'The Lost Tomb of Christ', will air on the Discovery Channel on March 4, and will argue that 10 ancient ossuaries - small caskets used to store bones - discovered in a suburb of Jerusalem in 1980 may have contained the bones of Jesus and his family.
Cameron's documentary says that one casket has engraved on its side 'Judah, son of Jesus', indicating that Jesus had a son, a claim which would completely contradict the Christian faith in Jesus' Resurrection and Ascension to heaven.
The President of the IRD, Jim Tonkowich, has criticised the documentary, however, saying that the entertainment industry should take a cue from the success of the film "Amazing Grace" and "direct its efforts toward faith- affirming productions instead of those that tear down religious faith".
Last weekend, the "Amazing Grace" film about the life of British abolitionist William Wilberforce appeared in the US box office top 10, despite being on only limited release.
Tonkowich denounced the Discovery Channel documentary as an "absurd venture into irresponsible conjecture that appears to be designed to tear at the fabric of the faith and hope of billions worldwide.
"This controversy is not about a silly documentary that will be quickly forgotten. Rather, it is about recognising religious faith as legitimate, credible and beneficial to society."
The latest controversy follows Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code novel and subsequent movie which angered church leaders and biblical historians alike with the claim in particular that Jesus and Mary Magdalene married and had children and that the Holy Grail the "sacred feminine" of Mary Magdalene.
"Much like the DaVinci code, the documentary promises a tantalizingly alternative view of biblical events, but ultimately offers little more than groundless speculation," said Tonkowich.
"An ossuary labelled "Jesus" is about as specific to Christ as a chunk of wood that is claimed to be a part of the Ark.
"This programme about Jesus' alleged tomb is little more than a cynical ratings ploy that deserves to be buried with all of the other fantastical claims that arise about the "real" Jesus this time of year."
