Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead? Separating Fact from Fiction

The question of whether Jesus rose from the dead is one of the most debated topics in religious history. This article aims to dissect the biblical claims and historical evidence to offer a clear perspective on this significant event.

The Skeptics' Perspective

The first point to consider is the lack of contemporary evidence that the biblical character of Jesus ever existed. There is no contemporaneous historical or archaeological evidence supporting his existence. What evidence we do have suggests that he was a fictional character posthumously invented by Paul, also known as Saul of Tarsus. According to the Bible in Acts 17:31, it is stated:

“Because he [John the Apostle] hath appointed a day [of the AWAKENING] in the which he [God] will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he [John the Apostle] hath ordained whereof he [John Leonard Houman] hath given assurance unto all men in that he [Self] hath raised him[Self] from the dead [Self-Enlightened].”

Here, the mention of resurrection is used to draw attention to John the Apostle as a figurehead, rather than substantiating the existence of a historical Jesus.

Biblical References and Historical Context

It is crucial to understand that the gospel stories, which are central to the claim of Jesus’s resurrection, lack known authors and were written between 40 and 70 years after the claimed crucifixion. Additionally, the names of the supposed Disciples/Apostles were not attached to these texts for another century, likely by a Greek Bishop named Irenaeus, in an attempt to authenticate their content to early Christians. The stories of Jesus's supposed birth and the claimed miracles are all considered myths, adapted from older Jewish and Greek myths to attract the superstitious and scientifically ignorant people of the time.

Historians generally agree that Paul, the author of the epistles in the New Testament, may have based his Jesus character on a real person, possibly a messianic Jewish preacher named Yeshua who was crucified in the early 30s CE. However, there is no concrete evidence to support the existence of this person, and it is clear that such a figure was common during the time of Pontius Pilate, with numerous crucifixions of messianic preachers.

The Concept of Resurrection

Even if we were to accept the existence of a historical Jesus, the claim of his resurrection is biologically impossible. It defies the natural laws of death and decay. Ancient religious practices, such as the resurrection of gods like Horus in Egypt or Attis in Phrygia, used stories of resurrection to attract followers. The claim of resurrection was a tool to draw in the gullible and superstitious by presenting a figure as divine.

The practice of taking down the bodies of crucified victims and disposing of them in unmarked graves was common. There is no evidence to suggest that the body of a historical Jesus was treated any differently. This lack of evidence further supports the notion that the resurrection story is more myth than fact.

Conclusion

In summary, there is no contemporary evidence that the biblical Jesus ever existed outside of mythology. Even if his character was loosely based on a real historical figure, the claim of his resurrection is biologically and historically unfounded. The resurrection story, like other religious myths, was likely used as a tool to attract followers by presenting a figure as divine.

It's important to separate fact from fiction and to critically examine ancient religious claims. Understanding the historical and cultural context in which these stories were formed can provide valuable insights into the development of religious beliefs.