'The Mystery of Jesus'
Liam Neeson narrates new CNN documentary on life of Christ
 |  The documentary gives new insights into the life of Christ. |
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| | ON CNN TV | "The Mystery of Jesus" airs on CNN International at the following times:
Saturday April 10
1200 GMT in Asia, South Asia and North America
1900 GMT in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America, North America
2300 GMT in Latin America and (LA/USfn)
Sunday April 11
1100 GMT in Asia, South Asia and North America
1700 GMT in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and North America
2200 GMT in Latin America |
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LONDON, England (CNN) -- "The Mystery of Jesus," the latest documentary by CNN Productions, looks at many of the questions and myths around the life of Christ.
"The Mystery of Jesus" airs as his life and times are more than ever in the spotlight, with the new Mel Gibson film "The Passion of the Christ" and the thriller novel that implies Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married, "The Da Vinci Code," both currently causing controversy and debate.
Was Jesus a preacher? A healer? A teacher? What may he have looked like? And what were the reasons for his death? This original CNN documentary offers factual evidence and current theories about the life of this hugely important religious figure.
Narrated by critically acclaimed actor Liam Neeson, the one-hour documentary explores the historical aspects of the life of Jesus and delves into why so many mysteries exist about his life.
"Tying together historical evidence, religious works and forensic data, this documentary gives us a fresh glimpse into the history of a man whose life and death has been greatly deliberated upon throughout the ages," says Rena Golden, senior vice president of CNN International.
"CNN Productions has done a brilliant job in unveiling many long-standing mysteries surrounding Jesus."
"The Mystery of Jesus" offers explanations into Jesus' life through interviews with experts including scholars, scientists and doctors.
Religious scholars such as Dr. A.J. Levine from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and Dr. Claire Pfann from The University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem discuss the personal details of Jesus' life, supported both by historical and religious texts.
They shed light on the early years of Jesus and provide insight into matters such as the existence of Jesus' brothers and sisters.
Another scholar, Dr. Bruce Chilton, even claims that the actual birthplace of Jesus may not be in Bethlehem of Judea, whilst astronomer Michael Molnar discusses his unique findings regarding the birth date of Jesus, which he has calculated using technology and old astrological maps.
Scholars also weigh in on what Jesus' preaching really meant in a time of political uncertainty under Roman and Jewish hierarchical rule.
These same academics offer factual insights into other important religious people associated with Jesus, such as John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene, whose reputation is often disputed.
And the documentary provides startling evidence about what Jesus really looked like as his face is re-created by medical and forensic artist Richard Neave.
Additionally, "The Mystery of Jesus" gives a striking look into the specifics of the crucifixion of Jesus. New York-based medical examiner Dr. Frederick Zugibe describes the event in detail, ranging from how long Jesus actually lived on the cross to what would have been the true medical cause of his death.
"The Mystery of Jesus" presents an insightful account of the life and death of Jesus and serves to open the debate even further into who Jesus was, what he stood for and why Christianity has grown into the popular religion it is today.
