Even if this object is the burial cloth of Christ (and that seems doubtful) so what? Will someone become closer to Him for viewing it? Will someone be saved if they go to the Holy Land and retrace Christ's steps? Retracing Christ's steps in the Holy Land will no more make you saved than getting on the floor and barking will make you a dog. Who cares if the Knights Templar may have gotten holy relics from Solomon's Tomb and they are now in the possession of the Masons or whatever. It is all satanic smoke. If someone is inspired by the Holy Land, fine. It wont get you to heaven, however. We shouldnt allow ourselves to become too preoccupied with relics and antiques. Salvation is much more important.

Clay - I'm starting a ministry to faith heal to pets, and if you send me a $50. love donation, I will send you a genuine imitation of the Shroud of Lassie. For a $100. love donation, I will guarantee that your pet's soul will be waiting for you in Heaven, when Jesus raptures you away at the End Times. Man, you are a rube.

Sorry Bob. You are starting to sound like the Catholic church. Now if you want to start sounding born again, I may take you up on it. Thanks.

Clay - I thought about becoming "born again", but that whole required frontal lobotomy thing put me off it.

It's both refreshing and amusing to read how the Church admits to using piety as an economic engine. And, Clay ... don't go blaming that on the Catholics. Seems to me I've heard some pretty comfortable-looking protestant megachurches crying poor in recent days.

Clay - The only one who appears to be preoccupied with it is you. I believe I'm the first Catholic to even post here and that is simply to ask where in the article or anywhere else any of that nonsense you spouted off said or taught. Did you come up with these ideas on your own, or is this what your church teaches? If so do yourself a favor and find a different one.

I happened to read in the article that many people want to see an object that means nothing to God. Other things are much more important. If I drink out of the Holy Grail will I get to heaven? It is sheer nonsense and something that the devil wants us to be preoccupied with if he can get us to do it.

Clay - How do you make the leap from people wanting to see an object to getting into heaven? It's no different then going to a museum to see artifacts from history. No one except you seems to be talking about this item as having any special significance to God or saving powers. The only point worth any discussion is if it is what it is claimed to be. You are letting your imagination get the better of you. You also seem preoccupied with the devil.

If the item has no special religious significance, then why do people want to see it? Think. Thanks.

Clay - They line up to see it for the same reason lines form to see the face of Jesus, or Mary, in piles of dog turds, or on a piece of toast......Superstitious Stupidity.

Clay,

Having "special religious significance" is not the same as offering a ticket to heaven.

Only you made that connection, Clay.

Just as the "prayer cloths" I heard Oral Roberts sell on his radio broadcasts years ago didn't guarantee a pass thru the pearly gates (but they sure must've done something for Mr. Roberts' bottom line!)

The bottom line is that the item only holds significance for those who fall for it. If the devil can make someone believe that they are better off for viewing some religious relic then he will. It doesnt get us closer to God nor to heaven. If over a million people want to see it then they must feel that it holds some significance. It can be a distraction from what God wants us to do, which is to accept Him. That is one of the complaints I have about the Catholic church with the various objects at the altar etc, used for rituals. I suppose it makes some feel at home in the church they have always attended, etc, but it is what and Whom we accept in our hearts that is important.

And if it "works" for them, Clay ... that is, helps them feel closer to God, where's the harm?

It doesn't "work" for you ... that's why the Reformation occurred. It doesn't mean they are wrong. It doesn't mean you are right. You find the items and rituals distracting. They would perhaps find your religious practices sterile and cold. Each must find his or her own way.

To put it simply, there isnt much sterile and cold about being on fire for God. There is plently sterile and cold about some man's burial cloth. If someone uses it and other things like it as a replacement for God and goes to hell then things warm up again.

Clay,

I suspect most pious Catholics would strenuously deny that relics (such as the Shroud) are "replacements" for God, but rather a device that gives some greater focus to their prayers.

Look, you know I am not religious ... and relics are not part of the tradition in which I grew up. All I am saying is that your blanket dismissal of other traditions is silly, narrow-minded, and decidedly un-Christian. Perhaps you know the mind of the almighty, but, if you do, you are unique in the history of mankind.

Clay - I can only assume you don't go to museums much or have an appreciation for history to post the response you did. Some may place too much significance on it. Others are just interested in seeing what might be a piece of history. While I’m Christian I still can appreciate the culture of other religions as displayed in aritecture, paintings and other artifacts. You still appear to be the only one on this blog who appears to apply any major significance to the shroud. Robert’s narrow mindedness go as far to deny the historical significance. It’s either the real thing or one of the oldest cons in history. Either way it makes it interesting from a historical point of view.

I think there is a reason that God didnt want the crown of thorns or Christ's cross or the goblet for the last supper found or Noah's Ark brought down from Mt. Ararat. That is because it trivializes God for people to be waiting in line to view such things when He wants us to believe that they are there without having to see them. If He doesnt want us to see them then maybe we shouldnt want to. God bless.

Clay - How exactly do you know what God wants us to see? As long as one keeps things in proper perspective what could be wrong. I noticed you ignored the 10 commandments which according to Exodus were encased in the ark. In fact in the book God gives pretty specific details about it. You make the assumption that anyone looking at the shroud somehow is placing it on equal footing with God which is a bit presumptuous on your part.

FAITH PROFESSOR CALY PRESENTS

"CREATION SCIENCE FOR DUMMIES - LESSON #4"

Timmy: Faith Professor Clay, What is the Sun?

F.P.Clay: Timmy, good question. The Sun is a life sustaining bright orb of light divinely created by God, using four little words, " LET THERE BE LIGHT", some 6000 or so years ago.

Timmy: F.P.Clay, What is the Moon?

F.P.Clay: The Moon, Timmy, is the back side of the Sun, which is why we see it at night.

Timmy: F.P.Clay, I sometimes see the Moon during the day-time, when the Sun is out, and in a different part of the sky. How can that be?

F.P.Clay: Oh Timmy, Think of what the Bible says and apply it to the perfect logic of Creation Science. The Firmament (Where God kept, and still keeps, the water he needed for Noah's Flood), exists beyond the Sun, which is why the stars twinkle as their light passes through it. If the Sun was beyond The Firmament, its heat would be absorbed by it and never reach the surface of the Earth (as God intended). The Moon you see during the day, is just a projection of the back side of the Sun reflected off the curved underside of The Firmament and reprojected across the sky to the curved underside in another spot, creating the illusion that they both exist separate from each other.

Timmy; Thank you Faith Professor Clay, you always make everything so clear and easy to understand.

F.P.Clay: Glad to help you Timmy. All you need is Faith in the inerrant written word of God and you can understand anything.