# "Jesus was Short and Unattractive." says Vatican Backed Publication **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 29, 2002, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-was-short-and-unattractive-says-vatican-backed-publication/134416 "2002-10-29T17:09:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-was-short-and-unattractive-says-vatican-backed-publication/134416/61 "2002-10-31T18:53:17Z")
As for the Vatican not allowing all the manuscripts to be viewed-could it be possible that it is because some of them are older, frailer, rarer-and far too valuable? After all, they would have to worry about theft, and just plain handling of these artifacts, would they not? ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-was-short-and-unattractive-says-vatican-backed-publication/134416/62 "2002-11-01T00:31:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*As for the Vatican not allowing all the manuscripts to be viewed-could it be possible that it is because some of them are older, frailer, rarer-and far too valuable? > > After all, they would have to worry about theft, and just plain handling of these artifacts, would they not? \*\* I hope they’re concerned about this. If not, they’ll be robbed blind. [http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/exlibris/1997/12/msg00154.html](http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/exlibris/1997/12/msg00154.html) [http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/articles/artintel.htm#prisoners](http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/articles/artintel.htm#prisoners) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-was-short-and-unattractive-says-vatican-backed-publication/134416/63 "2002-11-01T11:40:04Z")
Jabba wrote: > [@](#): > > Why? If fifty is not an especially important age, and if the person you are addressing is, say, thirty-two, why not say “You are not yet forty”? This would be a stronger statement. Well, why not say “You are not yet thirty-three?”. It’s just the same problem as with any bifurcation. ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-was-short-and-unattractive-says-vatican-backed-publication/134416/64 "2002-11-01T12:32:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\* > Um … are there any plans to have these documents scanned in, and the scanned images made available over the Web? \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UDS \* > **I doubt it. Do many libraries make their collections available by scanning the lot and putting it on the web?** No, because it is, as yet, unrealistic to expect such libraries to put more than a tiny proportion of their collection onto the Web. In the case of the books, most of them will also be held by other libraries and there is an argument that, in the first instance, only one copy of each book needs to be digitized. Manuscripts are different, in that each is, by definition, unique, but they also tend to be much more difficult to reproduce. As it is, the Vatican Library does seem to be making a start. [http://portico.bl.uk/gabriel/about\_cenl/reports/contents/vatican-01-02.html](http://portico.bl.uk/gabriel/about_cenl/reports/contents/vatican-01-02.html) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-was-short-and-unattractive-says-vatican-backed-publication/134416/65 "2002-11-02T04:50:54Z")
The Vatican collection was microfilmed in case Rome was bombed in World War II, and the microfilm is stored in the library at St. Louis University (my alma mater). I think you have to jump through some hoops to be able to see any of it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-was-short-and-unattractive-says-vatican-backed-publication/134416/66 "2002-11-02T08:45:10Z")
You’re a SLU alumnus! Cool! I’m a grad student there… 🙂 Anyway, I checked the [website](http://www.slu.edu/libraries/vfl/) – it says that the collection is open to the public as long as you show them a valid photo ID, which ought not to count as having to jump through hoops. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Jack\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_D)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-was-short-and-unattractive-says-vatican-backed-publication/134416/67 "2002-11-03T06:45:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dorkusmalorkusmafia \* > \*\*LOL, that explains a lot about why Jesus died a virgin. Ugly Indeed! \*\* Nothing wrong with dyeing a virgin - long as she likes the colour and can wash it off later. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-was-short-and-unattractive-says-vatican-backed-publication/134416.md?page=3)