So, atheists... how do you explain Jesus rising from the dead after 3 days?

Question

So, atheists... how do you explain Jesus rising from the dead after 3 days?

Answer 1

Ummmm



It's not the atheist's job to prove it happened..It's the people making the claim..

Answer 2

no i think they made it up just like the "virgin birth" to make him seem more godlike

Answer 3

He never did. He died, end of story. The first Gospel (Mark) wasn't written for another thirty years. Some Christians claimed he did; perhaps his body was stolen. Who knows.

Answer 4

Well, Ive got a few hypotheses...



The first is that it might well never have occurred.



The second is more interesting... See, if you read the Bible itself, there is a very telling passage. While Jesus hangs on the cross, a Roman soldier soaks a sponge in vinegar and gives it to him, as he is complaining of thirst. Now, in reality, vinegar acts as means of reinvogorating someone who is near unconciousness - the Romans would do this in order to prolong the pain and suffering on the cross. However, Jesus had a peculiar reaction - he instead lifted his head to the sky and said it is done - and promptly "died." Later on in this same redering of the story, Jesus is taken down off the cross and brought to the Garden of Gesthemane, where he is buried in a rock tomb. Joseph of Arithmathea is described carrying herbs tradtionally acsscoiated with HEALING into the tomb - not with embalming. And, since the Jewish passover was approaching, no self respecting Jew at the time would have come in contact with a dead body... So, this gives us evidence that Jesus was in fact not dead, just "playing dead". Belladonna was a known herb/drug in those days, and it would serve to make someone appear dead to most casual observers.



The third is that he killed or had someone killed in his place, dying on the cross while he hid out for three days and then reappeared.

Answer 5

I'm agnostic when it comes to the existence of a historical Yeshua. The more I study history though, the more likely it seems the character is a composite of pagan myths, Jewish messianic stories and probably a number of different preachers in Galilee.

As far as rising from the dead, the only people I've ever seen rising from the dead ended up eating people's brains. So I guess he's similar.

Answer 6

A bunch of people preying on the ignorant.

Answer 7

The Gospels were written decades after the alleged incidents and the style of writing incidently was omniscient not first person narrative (like when Jesus was alone in the mountain cave and tempted by Satan-no one was there to observe him and write about it). All cultures have folktales and the story of Jesus was one of them.

Answer 8

LMAO!!!!!



I thought you were a fundie asking this. I pictured Sunset. LOL!



I think the biblical Jesus was mostly a story fabricated by Paul.

Answer 9

Do you remember when Elvis died ? How many years went by with stories about Elvis sightings ? People see what they want to see and make up stories to support their own interests.



I would have been much more impressed if Jesus had been crucified and then, when they were done, just stepped off of the platform and said, "Ok, now can we get back to it?" and then, of course, spent the next 2000 years walking the Earth, performing miracles, and giving interviews and doing TV spots.



That would be impressive !!!

Answer 10

The fact that the last few verses of the book of Mark (16:9-20) have been found to be added after the fact puts a pretty big spotlight on the whole Resurrection story.



It seems that priests or scribes thought that the bible needed a little more examples of Jesus after resurection. Which makes me wonder how much of the other books were 'polished up' regarding the resurrection.



I think that the disciples were very distraught after he was killed, and hid in fear for their lives, because they were his followers and didn't want to suffer the same fate.



They then heard Mary tell about seeing the Angel, probably a grief induced vision, or an outright lie to make everyone feel better. Remember Mary was a prostitute who was forgiven by Jesus, when no other Rabbi would forgive her. She probably lost the most by loosing him, and had the most to gain by a resurrection.



The others jumped on that story and went with it, and over time the stories of Jesus after the resurrection grew to improbable heights. If you read the non-cannonized gospels, you get a pretty good sense of where early christianity was headed, and how they believed and wrote about very improbable things. The NT books just happened to make it through the cannonization process, which helped 'normalize' the religion in order to help it spread.

Answer 11

Oh, please. The atheists would not believe even if Jesus Himself would appear before them. Don't waste your time.

