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- Written by EJ Sweeney
Without an empty tomb, the case for the resurrection falls apart. When I was teaching, I used to tell my classes that if someone could produce Jesus’ corpse, if they could point to the tomb it was still buried in, I’d be the first one to renounce my faith. Of course, no one ever has, and most likely, no one ever will.
However, one of the most impressive features of resurrection faith is that, confronted with an empty tomb, no one in those first few days and weeks after Jesus’ crucifixion (when his body would still be identifiable) was ever able to produce his dead corpse—even though many had strong motive to do so. Most scholars recognize what a powerful piece of evidence this is.
But, what if Jesus’ body was never buried in a tomb in the first place? Then all bets are off. The fact that no one could produce his body wouldn’t prove anything.
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- Written by EJ Sweeney
Know the most dangerous place in America on Sunday mornings? The Church parking lot!
I know this is just a joke, but, like all humor, there is an element of truth in it—a large element. (I’ve certainly had my share of close calls leaving church!) The thing many people find most unbelievable about Christianity is the way so many Christians behave.
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- Written by EJ Sweeney
A lot of people die for their sincerely-held beliefs. What’s any different about Christianity?
One of the most frequently cited proofs for Jesus’ resurrection is the fact that his disciples were willing to die for their beliefs. But so were the 9-11 hijackers. So were the Branch Davidians. So were many very sincere, but seriously deluded people throughout the ages.
Jesus’ disciples may have been utterly sincere in thinking they saw him risen from the dead. But so what? What does this prove, other than the fact that they are like so many others who’ve died for an ideology, charismatic leader, or deeply-held belief?
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- Written by EJ Sweeney
Recently, the editors of GQ magazine posted an article entitled: “21 Books You Don’t Have to Read”. They ranked the Bible 12th on this list of “racist”, “sexist”, but most of all “really, really boring” books, describing it as, “repetitive, self-contradictory, sententious, foolish, and even at times ill-intentioned. “ In a comment laced with sarcasm, they conclude that the Bible is “…certainly not the finest thing that man has ever produced.” (The Editors of GQ, “21 Books You Don’t Have to Read”, GQ, April 19, 2018, https://www.GQ.com/story/21-books-you-dont-have-to-read, accessed 5/15/18)
Given its reputation, when I first read the Bible I thought it would blow me away. That it would transform my life with wisdom and insight. That I wouldn’t be able to put it down. Instead, I found it baffling, bizarre, and, just as the editors of GQ describe, painfully tedious. It made me, too, wonder what was so great about it.
The editors of GQ are right. The Bible isn’t a great piece of literature. Far from it.
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- Written by EJ Sweeney
Even with all the cutting-edge forensics we have at our disposal to solve crimes, evidence is often disputed or later overturned. Investigators make mistakes. Eyewitnesses get things wrong. People interpret facts differently. Mystery often remains as to what actually happened. (This is what fuels the intense interest in all the “real crime” shows that keep popping up all over TV.)
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- Written by EJ Sweeney
When former pro-wrestler Jesse Ventura became Governor of Minnesota (a miracle in itself), he famously said that religion is a crutch. Belief in God is for weak-minded people who need to toughen up.
