article_snippet: Is anyone attempting to carbon date these relics ?
article_snippet: These aren't being carbon dated and there are a few reasons why.
article_snippet: First, carbon dating is expensive, and your average church doesn't have the funds for this kind of endeavor.
article_snippet: Second, carbon dating is seen as intrusive and a little destructive.
article_snippet: This isn't something that churches like to do, especially as -- and this leads me to my third point -- almost all carbon dating tests end up discrediting the relics that are being tested.
article_snippet: So, it's not in the best interest of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches that claim to possess relics to have them tested.