They will try to justify their beliefs with all of the above and more. They just REFUSE TO BELIEVE

Answer 12

Well, my answer will be around 60th but maybe you'll still read it.



Personally, I don't think any of the gospel writers saw Jesus rise from the dead. Which is an idea supported by many experts in the field. That instead, it was the followers of probably Paul, or perhaps some of the earliest Christians that wrote down these accounts.



Personally, I think it is important to look at the fact that Paul was the first person to write about Jesus. That he was the one that started talking about Jesus being the sacrifice for all man-kind etc. Notice that the gospels follow these letters from Paul, and that Paul is the one who comes up with the idea that Jesus is the son of man, that the Law is worthless and a prison and that Jesus is a blood sacrifice for all peoples.



I believe Jesus existed. That he was a threat to the Roman government because he claimed to be the Messiah. Which meant he threatened the reign of the current Roman ruler. And with all other Messiah claimants before and after him, he was crucified.



I don't believe that they fabricated anything out of malice. Instead, they truly believe what they were taught by Paul and his church.



There's some interesting resources about this out there, along with who Paul really was. If you want to know write me.

Answer 13

"Did the gospel writers fabricate the whole thing for the own maniacal ends? Did they hallucinate and "see" Jesus? Did they intend it as an allegory in showing the strength of Jesus' nature? Or was Jesus buried alive and actually come out of whatever comatose state he was in after a couple days?"



Yes.

.

Answer 14

Ah, I answered something vaguely related to this question the other day. If events occurred that proved the existence of the Abrahamic god AND the Christian take on said god was the correct one... I would become a seriously theistic Satanist. The reason why, is that if the Christian bible were fully factual then it would mean that the Christian god was an unstable, inconsistent, and very tyrannical sort of god and that the bible was some pretty biased propaganda. Satan, as the only recorded being to have had any kind of effect on Yahweh's tyranny, would be the best bet in town for successfully rebelling against an unjust ruler.

Answer 15

Jesus may never have existed.



This event is fabricated, or infused from myths of holy men resurrecting.



If there was a quote-unquote "resurrection", then the real facts have not been presented accurately. Jesus did not die and come back to life (I feel that this hypothesis is very unlikely.)



The truest answer is that I don't know exactly how the JC resurrection myth began, but I best guess is that true accounts of Jesus were infused with older myths/prophecies to make the new Christian religion more widely accepted, or everything was fabricated and infused with old myths/prophecies to make the new Christian religion more widely accepted.

Answer 16

The canonical scriptures exist to this very day. it was obviously written by the apostles at that time.



Some people choose to dismiss this as fabrication, story tales, santa claus fairy tale and what not. Also, why did Jesus choose Mary to reveal himself to? Everyone knows the status of women in that society. If the gospel writers, wanted to give their "story" some credibility, couldn't they have chosen some disciple instead?

Answer 17

Too many eyewitness accounts of his miracles, death and resurrection.



Something interesting: In Hebrew culture, when a person died, it was believed that the spirit hovered over the body until the third day ended, and then the spirit left the body, and resurrection at that point was impossible. I guess Jesus performed the impossible a lot. (This is also why Jesus, upon hearing that Lazarus was sick, waited two more days before going to see him. Jesus knew Lazarus had been dead 2 days already, and Jesus wanted to wait until he had been dead 4 days. Otherwise raising him from the dead would not have been considered such a miracle in that culture.)

Answer 18

Wow. There's some serious vitriol being spewed here. Eye-rolling props especially to Muslim chick "getting her 2 free points" who gives no opinion.

No one ever claimed that the story of Jesus, especially the resurrection part, is an easy one to "buy." It's shocking and incredible and there's no way around that. I used to be just as incredulous and superior. Then I started to wonder- but what if it's true?

Answer 19

The Merovingian heresy says he was drugged so he appeared dead, and his followers collected him from the tomb while he was still unconscious.



Then you have your fairy tale where he magically came back to life.



Then you have the real world, where there isn't a shred of proof he was anything more than a fictional character dreamed up by a cult leader. Want to prove me wrong? Produce some of his writings. Not those of his followers, but his own writings. If he's really god or his living incarnation, is it really too much to ask that he be able to read and write?

