Proving The Resurrection By the Minimal Facts Approach

[pocaracas]

But this account comes to us from Luke, the companion of Paul, the guy who had no physical contact whatsoever with any Jesus... nor did he consider any second hand witness accounts. Although Luke may have considered such accounts, they would have come to him decades after the fact.
Even if Luke was just penning actual accounts, who's to say those accounts were serious? who's to say those accounts were not lies?

Why do think this to be the case regarding Luke?

Because reality is devoid of magic.

Luke is aware of "many accounts" of Jesus. What were they?

Mark? Q? M? L? Others that have been lost? Remember, he says "many" not a couple or a few.

I don't know... you're the one who has the whole NT memorized. You tell me.
People used to tell stories by the fire.... used to gather in buildings to tell each other such stories as well...
Remember, there was no TV, nor even radio, back then... people had to entertain themselves, somehow... and telling stories was ubiquitous... If those stories lined up with reality is another story...

Second, Luke says that he has carefully investigated everything. How would that be done? By talking to Paul only? Or by interviewing lots of people during the course of his travels with Paul?

It's amazing the number of ancient authors who carefully investigated everything. In a day and age where information travels slower than a snail, checking for past facts would be a hopeless endeavor... and yet, they managed to get carefully researched story where all details match neatly with reality!
Amazing! O.o

For example, Luke provides a LOT of detail in the first couple of chapters that only Mary could have known. Do you think maybe Luke talked to her in person?

Here's George Bush playing Mahjongg:


Clearly, the author of this particular manga had access to Bush's very private Mahjongg session to know exactly which hand he had to win that match. Maybe he had access to one of the other 3 players, then...


Dammit! Those are Pope Benedict, King Jong Il and Putin with him!!


How to say this politely... Occam's Razor implies that he made stuff up.