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By Guy R. Powell
4.5
2121 ratings
The podcast currently has 124 episodes available.
The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

What really happened during the trial of Jesus Christ? Could the Shroud of Turin provide important clues? In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, Guy R. Powell welcomes Christian scholar and Psalm Log founder Preston Zeller for an in-depth discussion about history, biblical scholarship, and scientific research surrounding the Shroud. Topics include:Scientific evidence supporting the Shroud of TurinCarbon dating and modern testing methodsDNA and historical researchThe mystery of the Shroud's image formationThe suffering of Jesus ChristJewish legal procedures during the trialWhy many scholars believe the trial violated established lawThe relationship between faith, history, and scienceHow the Resurrection continues to shape Christian beliefInsights connected to Guy Powell's book The Only Witness Whether you are exploring Christianity, biblical history, or scientific evidence, this conversation offers thoughtful perspectives on one of history's most discussed artifacts.

In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, Guy R. Powell welcomes Dale Glover of Real Seekers. Rather than conducting a traditional interview, Guy and Dale revisit major skeptical challenges surrounding the Shroud of Turin. Their discussion grows from Dale’s earlier debate with cognitive neuroscientist James Fodor. Dale examines whether known medieval methods can account for the Shroud’s unusual characteristics. Topics include:Historical evidence that may predate the fourteenth centuryThe Shroud’s unusual 3D image informationThe VP-8 Image Analyzer and topographical informationBas-relief theories and wraparound distortionProblems aligning frontal and dorsal imagesThe absence of a known medieval artistic techniqueDale’s “minimal relevant features” approachSuperficiality, image uniformity, and vertical collimationQuestions surrounding the 1988 radiocarbon datingLong fingers and apparent differences in arm lengthRigor mortis and the body’s positionBurial spices and possible cloth positioningPhilosophical criteria for identifying a miracleThe possible motivation behind a medieval forgery Dale argues that proposed natural methods must explain the complete set of image characteristics. Reproducing only one or two unusual features is not enough under his approach. The conversation eventually reaches the central Christian question. Could the Shroud represent a physical consequence connected with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Guy and Dale explore that possibility while acknowledging ongoing disagreement surrounding the cloth. For believers, the discussion offers another way to examine Christianity’s central claim. For skeptics, it presents specific historical, scientific, and philosophical arguments to investigate. The episode also complements Guy Powell’s The Only Witness: A History of the Shroud of Turin.

Can physical evidence strengthen belief in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, Guy Powell welcomes longtime Shroud researcher Lee Sweeney, Director of the Shroud Center at the Santiago Retreat Center in California. Together they explore why the Shroud of Turin continues to inspire believers, challenge skeptics, and engage young people searching for authentic answers. Lee shares how more than two decades of teaching have shaped his approach to presenting the Shroud. Rather than asking people to accept faith without evidence, he introduces them to the historical, scientific, and biblical facts surrounding one of Christianity's most studied artifacts. The conversation explores:Why today's generation wants tangible evidence.How the Shroud opens conversations about faith.The relationship between science and Christianity.Research into the mysterious image formation.Why many researchers believe the image was produced by light.How the Shroud helps people understand the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.The growing importance of the Holy Face devotion.Why faith and science complement one another. Lee also discusses his experience presenting the Shroud to thousands of students and church groups. He explains how many begin with doubts but leave asking deeper spiritual questions. Whether you are exploring Christianity, researching the Shroud of Turin, or reading The Only Witness, this episode offers thoughtful insights into history, science, and faith.

In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, Guy Powell interviews author, apologist, and Shroud researcher Doug Powell. The discussion focuses on John Calvin’s famous objections to the Shroud of Turin and how modern discoveries may challenge those conclusions. Topics include: • Calvin’s 1543 Treatise on Relics • Why Calvin rejected the Shroud of Turin • The history of relics during the Reformation • Jewish burial customs and archaeological evidence • The Sudarium of Oviedo • The role of icons in Christian tradition • Veneration versus worship • Scientific and historical perspectives on the Resurrection • The significance of Jesus Christ and the Shroud today Doug also shares details about his doctoral research, which examines the historical and theological evidence surrounding Calvin’s critique of the Shroud. This episode offers a balanced exploration of faith, history, and evidence while examining one of Christianity’s most debated artifacts.

In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, historian Duran Smith joins Guy Powell to explore the early history of the Shroud following the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Smith discusses several theories regarding the Shroud’s journey across early Christian communities and its potential use in private Christian ceremonies during the first few centuries. The conversation investigates the possibility that the apostles kept the burial linens to themselves, only revealing them to select followers during the early days of Christianity. Smith examines the role of early Christian communities in safeguarding sacred relics and the “discipline of the secret” that may have surrounded the Shroud. This fascinating discussion also covers the connections between the Shroud, the Eucharist, and early Christian tradition. Smith also touches on the potential movement of the Shroud from Jerusalem to Antioch, Odessa, and eventually to Constantinople. Could this ancient relic have been used as a powerful visual representation of Christ's death and Resurrection in early Christian communities? Tune in to learn about the secrets of the Shroud that remain hidden in history.
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