The Ark, The Shroud, and Mary: The Untold Truths About the Relics of the Bible

by Philip Gardiner

Why do the Ark of the Covenant, Mary's reliquary box, and Jesus' Coffer all have the same imagery? Was the Ark the container of the Covenant, the Ten Commandments, or the Chalice? Does the image of the Shroud of Turin contain a bioelectric field? These questions and others will be explored in The Ark, The Shroud, and Mary . Author Philip Gardiner recently won the acclaim of both scholars and the reading public with The Serpent Grail , which united three of the most mysterious objects known to man--the Grail, Elixir and Philosophers Stone. Now, in this unique and thought-provoking work Gardiner proves that the Ark of the Covenant, the Shroud of Turin, and Mary are united in ways never before imagined. Travelling across the world, from Rome to India, Portugal to Egypt, Gardiner uncovers the trail of the Ark and finds that it does not lead to Ethiopia, as many believe, but instead in a direction that nobody could have imagined. The trail of the Ark takes Gardiner on a hunt into the very heart of an ancient secret society with clandestine meetings in far-off lands. Uniting the myth, tradition, and language of the Ark with the Shroud of Turin, Gardiner then goes on to re-date it, reveal how it was made, and identify whose image it actually recreates. Through his new-found contacts in the world of secret societies, Gardiner then shows how this incredible secret was protected by a dual brotherhood throughout time and was the secret source of the enlightenment spoken of by numerous orders from the Sufis to the Knights Templar. The Ark, The Shroud, and Mary outshines The Da Vinci Code for the simple reason that it is the factual story of one man's fight to uncover the truth.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion

319 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2007

Reviews

[Andrea Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book based in the title. It sounded intriguing and I was eager to learn more. This was about 6 months ago and between the time that I finished this book and me writing the review, I've read a good twenty books and countless articles on the same subject.

None of them introduced the ideas that this particular text did. Sun gods, the sacred feminine in a new light... I'm very open minded to any idea but this was almost too much, even for me. I felt the title was misleading and the author was trying to prove his belief system over presenting ideas and facts.

Nonetheless, it IS an interesting, entertaining read. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, however, if you can keep an open mind, you may get something out of this book.

[James Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Utter bollocks. We are all dumber for having read this book.

[Alex Mahon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing and speculative

This book promises insights into biblical relics but quickly loses focus in a swirl of vague theories and sweeping claims. It reads more like a personal rant than serious investigation. There is little respect for evidence, and many assertions lack credible sources or context. Instead of thoughtful engagement with tradition or scholarship, it feels like an attempt to provoke for the sake of controversy. I was hoping for a deeper understanding of the Ark, the Shroud, and Marian theology, but came away frustrated and unconvinced.