Scientists say Turin Shroud is supernatural

[jberryhill]

22. No I do not believe it has supernatural origins

I believe it is most likely a medieval artwork of extremely clever origin.

I am further not an adherent of the Christian faith.

The origin of the artifact is, however, unknown and unexplained, and there is quite a bit of literature on the subject of its origins, which is inconclusive.

That is properly a subject of scientific inquiry and discussion, given that the artifact has substantial social significance.

Some people's attitude toward science is indistinguishable from theists' attitude toward religion however.

"It's a fake" is a really unsatisfying answer to what exactly it is and how it was made, and if questions like that do not intrigue you, then I hope you don't pursue a scientific career, because that is a marked lack of curiousity.

Whoever made it put a shitload of forensic knowledge into it, as it is quite unlike other contemporaneous artistic depictions. I find that interesting, and I find "it's a fake" to be dismissive of whatever it is.

Now, upthread, someone claims that the publication referenced in the OP was likely the result of funding by the Catholic Church which, itself, does not take an official position on the origin of this thing.

Saying "folklore is wrong" is pretty trivial, but the owner of the thing itself does not purport it to be of supernatural origin either.