science you always draw truth OUT OF your research not the other way around.

    Checked the link Chris posted - good stuff. Thanks Chris

  • 4 Grant // Mar 5, 2007 at 9:16 am

    Chris - nice link.

    I don’t know if I have anything else to add - it was shoddy archeology work AND scholarly research.

    I just wish it had been more entertaining.

  • 5 Mike R. // Mar 5, 2007 at 9:23 am

    Didn’t see it. Our DishNetwork receiver went out Saturday afternoon and it won’t be fixed until Wednesday. But anyway…

    I think maybe some of the non-Christian critics are so harsh on it because it treats Jesus as an actual historical figure.

  • 6 clay // Mar 5, 2007 at 11:27 am

    my favorite part was when they said that mary magdalene carried jesus’ child Judah, and Judah was the “beloved disciple” that John refers to. the “documentary” actually made that claim.

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