tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37932483.post7578971565777138012..comments2007-04-05T17:29:34.557-04:00Barry Mahfoodhttps://profiles.google.com/108630062563152702964noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37932483.post-7932880891192538242007-04-05T17:29:00.000-04:002007-04-05T17:29:00.000-04:00Of course, none of this quite explains why people believe in general. I would argue that in most cases it has more to do with personal relationships and experiences both with others, and with God, and with God through others. <BR/><BR/>When a person experiences God these claims cease being those which we bring skepticism to (like, did Abraham Lincoln write the emancipation proclamation) and become relational claims in which skepticism becomes improper (like when your wife tells you she loves you).Spaceman Spiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02195067716296117149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37932483.post-51047578955062811702007-04-05T17:26:00.000-04:002007-04-05T17:26:00.000-04:00I agree this guy is a little simplistic if you're translating him accurately. <BR/><BR/>I prefer this argument. <BR/>1. Given our knowledge of the history of the biblical text, it is reasonable to conclude that we have reliable texts and that the authors of the gospels were eye-witnesses and/or close associates of eye-witnesses, and moreover, much of seems to be based on an oral tradition that extends back much closer to the events. <BR/><BR/>2. Given our understanding of religion and religious documents, and the history of the early church, the most reasonable conclusion is that the authors of the gospel really did believe they had seen (in the case of Matthew and John) or knew those who had seen (in the case of Luke and Mark) Jesus physically resurrected. <BR/><BR/>So in sum, the best historical analysis leads to the conclusion that several people very close to the events in question believed completely that they had seen Jesus die and seen him resurrected. <BR/><BR/>It is therefore not historically unreasonable to conclude that Jesus did in fact raise from the dead if you hold that this is possible. This is afterall the way we determine anything historically. <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, if your worldview rejects resurrection out of hand (which is pretty reasonable), then you are forced to find an explanation of why they believed this.Spaceman Spiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02195067716296117149noreply@blogger.com