RE: Atheists: Can you disprove the resurrection or Jesus' existence?
October 28, 2011 at 5:02 pm
Lack of evidence may be evidence IF the claims are such that we should reasonably expect to find evidence if the claims were true.
Let me demonstrate with these examples:
Scenario 1: A local friend of mine says his home was broken into and burglarized. We are not at his house and he doesn't have pictures of the aftermath. I've heard nothing about this crime on the news or read about it in the local newspaper.
Scenario 2: A local friend of mine says his home was destroyed in a fire that consumed his entire block. We are not at his house and he doesn't have pictures of the aftermath. I've heard nothing about this terrible event on the news or read about it in the local newspaper.
Scenario 3: A local friend of mine says a UFO appeared over his neighborhood and used its photoblasters to level the entire neighborhood. We are not at his house and he doesn't have pictures of the aftermath. I've heard nothing about this most unusual event on the news or read about it in the local newspaper.
My reaction to each:
Scenario 1: While burglary may be upsetting to the victim, it probably would not be newsworthy or catch the attention of local journalists unless he was some celebrity or some other factors come into play. The claim would be accepted at face value without evidence.
Scenario 2: I'd think it really unusual that I'd heard nothing about a fire that consumed an entire block. I'd wonder why I'd missed that story and I'd be a little confused about that but would believe my friend unless I had reason to suspect his sanity.
Scenario 3: Call the local asylum and reserve a padded room for my friend.
Now some examples that apply to the discussion of Jesus:
Claim 1: Some guy named Yeshua lived in 1st century Judea, he was a wandering rabbi who had a small insignificant following that nobody notice until one day he got crucified by Pilate.
Claim 2: He led a very successful religious movement that stirred up controversy and his reputation spread to the surrounding provinces. His religion deified him after his death and many fantastic myths were told about him in later decades.
Claim 3: Actually, all the myths were true stories. He healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, was born of a virgin, a booming voice from the Heavens announced that he was God's son, he was raised on the 3rd day after his death (give or take a day or two) and flew up into the sky.
Not a shred of evidence in the 1st century validates any of the above claims.
My reaction:
Claim 1: OK. and...?
Claim 2: Extremely unlikely. Such a successful ministry would have gotten someone's attention.
Claim 3: You're kidding, right?
Let me demonstrate with these examples:
Scenario 1: A local friend of mine says his home was broken into and burglarized. We are not at his house and he doesn't have pictures of the aftermath. I've heard nothing about this crime on the news or read about it in the local newspaper.
Scenario 2: A local friend of mine says his home was destroyed in a fire that consumed his entire block. We are not at his house and he doesn't have pictures of the aftermath. I've heard nothing about this terrible event on the news or read about it in the local newspaper.
Scenario 3: A local friend of mine says a UFO appeared over his neighborhood and used its photoblasters to level the entire neighborhood. We are not at his house and he doesn't have pictures of the aftermath. I've heard nothing about this most unusual event on the news or read about it in the local newspaper.
My reaction to each:
Scenario 1: While burglary may be upsetting to the victim, it probably would not be newsworthy or catch the attention of local journalists unless he was some celebrity or some other factors come into play. The claim would be accepted at face value without evidence.
Scenario 2: I'd think it really unusual that I'd heard nothing about a fire that consumed an entire block. I'd wonder why I'd missed that story and I'd be a little confused about that but would believe my friend unless I had reason to suspect his sanity.
Scenario 3: Call the local asylum and reserve a padded room for my friend.
Now some examples that apply to the discussion of Jesus:
Claim 1: Some guy named Yeshua lived in 1st century Judea, he was a wandering rabbi who had a small insignificant following that nobody notice until one day he got crucified by Pilate.
Claim 2: He led a very successful religious movement that stirred up controversy and his reputation spread to the surrounding provinces. His religion deified him after his death and many fantastic myths were told about him in later decades.
Claim 3: Actually, all the myths were true stories. He healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, was born of a virgin, a booming voice from the Heavens announced that he was God's son, he was raised on the 3rd day after his death (give or take a day or two) and flew up into the sky.
Not a shred of evidence in the 1st century validates any of the above claims.
My reaction:
Claim 1: OK. and...?
Claim 2: Extremely unlikely. Such a successful ministry would have gotten someone's attention.
Claim 3: You're kidding, right?
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