Answer 20

I believe that Jesus never rose from the dead after any amount of time.



Most likely, he was a good guy and an important rabbi whose teachings and messages were blown completely out of proportion based upon a misinterpreted prophecy that he was supposed to have fulfilled. I believe that he was indeed crucified (I don't argue that one), but then his body was removed from the tomb with everybody denying that they did it because they believed that he was the Messiah.



In short, it was a fabricated story, but not necessarily originating with the gospel writers. I have little doubt that they actually believed what they wrote, I just doubt that what they wrote actually happened.

Answer 21

Those are some interesting theories you have. I would say, it was a soul swapping conspiracy...



I kid, but, you never know. Possibilities are endless.



If I had to pick from one of the explanations you offered, I would select the one about the comatose state. It reminds me of something I heard about the primitive resources the old time doctors had that caused them to bury several people alive, or something to that effect.



So, I guess, that one would make the most sense to me. But, who knows?

Answer 22

It may not have occured to you, but maybe... just maybe, we don't actually believe that he rose from the dead. They made it up, it was just an excellent story that everyone belieived.

I know it sounds like I'm just avoiding saying that I'm wrong, but, I mean, Hey! Christians do it all the time.

Example:

1) We have fossils that there is solid evidence that it is a billion years old



2) We have a book that says the earth is only 6 thousand years old.



And most people pick the book!

Answer 23

This "miracle" cannot compare with Revelation at Sinai. The resurrection was "witnessed" by less than 10 people. Revelation at Sinai was witnessed by 600,000 men of military age. Add to that number the elderly men, women, and children. That would give you about three times that number!

.

Answer 24

Well, it's entirely possible that his close followers orchestrated the ruse in order to maintain the momentum of the cult.



I'm sure that they foresaw the possibility of an agitator like Jesus being arrested and crucified, so they probably decided it would be best to exploit the magical martyr angle as much as possible.



I say it was an inside job.

Answer 25

Given that the Gospels are based on earlier works involving Christ-like figures, I would say the writers copied it with modifications.

Answer 26

They lacked the creativity to make up an original story. They took what was already popular and retold it so that their buddy, who probably never even existed, would be the hero. The fact that their story became eventually known as common truth is complete luck on their part.

Answer 27

Not an atheist but not a christian either..

1. No historical evidence that Jesus ever existed, much less died and rose again 3 days later.

2. common mythos: god-man dying for his people and resurrecting 3 days later.



That pretty much covers it.

Answer 28

As an atheist there's no need to explain Jesus rising from the dead because to me it never happened. Unless you can show me clear-cut proof like a video or something.



However, I respect your beliefs and would never tell you what to believe in.

Answer 29

Either the Discovery Channel or the History Channel said that Jesus was never dead.

Answer 30

History would support the he wasn't actually dead theory. Up until the late 1800's they used to bury people with bells with strings that lead into the coffins. They had men there 24 hours a day that if they heard a bell ring to quickly dig people up.

Answer 31

Jesus is a fictional character. The story of a resurrected "savior" is neither unique nor original to christianity.



Did a historical Jesus exist?

http://www.nobeliefs.com/exist.htm



Pagan origins of Jesus:

http://geocities.com/christprise/

http://www.medmalexperts.com/POCM/index.html

http://mama.indstate.edu/users/nizrael/jesusrefutation.html

http://www.rationalresponders.com/a_silence_that_screams_no_contemporary_historical_accounts_for_jesus

http://www.truthbeknown.com/origins.htm

http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/pcc/pcc09.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcpa3.htm

http://www.harrington-sites.com/motif.htm

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/resurrection/lecture.html

http://www.geocities.com/paulntobin/virgin.html





Pagan origins of the 10 commandments:

http://www.rationalrevolution.net/articles/ten_commandments.htm

Answer 32

Who knows why they said it, and quite frankly who cares? This is a made-up story about a guy who might not have even existed, and if he did, was just a good public speaker from two bloody thousand years ago...

