Re: the web of Jesus' historicity
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 6:47 am
Here is an article by a Christian who I largely agree with with regards to the events surrounding the supposed resurrection.
While Paul provides a neatly organized interpretation that most Christians abide by today, most educated Christians also know that careful reading of the actual resurrection accounts shows that they differ in a variety of ways, and therefore cannot be viewed as inerrant, or even reliable in a court of law. They differ in significant facts like who was there, what happened, when he was crucified and ascended, where did Jesus go after rising, and why did they think he would resurrect. ...
One of the most interesting examples of the misunderstanding is from John 20:26 where it is recorded “Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them.” To the casual reader this is no big problem. But to the trained eye this is a huge problem. In one account they have Jesus eating and telling folks to physically put their fingers in his wounds. In other accounts Jesus is telling people not to touch him because he has not yet ascended. And here in John 20 we have Jesus walking through walls and locked doors. Sure, some apologists will try to account for how he could have gotten into that room because they know what a serious problem this is for their physical resurrection theory. But a close reading of the text shows that the adding of the line “the door was locked” illustrates the intent of the writer to show that he did not come through it physically. These three discrepancies (physical and touchable, physical but untouchable, or non physical) are trademarks of the early stages of physical resurrection legends being formed.