Science, Theology and the Holy Shroud Edited Papers from the 2019 International Conference on the Turin Shroud Hosted by: The Arthur Custance Centre for Science and Christianity R. Gary Chiang and Evelyn M. White Editors Science, Theology and the Holy Shroud: Edited Papers from the 2019 International Conference on the Turin Shroud R. Gary Chiang and Evelyn M. White, Editors Copyright © 2020 Doorway Publications, Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. All rights reserved. No part of this pdf-ebook may be reproduced in any form without written permission from Doorway Publications, 346 Southcote Road, Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, L9G 2W2. Email: [email protected] Website: www.custance.org Doorway Publications is the publishing division of the Arthur Custance Centre for Science and Christianity, a Christian organization which seeks to preserve, promote, and re-publish the written works of Arthur C. Custance and to stimulate study of the Bible in the light it receives from, and contributes to, the whole field of knowledge by means of publications, electronic media, and education. ISBN: 978-0919857-95-7 National Library of Canada Holy Face under Microscope: R. Gary Chiang’s modification of Arthur C. Custance’s stylistic drawing of a microscope which appears in A.C. Custance, Seed of the Woman, 3rd Edition, Doorway Publications, 2014. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks to three individuals who made the conference a wonderful experience. Prof. Jennifer Chiang (above left), as conference coordinator, ensured each day went well, and the two moderators, Vanessa Chiang (middle) and Nichole Rosenberg (right), expertly facilitated the sessions helping with lecture room technology and keeping speakers comfortable and on time. Thanks to Barrie Schwortz (to right) for providing an entertaining presentation on his experience with STURP, for serving as the official photographer for this conference, and for creating the web page for the conference. Thanks to Joe Marino (far left) and Robert (Bob) Rucker (near left) for encouraging the Custance Centre to host this conference, and for providing valuable advice. Thanks to the following sponsors: Test the Shroud Foundation www.testtheshroud.org iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface........................................................................ vi Paper Presenters.. vii Author Biographies. vii Basic Holy Shroud Facts........................................................ xiv The Unique Photographic Property of the Image. xv Gospel Account of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. xvi Formation of the Image.. xvii What to Expect in this Book. xviii Categories—Loosely Defined. xix 1. The Medieval Shroud. 1 2. Radiocarbon: Raw Data to Calendar Dates.. 8 3. The Vignon Markings Myth.. 12 4. The Shroud of Turin and Oxford University. 25 5. Three Treasures of Constantinople.. 40 6. Comparing "Christ the Teacher" Statue at Chartres Cathedral with the Turin Shroud. 58 7. Holistic Solution to the Mysteries of the Shroud of Turin. 73 8. The Radiocarbon Dating of the Shroud is Explained by Neutron Absorption. 87 9. Testing the Shroud and the Sudarium at the Molecular and Atomic Levels. 101 10. Image Processing Applied to UV Photographs of the Holy Shroud which Includes the Radiocarbon Test Area. 124 11. The Holy Shroud and Nuclear Physics: Why Radiocarbon Dating Results Prove the Resurrection of Jesus. 136 iv 12. The Quantum Properties of the DNA Molecule and the Formation of the Superficial Body Image on the Turin Shroud.. 153 13. Strange Quark Matter in the Holy Shroud. 164 14. The photographic film and processing techniques of the Enrie Images. 179 15. Blood clotting, Serum Halo Rings, and Bloodstains on the Holy Shroud....................................................... 186 16. Hemolysis, Bilirubin, and the Colour of Bloodstains on the Holy Shroud....................................................... 201 17. 3D Information in the Fields of Bioenergetics and Quantum Theory. 215 18. Empirical Findings Suggest Comparability Amongst the Turin Shroud (TS), QuantaGraphy®, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). 224 19. Unveiling the Holy Shroud Through Photographic Imagery. 230 20. The Holy Shroud and the Holy Fire of Jerusalem. 242 21. A Response to John Calvin’s Treatise on the Holy Shroud. 250 22. A Contextual Analysis of Pope Innocent III Letters of the Fourth Crusade. 260 23. The Beirut Icon and the Holy Shroud. 273 24. The Veil of Veronica: From Concealment to Revelation.. 293 25. Possible References to the Holy Shroud in the New Testament. 301 26. The Divine Light and the Shroud of Turin. 317 27. Spirituality and the Shroud. 323 28. Walking a Fine Line Between Science and Faith. 331 29. A Peculiar Number and Sign.. 339 30. My Personal Experience. 347 31. Fresh Insights into His Wounds. 