Join us here for a live chat, Monday 11/24 from 11:30AM to noon ET with Nina Burleigh, author of the book, Unholy Business, one of our featured titles this month in Bright Ideas from Bestselling Authors. Enter a world of what Publisher's Weekly refers to as shady dealings, illicit collectors and monomaniacal archeologists.
Should you question biblical events?
All book lovers are encouraged to attend and submit their questions. The Gather Editorial team will be selecting the member who submits their favorite question during the 30 minute chat to receive 500 Gather Points. Good luck to all.
You must hit the refresh button on your browser to see new comments appear throughout the live chat. If you can't make the chat though, leave your question in the comment field below.
Learn more about Unholy Business:
In 2002, an ancient limestone box called the James Ossuary was trumpeted on the world's front pages as the first material evidence of the existence of Jesus Christ. Today it is exhibit number one in a forgery trial involving millions of dollars worth of high-end, Biblical era relics, some of which literally re-wrote Near Eastern history and which could lead to the incarceration of some very wealthy men and embarrass major international institutions, including the British Museum and Sotheby's.
Set in Israel, with its 30,000 archaeological digs crammed with biblical-era artifacts, and full of colorful characters—scholars, evangelicals, detectives, and millionaire collectors—Unholy Business tells the incredibly story of what the Israeli authorities have called "the fraud of the century." It takes readers into the murky world of Holy Land relic dealing, from the back alleys of Jerusalem's Old City to New York's Fifth Avenue, and reveals biblical archaeology as it is pulled apart by religious believers on one side and scientists on the other.
Learn more about this book throughout November in the Bright Ideas from Bestselling Authors group on Gather. Click here to join.
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Comments: 237
Add to the mix the recent interest in all things Biblical with the release of the book "The Da Vinci Code," and how does one determine new facts vs. fantasy?
TYIA
Yesterday, my husband and I read the story about Jesus falling asleep in the boat and staying asleep despite the tumutuous storm that was progressing. What part of that story might one question?
I would question how bad the storm really was for jesus to actually stay asleep during it.
Let's begin the chat with a question from Christine Zibas. Nina, she asks if you:
"…have any suggestions on how average citizens might distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to stories arising out of Biblical discoveries?
Add to the mix the recent interest in all things Biblical with the release of the book 'The Da Vinci Code,' and how does one determine new facts vs. fantasy?"
Christine, to answer your question: It is especially difficult to distinguish fact from fiction these days, as a global media hype machine gets started every time a new "find" is announced. The best thing to do is to see whether scholars from reputable organizations like the Americans Schools of Oriental research or the Society for Biblical Literature have commented on the find. These people are extremely knowledgeable, and usually have the least to gain from puffing up something of dubious origin or meaning.
good to have you here.
The Spirit inside of a Christian knows the words are true and believes what is written. You don't doubt the scripture ... you may know you don't understand parts of it yet. But your faith is not to be disturbed by anything mere man says after you've received the Spirit of God as a gift.
It is a book to provide nourishment for our Spirit.
Nina thanks for coming to chat with us.