Answer 33

I believe that Einstein asked the question did god have a choice in creating the universe. He never did have an answer to that question...I wonder why?

Answer 34

It is interesting to see how many other deities before Jesus, (Mithra, Horus, etc...) all died and got resurrected after 3 days.

Maybe the SUN, had something to do with it.



http://members.cox.net/deleyd/religion/solarmyth/christ2002.htm

Answer 35

The state of our present-day media should be enough evidence that EVERY account of events (especially those of historical signifigance) should be taken with a grain of salt.

Answer 36

They believe the lie that the Jews made up about the guards falling asleep & his diciples comming & taking away the body.Or the one where they paid the guards to keep quiet while they took the body.

I wonder which truck they used to roll the stone away?A Chevy Silverado or a Ford F-150?

Answer 37

It's an entertaining story... like most exaggerated or fabricated stories in the bible.



They didn't have TV or internet back then... how'd you expect them to entertain themselves... teehee

Answer 38

Haha. So many schools of thought on that. The Dragon bloodline says that he survived, on purpose, and moved to France. I'm not talking about the grail book by dan whats his name. I'm talking about the bloodline family tree and history. I kind of tend to believe a family tree. Oh, there was a drug administered to him that caused the appearance of death. An antidote was administered after he had "died".

Answer 39

He didn't rise from the dead, they stole his body. Please let me know, in what verse of the Bible it states that anyone other than a disciple, or follower of Jesus, sees Jesus alive and well after the burial.

Answer 40

It's just another story like all stories told in all cultures to explain, teach, and entertain.

Answer 41

Probably a fabrication and allegorical.



How do you explain there *not* being any evidence for a massive global flood aboutu 4000-6000 years ago?

Answer 42

That's easy - it never happened. Oh, and by the way Jesus was not the only one that the Bible claims rose from the dead.



1 Samuel 28:11, 14

Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel .... And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel.



1 Kings 17:22

And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.



2 Kings 4:32-35

And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times.



2 Kings 13:21

And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.



Matthew 9:23-25

And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.



Luke 7:12-15

Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.



Luke 9:30

And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias.



John 11:43

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

Answer 43

Evidence of this occurence?

Answer 44

Best scam ever performed!.... And people still fall for that!

Answer 45

Your asking the atheists to explain something that they don't believe like its a fact that Jesus rose from his grave 3 days later.They don't have to explain it because they don't BELIEVE IT! You're going to get some answers that you're not going to want to read. It like asking creationist to explain evolution, their not going to.

Answer 46

mass dellusion and hallucination

the payote was highly potent

Answer 47

Substantial proof for the hypothesis please?





AEN

Answer 48

asking atheist these types of questions only makes them more solid atheist. let it be, they'll know truth eventually, and hopefully it wont be when its too late. Atheists go ahead and give me a thumb down. The truth will pierce your hearts and you will still deny Christ...a prophecy given in the scripture.

Answer 49

life and times of jesus, written 300 years after he died. anything is possible...

Answer 50

That story of course, is nothing more than copy.

Answer 51

Buried alive.

Answer 52

No evidence to suggest that it ever happened.

Answer 53

who cares??



hes not alive today... and probably wont come back any time soon, lol

Answer 54

Show me the pictures!



.

Answer 55

it didn't happen, who knows if that was even supposed to be taken seriously

Answer 56

we have no proof that he lived or died in the first place.



the only thing we do know is true is that if he was born he was jewish (like me)

Answer 57

perhaps he was really just in shock from all the blood loss and somehow got the strength to stand again.

Answer 58

He wasn't dead in the first place, if it happened.



The "Jesus" story is too close to many many many other God mythologies that ran the gauntlet in the ancient world. It would be a MIGHTY big coincidence if things just sort of "happened" that way with Jesus, too.

Answer 59

If you don't believe in religion, you don't really need to know since whatever answers you get, you would not believe

Answer 60

lotsa good dope back them, I mean no chemicals and ****, just pure stuff....

Answer 61

It didn't happen. Even back then people were so superstitious that they would have chopped his head off and burned his body.