I do not want to have a debate on wither Jesus of Nazareth existed. My opinion along with biblical scholars (even sceptical ones such as Bart D Ehrman) that there was a historical Jesus of Nazareth.

However I may propose a hypothesis for a naturalistic explanation for the belief, that the he followers of Jesus had that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. There is a well documented psychological phenomena which is called bereavement hallucinations. Bereavement hallucinations are hallucinations which loved ones of a recent deceased person experience of that deceased person. These hallucinations are so vivid that they often report seeing or hearing the departed person in some familiar environment, being visited in their dreams, or having conversations with them while being completely awake.

This is quite a plausible explanation, especially given what Paul of Tarsus has to say about the beliefs of the first followers of Jesus. This is assuming Paul has received this from other followers of Jesus as opposed to inventing them himself.

1 Corinthians 15:3-9

Quote:For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

How is that an explanation if hundreds saw him?

(February 14, 2011 at 8:07 am)Skipper Wrote: How is that an explanation if hundreds saw him?

Exactly, i agree. i JUST read an article saying that the probability of such an event are even lower than a "miraculous" event (such as a terminal cancer being cured in a day, etc), which means that it is even less likely than the Resurrection itself

(February 14, 2011 at 9:40 am)Rwandrall Wrote:

(February 14, 2011 at 8:07 am)Skipper Wrote: How is that an explanation if hundreds saw him?

Exactly, i agree. i JUST read an article saying that the probability of such an event are even lower than a "miraculous" event (such as a terminal cancer being cured in a day, etc), which means that it is even less likely than the Resurrection itself

Maybe if one of those who was having a bereavament hallucination was in the audience and somehow managed to convince everybody else in the crowd that he was there. At least, that's the best explanation of what happened at Fatima.

Or else that particular anecdote was bullshit.

How about something even simpler?

Assuming Jesus existed and he was crucified, it's still not improbable that stories of his resurrection surfaced among the faithful. How many Elvis fans in the 20th century believed that he was still alive? These people lived in a primitive and superstitious time, when people thought that demons caused illnesses.

As for the "witnesses" to those who saw him fly up into the sky, I give that every bit the credibility of the Elvis sightings.

I haven't read the whole story, but did a crowd actually witness the resurrection, or wasn't it just the Marys...or one Mary...

I'm too lazy to look it up on the nets.

(February 14, 2011 at 10:16 am)DeistPaladin Wrote: As for the "witnesses" to those who saw him fly up into the sky, I give that every bit the credibility of the Elvis sightings.

Jesus tribute acts running around after his death maybe? Vegas Jesus would be awesome!

(February 14, 2011 at 10:21 am)thesummerqueen Wrote: I haven't read the whole story, but did a crowd actually witness the resurrection, or wasn't it just the Marys...or one Mary...

I'm too lazy to look it up on the nets.

When it comes to the resurrection story, each one is comically different. The Brick Testament really underscores this point by merging all the versions together, giving it a "one day in the middle of the night..." feel:

The Brick Testament's "The Empty Tomb":
http://thebricktestament.com/the_life_of...20_01.html

Now the hundreds of witnesses claim doesn't come from the story of Jesus but the letters of Paul. In 1Cor 15, he tells the story that Jesus appeared to 500 witnesses. Who these people are is anyone's guess.

Quote:1Cor 15:4-6 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

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(February 14, 2011 at 10:44 am)Skipper Wrote: Jesus tribute acts running around after his death maybe? Vegas Jesus would be awesome!

Paul wrote Cor before the earliest iteration of Mark was written down no?

If the resurrection is not true, then which is more likely:

(1) the witnesses were deceived, (2) the witnesses were lying, or (3) the witnesses are made up only.