Why an Atheist Thinks the Shroud of Turin is the Real Deal

VP-8 Image Analyzer

The Interpretive Systems VP-8 Image Analyzer had been invented in 1972. In 1976, Peter Schumacher delivered a system to the home of Eric Jumper, also with the Air Force. Jackson was there as Schumacher set up the machine and verified that it was properly calibrated. Then, as Schumacher tells it:

Jackson placed an image of the Shroud of Turin onto the light table of the system. He focused the video camera of the system on the image. When the pseudo-three-dimensional image display ("isometric display") was activated, a "true-three-dimensional image" appeared on the monitor. At least, there were main traits of real three-dimensional structuring in the image displayed. The nose ramped in relief. The facial features were contoured properly. Body shapes of the arms, legs, and chest, had the basic human form. The result from the VP-8 had never occurred with any of the images I had studied, nor had I heard of it happening during any image studies done by others.

I had never heard of the Shroud of Turin before that moment. I had no idea what I was looking at. However, the results were unlike anything I have processed through the VP-8 Analyzer, before or since. Only the Shroud of Turin has produced these results from a VP-8 Image Analyzer isometric projection study. (41)

It was probably the most significant discovery about the shroud’s image since Pia took his famous photograph. Certainly it was a defining moment that spurred on more research. But it wasn’t, like Pia’s moment in his darkroom, an epiphany or totally new discovery. It was scientific confirmation of a hypothesis.