When it comes to tackling the big questions of history, one of the things people most want to know is whether Jesus Christ was real.

1. The Enigma of Jesus

He's the founder of the world's largest religion, even people who aren't religious still celebrate his birthday, and he's got his very own banging rock opera in the form of Jesus Christ Superstar.

2. The Ubiquitous Jesus

On top of that, people see him pretty much everywhere they go from toast to tangerines, although sometimes it's actually Foo Fighters frontman, Dave Grohl.

3. The Burning Question

Based on the stories about him, Jesus seems like a pretty cool guy - what with his telling people to be nice to each other - but at the heart of it is the burning question about whether the dude was real or not.

4. The Challenge of Historical Verification

Since it's been about two millennia since he lived and died we can't just ask him or his mates about it, so in lieu of living witnesses, scholars have to rely on evidence and records from the time.

5. Relics of Jesus

Actual objects, which supposedly belonged to Jesus, are highly prized relics in Christianity. If genuine, they would seemingly indicate that he was real, though the authenticity of the relics is often questioned.

6. The Mysterious Turin Shroud

One of the more controversial relics is the Turin Shroud, a piece of cloth which bears the faint image of a man's face.

7. The Shroud's Significance

The cloth is said to be the burial shroud Jesus was wrapped in after his crucifixion, and the image of the man's face is supposed to be his.

8. The Scientific Inquiry

However, whether this holy relic is real or not is the topic of some debate, and the shroud has been scientifically tested in the hopes of working out whether it's the genuine article or not.

9. A Questionable Verdict

It's kept in the Chapel of the Holy Shroud in Turin, Italy, but the Catholic Church is sitting on the fence when it comes to the question of it being the shroud wrapped around Jesus.

10. Modern Scientific Tests

Thanks to advances in modern science, the Turin Shroud has been more thoroughly tested in recent years, and some of the findings aren't looking good for it being a genuine piece of evidence.

11. The Dating Controversy

In 1988, tests on the cloth found that there's a 95 percent chance it was made sometime between 1260 and 1390, so definitely a long time after Jesus was doing his thing.

12. Dubious Relics

The Turin Shroud is not the only disputed item which was said to have come into contact with Jesus but later on had the authenticity questioned.

13. The True Cross

Pieces of the crucifix Jesus was crucified on, known as the True Cross, could be found all over medieval Europe - in large part because faking relics in an attempt to boost tourism was a very popular practice at the time.

14. The Lance of Longinus

Then there's the Lance of Longinus, which Jesus was said to have been stabbed with while he was up on the cross (as though getting crucified wasn't bad enough), with four different places saying they've got the original - or at least part of it.

15. The Legacy of Thorns

Meanwhile, the supposedly authentic Crown of Thorns was rescued from the flames which engulfed Notre Dame in 2019, and was rehoused in the Louvre, while plenty of places claim to have authentic thorns plucked from the crown.

Inauthentic Relics

Then there was something called 'third class relics', basically an item that had been rubbed against the thing people were claiming it to be, in the hopes that it would be infused with some of the original relic's spiritual power.

The Consensus

While the authenticity of the Turin Shroud and plenty of other relics connected to Jesus is disputed, the consensus among academics is that Jesus was a real person.

Historical Confirmation

Beyond the debate over whether he was actually the son of God or not, historians are pretty sure that Jesus was a real person.

Ancient References

Historical scholars of various faiths (or lack thereof) are pretty sure that there was a Jewish prophet from Galilee, who was baptised and later crucified by the Romans.

16. Josephus's Account

The book, Antiquities of the Jews, written in around 93 or 94 AD by the historian Josephus, mentions Jesus while the famous Roman historian, Tacitus, wrote in his book Annals in 116 AD about a 'Christus' who was executed by Pontius Pilate.

17. Tacitus's Testimony

While this reference could have been forged later on by Christians, experts believe that was not the case, as Tacitus was not very nice about them in his writings.

The Verdict

So there you go, when it comes to Jesus Christ he was almost certainly a real person, but the Turin Shroud may not be the genuine article.

In conclusion, the debate surrounding the authenticity of relics like the Turin Shroud continues, but historical references and scholarly consensus point to the existence of Jesus as a real historical figure.

FAQs

1. Is the Turin Shroud authentic?

The authenticity of the Turin Shroud is a subject of debate, with scientific tests suggesting it may not be as ancient as claimed.

2. Are there other relics associated with Jesus?

Yes, there are various relics, such as the True Cross and the Crown of Thorns, but their authenticity is also disputed.

3. What historical evidence supports the existence of Jesus?

Historical references by scholars like Josephus and Tacitus provide evidence of Jesus as a historical figure.

4. Why is the Turin Shroud significant?

The Turin Shroud is believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus and bears his image, making it a significant relic in Christianity.

5. What is the consensus among scholars regarding Jesus's existence?

Most scholars agree that Jesus was a real person, irrespective of their faith or beliefs.