St. Paul’s Remains Found |
by Regis Nicoll |
Referring to recent carbon-dating tests on bone fragments found under St. Paul's Basilica, the pope stated, "This seems to confirm the unanimous and uncontested tradition that they are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul."
I don't contest the tradition, but really all the test confirmed was that the remains are from the first or second century, and that is only confirmed within the limits of carbon-14 dating, which is not known for its reliability (although it is more reliable over relatively short periods than it is over long periods).
That really doesn't match the headline of this post, does it?
Posted by: Dan Gill | July 02, 2009 at 11:06 AM
How would they be identified? Execution victims weeen't customarily treated with respect historically(guess how Westerners learned medical science and Japanese learned how to make Samurai Swords)and I hardly think Romans were different in this regard.
Unless the local congregation requested his remains from the Procurator and buried them(which would have required endangering themselves though a ruse could have been made to explain the request plausibly)it is most likly that Paul's remains were simply thrown, wherever. Of course that could also mean that the local congregation could visit the local dump disguised as scavengers and no one would pay attention.
Posted by: jason taylor | July 02, 2009 at 12:19 PM