Introduction
Unavoidably, the Shroud of Turin is considered within the context of personal experiences, beliefs, and predispositions. Do you believe in Jesus? Did you grow up Catholic? Do you have a predisposition towards wanting the Shroud of Turin to real or fake? Do you believe The Urantia Book provides accurate historical facts about Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection?
Some people are predisposed toward discrediting the Shroud of Turin because they do not believe in Jesus. Some people are predisposed toward discrediting the Shroud of Turin because they do believe in Jesus but do not want to be smeared as a backwards-thinking relic worshiper. Some people even believe that it is important to disbelieve in the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin for the sake of discouraging undue consideration for this relic. Such overly protective attitudes seem quite misplaced and misdirected to me.
Being an agnostic Jew prior to being influenced by The Urantia Book, my perspective and interest in the topic has changed over time. General efforts with the UBtheNEWS project led to taking on this subject. My research has led me to the conclusion that the Shroud of Turin and The Urantia Book share a dual nature of reciprocal validation. The peculiarities of each lend support to the more than human origin and nature of the other.
Exploration and Updates
2008: UBtheNEWS: Shroud of Turin Report.
2010: This video reveals the face of Jesus on the Shroud of Turin after three dimensional distortions are removed.
2022: Improved techniques for dating the Shroud were recently applied. See reported.
2022: Left Is Right. This appendix, updated in 2024, considers whether the notable blood stain on the torso is positioned on the left or right side of the body.