Here’s a possible idea for a story. If anyone uses it for a book or movie, you must pay me 
It is completely based on the news I’ve heard that scientists have gathered enough blood remains from the Shroud of Turin to determine its DNA. So here’s my idea:
PART ONE: In the not too distant future, say, 2020, the labs are broken into which holds the blood remains and DNA tests of the Shroud of Turin and some of the samples are stolen. At some point we learn that it is masterminded by several Christian leaders across the world, including the Vatican, Moral Majority, Evangelicals, Greek and Russian Orthodox leaders, Archbishop of Canterbury, etc., etc., etc… PLUS, leaders of what are considered “Christian” nations. So you got a mix of politics, science and religion. What they are doing with the blood and DNA test results is they plan to clone what they hope is Jesus of Nazareth. No one is certain if the clone will be Jesus or a man, probably a criminal, from the 14th century, as the results of carbon testing of the shroud suggest.
PART TWO: They succeed in making a clone. Let’s call him “X”. Of course, this is all kept secret except to us the readers. No one knows this is happening because it is all kept quiet and takes place in a remote facility in the USA. It is a huge enclosure, but it is indeed an enclosure, like a prison. But it is pleasant. And X wouldn’t know any better anyway. Remember, the scientists, religious leaders and politicians can never know how this is going to turn out: whether it is Jesus or a 14th century criminal. The child grows within his extended “family”, which are basically guards, security, scientists, observers, staged friends, and selected “visitors” from all walks of life, including transvestites, addicts, prostitutes, CEOs, religious leaders, politicians, homeless, the sick, etc. We overhear his interaction with these people. Still no decisive clues. He uses the library extensively and is like a sponge intellectually and educationally. But he also shows signs of unruliness. He is difficult to control. He is insubordinate to those who would like the experiment to be a success. He seems rude and socially awkward. But at the same time he seems wise, intuitive and larger than life… but some can’t tell if this is in a Gandhi kind of way or a Charles Manson kind of way.
PART THREE: Division develops. Some take all these as signs of a criminal mastermind. Others take this as a sign of Jesus. Unrest occurs between the orchestrators of this experiment. Some threaten to withdraw funding (which is considerable). But not to worry: there are enough funders who want this to work that they’ll kick in the necessary cash. There is a political faction that wants X so much to be Jesus because they plan on using him for their political ends, such as the USA who would use this Jesus to squash all Islamic, Jewish and every other religio-political presence in the world. The religious lobby would use this Jesus to gain supremacy in the religious sphere. But some apocalyptic types also interpret this event as the second coming and would hasten to see this come to completion. Of course, the religious and political lobby cooperate on so many levels.
PART FOUR: “X” escapes through the help of one of the guards, a beautiful, young woman called Rachel. They fall in love. I haven’t thought about what happens during this time except that he upsets people. I’m not sure how. Subversive behavior. Insulting those who shouldn’t be insulted. He keeps slipping away with Rachel and her small group of University friends. Artist types. Maybe lives a kind of Robin Hood life. This part is the weakest because it has the danger of becoming too cheesy. But I would want to develop the whole paradox of: is this Jesus or a nuisance to society?
PART FIVE: X is finally captured by the experiment. They return him to the facility, and after a battery of tests and deliberations, decide to “put him down”. The experiment is over. So is the story. Except… when we follow Rachel away at the end, she meets up with a small band of questionable friends who met X and continue to talk about him and continue their anti-social behavior. (We would need to prevent this from becoming too cheesy too.)
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David Hayward is an artist trapped in a pastor's body, stripping to the essential.
I’ve read a few short stories based on cloning DNA from the Shroud, but this is definitely the largest story I’ve heard of based on that idea. All the ones I’ve read are short stories.
Hey David,
Actually, Bill Myers has a trilogy out that kind of deals with similar ideas. I really enjoyed the books when I was younger. I think I might pick them up and read them again. The first book is called Blood of Heaven, then Threshold, then Fire of Heaven.
well, i never read christian fiction, so i have no knowledge of these books. oh well… it’s been done before.
I liked the storyboard – it sounds like a good take on a fiction and could be very interesting…however – the impregnation of the girl Rachel would of been good for the Da Vinci readers (lol).
I think it could end in a more elusive way in my opinion – like we find out who this cloned person really is – complete with flashbacks to their former lives – and then they are captured by the community once again. It made no sense to put him down in my opinion – not with investment in the project – maybe he could die at the hands of the community Rachel loved – due to in fighting and adoration for this figure?
Either way I liked the story idea – I always like people’s imaginations.
I used to work at the Shroud Center of Southern Caliofornia where we had a museum of Shroud artifact replicas, including a full sized mounted and illuminated replica.
Anyway, David, your idea has already been done and the movie is coming out in 6 weeks.
Just kidding, about the exact plot which you have described, but I do know there a couple of peopl working on similar stories.
i would insist that the whole point of the story be that it would be totally inconclusive as to whether it was Jesus or a criminal. Bottom line is that he is a menace to society and is disposed of.
When I read your ideas, I immediately thought about Rachel being impregnated too. And then I considered the child growing up obsessed with thoughts like:
Is what I hear about my Dad actually who he was?
Who was he REALLY?
I wonder what he would tell me to do if he were standing right here?
What was he thinking during his last breath?
He had to be a fake or he’d still be alive.
Is he somehow still with me?
Has he really contributed to who I am?
Am I connected to him in any way other than just my DNA?
If they find out who my father was, will they kill me too?
Poor kid. Sounds like he needs therapy. He sounds an awful lot like me.
Artist types from university!
I say kill him good and proper.
Some good ideas. Write it yourself!
I would love to read it, but could ot write it.
you’re almost there Dave, just write the book! Act 4 and 5 do need some work but that’ll come as you write it. Prediction: By and large Christians will send you hate mail from 2 weeks before it’s published and then for a good year or more after.
Like you said, the cheesiness needs to be carefully watched. But this could be a really good story. I wish I was a writer at times.
David
Just curious, did these ideas come to you after you drank one of the beers that was donated to you. If so I think it may have been spiked.
Hello David (great name…King of Kings)
I have my pin out…have you got the balloon? They made a series very like that called the Pretender…
So here’s my take on it…still in the 21st century, Jews are still being tortured and experimented with…only now with DNA. A small stinking group of wealthy Nazi’s trying to find new ways to get keep the the superior race pure. And still punishing the past.
But what they haven’t figured in is that once you change the past you have no future…one by one the Nazi’s start to disappear, no one understands why. The whole world as they know it changes. It is all so surreal.
Is it reality?
Racheal Gold is called in to help them figure out the missing people. You would think that a name like Gold, (Goldstien, Goldberg, Goldburg…) it would be a big hint…but I only said they were rich, not smart!
Well, you figure out the rest…
Fun blog. really liked the watercolors (?).
Come by and see me sometime…that is an official invitation.
Southern smiles and world peace,
Sharon
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
BabyBoomerAdvisorClub.com
Ah ha! I see a mix of paradoxes as well!
Anti-socials who socialize among themselves!
Or perhaps it’s oxymoronic instead?