353 v Preface The Arthur Custance Centre for Science and Christianity (www.custance.org) was founded in 2002 to promote the works of A.C. Custance (1910-1985) and his insights into the relationship between the established facts of science, and the truths revealed in Scripture. Seventeen years later, the Custance Centre held its first international conference on Faith and Science focused, not on the well-known evolution/creation debate, but on the science and theology of the Holy Shroud, the burial cloth that wrapped Jesus as he lay dead in the tomb. This cloth, also known as the Turin Shroud or the Shroud of Turin, is the most studied object in human history, but its full potential to integrate faith and science has never been explored until this conference. Interestingly, the Shroud tends to be marginalised by the academic community, with academics believing that it may have been created in the Middle Ages as an icon to focus religious devotions, or as a forgery to dupe pilgrims into paying homage. Yet it is far more significant than most people can ever imagine. As the chapters in this book exemplify, the Shroud does have its skeptics, but it continues to mystify us as it bridges the gap between the natural and the supernatural. The one single fact about the Shroud, which catapults it from an object of passing interest to the fantastically unique key that enables science to unlock the door into another world, is the image it bears. No amount of wishful thinking, reality denial, misrepresentation of facts, nor religious discrimination can erase the significance of this image. It is the image, not the cloth, which is the key. One day this ancient linen cloth may be destroyed, or fall prey to the natural processes of decomposition, but its image will live on in countless forms from the millions of printed photographs to the enormous reservoir of digital files. As several chapters in this book report, copies of the image imprinted on the Shroud can be examined to reveal a number of unexplainable facts. If one has the courage to put aside their bias and look, these facts give us a glimpse into eternity. Some scientific evidence may challenge the authenticity of the cloth itself, but to date, nothing challenges the authenticity of the image. It is truly a remarkable thing to behold, and a joy to study, even for the skeptic! Arthur Custance (1910-1985) published Evelyn White was several works relating Arthur’s long-time biblical knowledge to administrative assistant the established facts of and colleague. She science. All his works wrote his biography can be read at which is available at www.custance.org www.custance.org vi Paper Presenters Conference Speakers (l to r): Giorgio Bracaglia, Hugh Farey, Janis Winchester, Larry Stalley, John Loken, Cathy Jarrett, Bob Rucker, Jeffrey Skurka, Joe Marino, Cathy Osborn, Thomas McAvoy, Kristy Moore, Tristan Casabianca, Patrick Lublink, Mark Antonacci, Tom Devins, Harry Hill (Guest), Cheryl White, Kelly Kearse, Russ Breault, Jean-Pierre Laude, Teresa Newman, Pam Moon, Mary-Catharine Carroll (the papers of those who could not attend were read by other attendees). Picture by Barrie Schwortz. Author Biographies (PAPERS: chapter number at page number) Antonacci, Mark [chapter 9, p. 101] Juris Doctorate, John Marshall Law School, 1977 Founder and President, Test The Shroud Foundation, St. Louis, Missouri. Attorney at Law, Author of Test The Shroud and The Resurrection of the Shroud [email protected]; www.testtheshroud.org For two decades, Mark has proposed that new, non-destructive or minimally-invasive tests be adapted and applied to the Shroud because they could prove its age, and explain what caused the unique features throughout its body images and blood marks. These techniques could even prove whether a radiating event occurred to the multiply-wounded, crucified corpse in this cloth, which not only encoded all of these features, but left unforgeable evidence of when, where, and to whom all of these events occurred. Barta, César [chapter 23, p. 273] Physicist, University Complutense, Madrid, 1981, MBA Executive, University Virtual Barcelona, 2005, Test engineer in the space industry for more than 25 years. [email protected] César is a professional in the nuclear and electronic fields, and works as a test engineer in space science for data analysis. He devotes his free time to researching and disseminating information on the Holy Shroud, and has taught courses and attended conferences both in Spain and in other countries in Europe and America. He collaborates with national and international specialized magazines. He has been involved in Shroud research following its 1988 carbon dating, and is a member of the Centro Español de Sindonología (CES). vii Benford, M. Sue (deceased 2009) [chapter 17, p. 215; chapter 18, p. 224] B.S.N. (Nursing), U. of Tennessee, 1979 Master of Arts degree in Health Education, Ohio State University, 1981 http://www.homestead.com/newvistas Sue read a book on the Shroud in 1997. She was drawn to the Shroud and contacted Joseph Marino, who at the time was a Benedictine monk in St. Louis. Marino left the monastery and eventually married Benford. They partnered on Shroud research, and authored several papers on the theory that the Shroud sample used for radiocarbon dating in the 1988 was flawed because new material was added to reenforce and/or repair the Shroud during its history.