TITLE:
Relics and Conflicts of Religious Interest: The Shroud of Turin and the Blood of Saint Januarius
AUTHORS:
Giovanni Fazio, Bruno M. Strangio, Francesca Riotto
KEYWORDS:
Relics, Turin Shroud, Saint Januarius’s Blood, Christians, Atheists, Agnostics, Other Religions, Religious Conflicts
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.13 No.2,
February
17,
2025
ABSTRACT: In this paper, we aim to highlight the barriers to knowledge when investigating relics. This occurs because these objects interest different groups (Christians, Agnostics, Atheists, and followers of other religions) each approaching the topic with their own set of beliefs. The cultures, ideas and behaviors of these groups differ significantly, making it difficult to address any problem objectively. In other words, when faced with a problem, multiple answers arise, each shaped by different perspectives. We will examine two relics that we have studied extensively: the Shroud of Turin, housed in Guarini’s Chapel, and the Blood of Saint Januarius, Bishop of Benevento, preserved in the Cathedral of Naples. Through this examination, we aim to highlight some of the religious conflicts surrounding these objects. The outcome of such studies will depend on the statements and actions of the conflicting parties involved.