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
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.
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