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American Morning

Interview with John Scheinfeld, "National Geographic"

Aired March 29, 2002 - 08:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: It is Good Friday, a day Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Two days later, on Easter Sunday, they proclaim his resurrection. That is also when "National Geographic" is premiering a fascinating documentary that explores the mysteries and legends surrounding the location of the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth.

"The Tomb of Jesus" includes some extremely rare footage, some of which you are seeing now. The ancient church of the Holy Sepulcher, encompassing the sites of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.

Joining us from Washington is John Scheinfeld, the writer- director of "Tomb of Jesus" Thanks very much for being with us, John. It is a fascinating documentary. There are three basic theories about where Jesus was buried. Just briefly, if you could, review them for us, and tell us what you found out about them in your documentary.

JOHN SCHEINFELD, "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC": ...National Geographic Channel on Sunday. We take a very balanced look at what is really one of the great mysteries of all time. What the Gospels tells us is that Jesus was crucified, placed in a tomb, and resurrected all within very close proximity. Over the centuries, many things have happened in Jerusalem, much as they're happening now, to obscure the evidence. And so, there are basically three possibilities that we discussed in the program.

The first is that the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which -- magnificent structure built in the 300's by Roman Emperor Constantine because he felt this is the place where it all happened. And for hundreds of years, this is the only location.

Then, somewhere in the 1800's, somebody else popped up and said, Wait a minute, maybe there is another place. The Gospels refer to the place that Jesus was crucified as Golgotha, or "place of the skull." And, in Jerusalem, there's this mammoth cliff with two eyes and a nose and a mouth, and it looks like a skull, and right next to it is what has come to be known as Garden Tomb. It very much fits the description, very vague description in the Gospels...

COOPER: That's just outside the Damascus gate in Jerusalem.

SCHEINFELD: That is correct.

COOPER: And then there's a third theory that perhaps he was not buried at all.

SCHEINFELD: That's correct. Very sort of revisionist theory, but based on very sound historical principles. What our expert looks at is, he says, Well, we know the Romans crucified thousands upon thousands of people. How is it, in all the years of excavation, we've only found the bodies of one individual who was crucified. He said, as a historian, I must look at this, and it's because crucifixion was meant to annihilate you as a human being, to deny you burial. And so what he postulates is that, in fact, Jesus may have been left up on the cross until he was consumed by the dogs and the birds.

COOPER: Now, as you say...

SCHEINFELD: So we deal with all of these...

COOPER: I'm sorry. As you say, you truly went to kind of review all three theories. Can you say, definitively, in the end of your search, you were working on this for more than a year, can you say definitively where Jesus is buried?

SCHEINFELD: Well, I think it's a very riveting and complex story. And there are pros and cons to all of these arguments. As I said, our intent was to have a very balanced account here. So if you're asking, yes, by the end of the year that I spent on this, I have my own opinion, but I think I would much rather have your viewers take a look at what our experts have to say, take a look at the evidence, take a look at the very rare footage that we have, and draw their own conclusion.

COOPER: All right. John Scheinfeld of "National Geographic", thank you very much for joining us.

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