Wow. I don’t get the Discovery Channel, so I didn’t watch the Jesus Tomb documentary (it says you can watch “exclusive video” on the website, but none of the links for their snazzy flash presentation are working for me right now). But I can get moment-by-moment commentary on the film from a whole bunch of bibliobloggers. This thing really is causing a colossal stir. In the biblioblogging world, it seems like it is James Tabor versus the world (others have been discussed and quoted, but I think he’s the only pro-Jesus-tomb blogger). I actually like reading James Tabor’s responses. They’re the only ones that I have consistently read completely on the whole fiasco. You can see some of the posts on this whole thing in my shared items from Google reader (on the right hand side if you’re looking at my actual blog page, or you could go here). Outside of those, I also found the article by Jodi Magness on the SBL Forum quite helpful.

Without getting caught up into the flurries, I am just sitting here watching. It’s like curling up inside next to the fire with some hot cocoa and watching out the window as a snowy blizzard rages about. Once things calm down a bit, I might go get my snow shoes and snow pants and a toboggan for some serious sledding action. Maybe make some snow angels or a happy snowperson (does it always have to be a man?).

Initially, though, I’m skeptical . . . just because of the way it’s been presented. I’m not impressed much by documentaries that try to “prove” something new. I like documentaries that live up to their name: they document something. I like it when they present a summary of some event or topic or biography in a pleasant fashion in order to make scholarly information accessible to the masses. But when people sidetrack the peer-review process of scientific evaluation (such as that in archeology) to present “new information” (particularly controversial information) in a documentary, that says to me: this wouldn’t have made it very far on its own with scholars, so we’re going to try to make money off of it instead. That’s just my gut reaction, I’m not pointing fingers or anything.

If there were solid evidence that these are the bones of Jesus, then I would not dismiss it out of hand. I would happily evaluate it. I would not ditch my faith, either. I may, as some have been doing, reinterpret my faith. I am a seeker of truth. If I feel challenged that I am not living according to the truth, I must reevaluate. But I’m far from that. In the meantime, I will continue to try to be a disciple of Jesus, who I believe is my risen Lord and Messiah. Part of that discipleship, for me, is this great academic adventure.

Now it’s time to get cozy again and watch the flurries. Where are my robe and slippers? Ah, there they are. Flurry on.