Analysing Theology: Testing the Resurrection Story

The Hidden Truth Behind Jesus' Disappearance: Was His Body Stolen? 

When truth is shrouded in legend and theology, we have to hypothesize. We should always ask questions.

What headline is more plausible? An executed agitator has been raised from the dead, or a group of devoted followers stole the body of their leader today, some speculate it was to continue the movement? How easy is it to create a plausible alternative narrative to the theological dogma?

The Dogma vs The Reality 

This topic is relevant to me because of the dissonance I see in my specific family members entrenched in irrational belief. We can throw common sense out the window especially to accommodate biblical perspectives we want to be accurate. This is forcing a square peg through a round hole. 

Thick books with stained glass windows, written by evangelical authors sit on shelves, spelling out biased arguments for occurances we can't prove, like, 'The Empty Tomb: Was Jesus Resurrected?' The focus is on an out of reach conclusion. Though, We have no proof there was a tomb in the first place, or that it was ever empty.

The impossibility of any resurrection is never enough to break their paranormal beliefs. They are still taught in universities as academic and scholarly disciplines. Of course right from the onset there has been Jewish polemic has claimed Jesus was not even crucified adding that that his body was taken—this is often reduced in favour of the biblical sources who lacked the history. So, yeah, we all have our flat-earther types, don't we? But still: 

Matthew (28:11-15) has High Priests instructing guards to spread the story that 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.' 

The Critical View: Motive, Means, and Opportunity

The core argument against the literal resurrection is a simple one:

 a) Sedition and Display: In reality, people found guilty of committing sedition against Rome would have been left on the cross as a gruesome example. Governor Pontius Pilate would have had every reason to leave the corpse on public display.

 b) The Follower's Motive: The crucifixion was a major blow that crushed the movement. The movement was only important if the teacher was still relevant to its prophecy. Apostles had every motive to retrieve Jesus's body to deny the death, continue the myth, grow the faith, and establish a footing.

 A Common Myth

Critical Scholar John Dominic Crossan, noted that resurrection stories were common in that time. It wasn't a unique thing at the time. Also, his followers had the means, motive, and opportunity to pull it off.

When challenged with the common retort, 'Why risk death for something you know to be untrue?' The answer is clear: they were risking death for the continuation of their own movement and their version of truth shaped by Messianic logic.

A high-stakes agitator

If Jesus was another Galilean miracle worker who sprang up to impress crowds, much like others before him, that works too. Snippets of his theo-political teachings emerged.They were later processed and came to be known as gospels. Don't forget, he was supposedly anointed by an important man, the Baptist. This Jesus was charismatic, apocalyptic and a prophet-like leader. With his apostles, he sought to change the oppressive religious establishment, with claims of God coming to Judge the wicked within their generation.

He argued with the Sanhedrin: Pharisee and Sadducee, before he was captured and executed. His prophecies were over. From some perspectives he's killed in order to save Jews from Roman swords. Disbelief, shock. I'm simply saying this story also follows: his closest circle could have swiped the body, solidified the myth, and evolved.

Conclusion: Questions are the Answers

This challenges the heart of paranormal rich, miracle ridden, theological Christianity. Come on, things have to be challenged—it's how we uncover the reality.

We can agree that Jesus was resurrected as a concept—an idea that attracted faith toward the Jerusalem Church which his brother, James, headed for decades later. Bodies don't get up and walk off. Come on, 'The Walking Dead' really? 

However, it may never have fell from cross decomposed, if you choose to discard Gospel accounts altogether. We don't actually know for sure, but resurrection really is not a good case.