Brendan Whiting
Encyclopedia
Brendan Whiting was an Australian author and researcher, who wrote non-fiction books.
Whiting was born in Australia, and lost his father during the Second World War when he was 6 years old. His first book, Ship of Courage, researched the Australian cruiser , on which his father died. The ship was sunk by the Japanese in 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait
. In that book, Whiting researched and focused on the lives of the crew, rather than providing military details of the battle itself.
His second book, Victims of Tyranny, gave an account of the lives of the Irish rebels
, the Fitzgerald convict brothers who were sent to help open up the north of Van Diemen's Land
in 1805, under the leadership of the explorer Colonel William Paterson
. It discussed the cruelty of the transportation system that the Irish rebels were subjected to and how the brothers eventually won their freedom.
Much of the media publicity Whiting received was due to his last book, The Shroud Story in which he presented evidence disputing the validity of the 1988 Carbon 14 dating tests on the Shroud of Turin
.
to be genuine and in The Shroud Story he wrote:
Whiting argued that areas of cloth directly next to the tested samples retained a gum coating not found on any of the fibers from the main part of the Shroud. The coating seemed to be gum arabic routinely used during re-weaving repairs. Whiting also pointed out that chemist Raymond Rogers
(who died in 2005) uncovered cotton fibers in the tested sample but not from samples taken from the main part of the shroud during the 1973 examination. Rogers also found that the sample used for radiocarbon dating contained alizarin dye (utilized by re-weavers), whereas no dye of any form was found on any part of the original Shroud cloth. Whiting therefore reasoned that the carbon dated samples were from repair fabric used in the reweaving at a later date.
Given the atmosphere of controversy that has surrounded the many views on the Shroud of Turin, Whiting's book received a critical assessment by fellow researcher Ian Wilson, to which Whiting provided responses. For instance, Wilson argued that Rogers' theory has been refuted by Mechthild Flury-Lemberg at the 2005 Shroud conference, but Whiting disputed that statement.
Whiting was also a supporter of the writings of the Italian mystic Maria Valtorta
, and referred to her book Poem of the Man God
in his writings. The references to the Poem of the Man God caused further debate between Whiting and Wilson.
Whiting was born in Australia, and lost his father during the Second World War when he was 6 years old. His first book, Ship of Courage, researched the Australian cruiser , on which his father died. The ship was sunk by the Japanese in 1942 during the Battle of Sunda Strait
Battle of Sunda Strait
The Battle of Sunda Strait was a naval battle which occurred during World War II. On the night of 28 February – 1 March 1942, the Australian light cruiser and the American heavy cruiser faced a major Imperial Japanese Navy task force. After a fierce battle of several hours duration, both Allied...
. In that book, Whiting researched and focused on the lives of the crew, rather than providing military details of the battle itself.
His second book, Victims of Tyranny, gave an account of the lives of the Irish rebels
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
, the Fitzgerald convict brothers who were sent to help open up the north of Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
in 1805, under the leadership of the explorer Colonel William Paterson
William Paterson (explorer)
Colonel William Paterson, FRS was a Scottish soldier, explorer, Lieutenant governor and botanist best known for leading early settlement in Tasmania. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Paterson when citing a botanical name.-Early years:A native of Montrose, Scotland, Paterson was...
. It discussed the cruelty of the transportation system that the Irish rebels were subjected to and how the brothers eventually won their freedom.
Much of the media publicity Whiting received was due to his last book, The Shroud Story in which he presented evidence disputing the validity of the 1988 Carbon 14 dating tests on the Shroud of Turin
Shroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin or Turin Shroud is a linen cloth bearing the image of a man who appears to have suffered physical trauma in a manner consistent with crucifixion. It is kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, northern Italy. The image on the shroud is...
.
Views on the Shroud
Whiting believed the Shroud of TurinShroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin or Turin Shroud is a linen cloth bearing the image of a man who appears to have suffered physical trauma in a manner consistent with crucifixion. It is kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, northern Italy. The image on the shroud is...
to be genuine and in The Shroud Story he wrote:
- “Like an epiphany, it seems science has kept resurrecting evidence that the shroud indeed dates back to the time of Christ, as if repeatedly defying those who have attempted to condemn it as a medieval fake.”
Whiting argued that areas of cloth directly next to the tested samples retained a gum coating not found on any of the fibers from the main part of the Shroud. The coating seemed to be gum arabic routinely used during re-weaving repairs. Whiting also pointed out that chemist Raymond Rogers
Raymond Rogers
Raymond N. Rogers was an American chemist who was considered a leading expert in thermal analysis. To the general public, however, he was best known for his work on the Shroud of Turin.-Biography:...
(who died in 2005) uncovered cotton fibers in the tested sample but not from samples taken from the main part of the shroud during the 1973 examination. Rogers also found that the sample used for radiocarbon dating contained alizarin dye (utilized by re-weavers), whereas no dye of any form was found on any part of the original Shroud cloth. Whiting therefore reasoned that the carbon dated samples were from repair fabric used in the reweaving at a later date.
Given the atmosphere of controversy that has surrounded the many views on the Shroud of Turin, Whiting's book received a critical assessment by fellow researcher Ian Wilson, to which Whiting provided responses. For instance, Wilson argued that Rogers' theory has been refuted by Mechthild Flury-Lemberg at the 2005 Shroud conference, but Whiting disputed that statement.
Whiting was also a supporter of the writings of the Italian mystic Maria Valtorta
Maria Valtorta
Maria Valtorta was a Roman Catholic Italian writer and poet, considered by many to be a mystic. Her work centers on Catholic Christian themes...
, and referred to her book Poem of the Man God
Poem of the Man God
The Poem of the Man God is a multi volume book of about four thousand pages on the life of Jesus Christ written by the Italian mystic Maria Valtorta...
in his writings. The references to the Poem of the Man God caused further debate between Whiting and Wilson.
books
- Ship of Courage: The Epic Story of Hmas Perth and Her Crew Allen & Unwin, 1995, ISBN 1863736530
- Victims of Tyranny: The Story of the Fitzgerald Convict Brothers, Harbour Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0646433458
- The Shroud Story Harbour Publishing, 2006, ISBN 064645725X