Claim for site at Rihab, Jordan to be oldest church is widely rejected

Here's an article expressing the skeptical
reaction of 2 weighty scholars -

Israeli archaeologist Boaz Zissu of Bar-Ilan University

Dominican Father Jerome Murphy-O'Connor

Catholic Explorer
http://www.catholicexplorer.com/explore4325/nationworld/archaeologists-claim-jordan-cave-was-first-church-.shtml

"Pushing the (date) back to the year 70 is very
speculative. (The Jordanians) are desperate to
create church sites (for tourism)," Father
Murphy-O'Connor said. "I would be suspicious
of this sort of hype."

More authorities expressing doubt include -

Ghazi Bisheh, former director general of the
Jordanian Department of Antiquities

Biblical scholar Stephen Pfann, president of
the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem

"Oldest Church" Discovery "Ridiculous," Critics Say
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080613-old-church_2.html

David Christainsen


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