Comments on BiblePlaces Blog: 60 Minutes on the James Ossuary

By the way, in my question #11, I assumed that CBS...

2008-04-06T20:38:00.000-05:00

By the way, in my question #11, I assumed that CBS was presenting the interview with the Egyptian as being undercover caught by a hidden camera, but this was just an entertainment ploy to trick viewers into thinking they were seeing something they weren't supposed to see. Aside from 2 or 3 different camera angles, I just noticed that they openly admit they presented themselves as being the TV show's producers: "Marko Sammech was surprised to see 60 Minutes."

Yitzhak - thanks for noting those qualifications. ...

2008-03-30T14:42:00.000-05:00

Yitzhak - thanks for noting those qualifications. My point still stands: there must be at least 100 experts more qualified to speak about burial customs, inscriptions, and forgeries. So why did 60 Minutes choose a "Coordinator of International Programs," one who describes himself as "an author and historian with a special interest in history, archaeology, public interpretation and heritage policy" as their sole expert on the matter? I think their choice was based not on qualifications but on beliefs.

Neil Asher Silberman was trained in archaeology at...

2008-03-30T11:58:00.000-05:00

Neil Asher Silberman was trained in archaeology at Hebrew University, a contributing editor to Archaeology, and on the editorial board of Near Eastern Archaeology, according to profile at EName Center.

Don't you think you should give him proper credit?

I think the bottom line here is that once an objec...

2008-03-25T16:59:00.000-05:00

I think the bottom line here is that once an object is taken out of it's archaeological context, it's usefulness and authenticity is forever compromised.

I think 60 Minutes overstates their case, but I think Herschel Shanks does too. We may never know is this is authentic (and of course, even if it is, it may not be James the Just either).

Bingo, Todd! Thank you for echoing my own sentime...

2008-03-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Bingo, Todd! Thank you for echoing my own sentiments. I would also add these (& encourage other readers to add to the list):

7) If Golan used the tools found in his apartment "to cut new inscriptions," why would he need to hire an Egyptian to inscribe them? Why would he take such a ridiculous risk?

8) The detective later says all Golan did was "market" them. So why discuss the tools? I own tools that could cut inscriptions too. So what?

9) Does anyone really believe a US film crew was able to locate & persuade this obscure Egyptian, & that the Egyptian was totally unaware of Golan's world-renowned ossuary?

10) If he made these undeniably impressive fakes, such as the Joash Tablet with real traces of melted gold, why was he not able to display a similar specimen to the film crew, or even show them a photo?

11) If the "undercover" video of the Egyptian was truly undercover, & if he's still in business, why didn't they ask him to show a sample of a tablet, &/or offer to pay him a profitable amount to make one like the Joash Tablet? (Remember BAR's contest?)

12) If he really made "several" such tablets, where are the others, & why didn't he describe them for the record in case they show up one day?

13) If the story is really "about the Bible & Truth", as stated in the opening, how soon will 60 Minutes be airing a special on all the authentic artifacts that force critics to admit the Biblical writers used accurate source material (e.g., Sennacherib vs. Hezekiah, Sargon, Israel via the Merneptah Stela, David's Dynasty via the Dan Stela, Caiaphas via his ossuary, Pilate via coins & stela, etc.)?

Silberman states that it was "thrust on the world" ... remember that the next time you read a headline stating that another incredible proof of Evolution has been discovered, & time your stopwatch to see how long it takes 60 Minutes to produce a show criticizing it in equal manner, & state that the "entire world" of Biology is on trial.

Gotta love the bleeding-heart, cover-all-your-bases liberal ending: "whatever the outcome ... the real casualty is Knowledge itself".