SPECIAL TO JCE NEWS : by Ken Lambert - Recently analyzed pictures of the Shroud, utilizing new micropictography, may help explain the origins of the famous artifact.
(Austin, TX) Ronald Stewart, PhD, ThD, has just released 3 digital images of the controversial Shroud of Turin (or “Shroud of Jesus”) which may shed some additional light on the centuries-old question: “Is this fabric the actual burial cloth of Jesus Christ?”. The Shroud is, still today, one of the most researched and controversial artifacts in history.Stewart’s initial analysis of various close-ups of the available pictures and images of the Shroud has shown what seem to be pictographic images/icons within various areas of the Shroud’s negative. In addition, via various images it appears as though the eyes of the man alter from open to closed. What this may mean is unclear- and requires further investigation. Stewart has released the following short video which explains specifically what he has uncovered, as well as a bit about his imaging methods: http://www.stewart-research-consulting.com/shroud-video-review.html
The Shroud has undergone intense scrutiny and analysis since 1978 when a large group of scientists and technologists were allowed to study and analyze the Shroud up close. This research project, called STURP for short, concluded (after two years of study) “that the Shroud image is that of a real human form of a scourged, crucified man. It is not the product of an artist.” But this group was unable to scientifically determine exactly how the image was transposed onto the fabric. Their true verdict was that the Shroud was an enigma.
Since the STURP conclusion there have been countless papers and analysis on the Shroud, even up to the current year. In 1989 radiocarbon dating of a portion of the shroud fabric dated the shroud at somewhere in the 13th- 14th centuries, long past the days of Christ. Hoewever, since this conclusion there have been some researchers and scientists who claim that the specific sample used for this dating method was not representative of the entire garment.
Just in the past couple of years the following data has been analyzed and released by various persons worldwide:
- November 2011- Study on the changes in the yellowed fibril density values. These results, due to an unexplained energy source, were inconclusive.
- December 2011- Scientists in Italy announced, after conducting their own tests, that the image on the shroud could only have been created by “some form of electromagnetic energy” similar to a flash of light at short wavelength. The lead researcher declared ”….it appears unlikely a forger may have done this image with technologies available in the Middle Ages or earlier”.
- December 2011- Physicist Giulio Fanti published a critical compendium of the major hypotheses regarding the formation of the body image on the shroud. Fanti stated that “none of them can completely explain the mysterious image”. Fanti then considered corona discharge as the most probable hypothesis regarding the formation of the body image.
The potential authenticity of the artifact remains as murky as ever, and Stewart’s findings may prove to be just one more study added to a never-ending debate.
Ron Stewart has consulted with law enforcement and various museums, including the Brooklyn Museum, in regards to analyzing photos and actual artifacts with his proprietary imaging technology, which is called Infinite Macroscopic Microscopic Imaging (IMMI). The IMMI technology is a proprietary technology that in part uses at least three different combined imaging technologies, known in scientific terms as : ”Preliminary, estimated, and extremely advanced Deconvolution Wavelet Transforms”. In layman’s terms this simply means: “when an image is distorted, blurred, and unclear, that in part these three combined technologies will bring the image into appropriate resolution, clarity, and focus,”.
Mr. Stewart holds a Doctorate of Theology in World History ; Emphasis On Historical Archaeology, and also has a Ph.D. in Theoretics. Additionally he holds a Bachelor degree in Electronics with a focus in Imaging and Photography. The culmination of these various degrees has resulted in the development of his specialized form of imaging and analysis. For more information on his images of the Shroud, please visit his website at www.biblical-images.com.
(Note: Some portions of this article was researched via information from the following website http://www.roca.org/OA/65/65m.htm )
About the Author:
I am from the NH and Massachusetts area, and have been involved in my local congregation for many years. In addition, I enjoy writing professionally- about Christian topics and also about real estate and associated secular topics. I've recently co-written a church history "intro" book titled "Top Ten Most Influential Christians- since the Apostles".
KLambert – who has written 33 posts on Taber's Truths Christian New and Commentary.