From: strat@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Steve Davis)
Newsgroups: alt.atheism
Subject: Help me Refute this Advertisement
Date: 16 Apr 1992 09:28:14 -0500
Organization: Kansas State University
NNTP-Posting-Host: matt.ksu.ksu.edu

I just typed this from the pack page of the Kansas State University
Collegian.  I apologize for any spelling errors... I was using the
ten-finger protocol!  :-(

Please help me gather information to refute this advertisement in a
letter to the Collegian editorial staff.  Please respond by
electronic mail since I do not normally read alt.atheism.  Thank
you.

-- BEGIN QUOTED MATERIAL

HL: Evidence For the Resurrection

SH: Paid Advertisement Sponsored by Christian Students and Faculty

SS: For centuries many of the world's distinguished philosophers
have assaulted Christianity as being irrational, superstitious, and
absurd.  Many have chosen simply to ignore the central issue of the
resurrection.  Others have tried to explain it away through various
theories.  But the historical evidence just can't be discounted

A student at the university of Uruguay said to ma, "Professor
McDowell, why can't you refute Christianity?"

"For a very simple reason," I answered.  "I am not able to explain
away an event in history-- the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

How can we explain the empty tomb?  Can it possibly be accounted
for by any natural cause?

SS: A QUESTION OF HISTORY

After more than 700 hours of studying this subject, I have come to
the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one
of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted on the
minds of human beings-- or it is the most remarkable fact of
history.

Here are some of the facts relevant to the resurrection:  Jesus of
Nazareth, a Jewish prophet who claimed to be the Christ prophesied
in the Jewish Scriptures, was arrested, was judged a political
criminal, and was crucified.  Three days after His death and
burial, some women who went to His tomb found the body gone.  In
subsequent weeks, His disciples claimed that God had raised Him
from the dead and that He appeared to them various times before
ascending into heaven.

From that foundation, Christianity spread throughout the Roman
Empire and has continued to exert great influence down through the
centuries.

SS: LIVING WITNESSES

The New Testament accounts of the resurrection were being
circulated within the lifetimes of men and women alive at the time
of the resurrection.  Those people could certainly have confirmed
or denied the accuracy of such accounts.

The writers of the four Gospes either had themselves been witnesses
or else were relating the accounts of eyewitnesses of the actual
events.  In advocating their case for the gospel, a word that means
"good news," the apostles appealed (even when confronting their
most severe opponents) to common knowledge concerning the facts of
the resurrection.

F. F. Bruce, Rylands professor of biblical criticism and exegesis
at the University of Manchester, says concerning the value of the
New Testament records as primary sources:  "Had there been any
tendency to depart from the facts in any material respect, the
possible presence of hostile witnesses in the audience would have
served as a further corrective."

SS: THE NEW TESTAMENT RELIABLE?

Because the New Testament provides the primary historical source
for information on the resurrection, many critics during the 19th
century attacked the reliability of these biblical documents.

By the end of the 19th century, however, archaeological discoveries
had confirmed the accuracy of the New Testament manuscripts.
Discoveries of early papyri bridged the gap between the time of
Christ and existing manuscripts from a later date.

Those findings increased scholarly confidence in the relaibility of
the Bible.  William F. Albright, who in his day was the world's
foremost biblical archaeologist, said:  "We can already say
emphatically that there is no longer any solid basis for dating any
book of the New Testament after about A. D. 80, two full
generations before the date between 130 and 150 given by the more
radical New Testament critics of today."

Coinciding with the papyri discoveries, an abundance of other
manuscripts came to light (over 24,000 copies of early New
Testament manuscripts are known to be in existence today).  The
historian Luke wrote of "authentic evidence" concerning the
resurrection.  Sir William Ramsay, who spent 15 years attempting to
undermine Luke's credentials as a historian, and to refute the
reliability of the New Testament, finally concluded:  "Luke is a
historian of the first rank ... This author should be placed with
the very greatest of historians."

SS: BACKGROUND

The New Testament witnesses were fully aware of the background
against which the resurrection took place.  The body of Jesus, in
accordance with Jewish burial custom, was wrapped in a linen cloth.
About 100 pounds of aromatic spices, mixed together to form a gummy
substance, were applied to the rappings of cloth about the body.

(Quotation:  "I claim to be an historian.  My approach to Classics
is historical.  And I tell you that the evidence for the life, the
death, and the resurrection of Christ is better authenticated than
most of the facts of ancient history ... " E. M. Blaiklock
Professor of Classics Auckland University)

After the body was placed in a solid rock tomb, an extremely large
stone was rolled against the entrance of the tomb.  Large stones
weighing approximately two tons were normally rolled (by means of
levers0 against a tomb entrance.

A Roman guard of strictly disciplined fighting men was stationed to
guard the tomb.  This guard affixed on the tomb the Roman seal,
which was meant to prevent any attempt at vandalizing the
sepulcher.  Anyone trying to move the stone from the tomb's
entrance would have broken the seal and thus incurred the wrath of
Roman law.

But three days later the tomb was empty.  The followers of Jesus
said He had risen from the dead.  They reported that He appeared to
them during a period of 40 days, showing Himself to them by many
"infallible proofs."  Paul the apostle recounted that Jesus
appeared to more than 500 of his followers at one time, the
majority of whom were still alive and who could confirm what Paul
wrote.

So many security precautions were taken with the trial,
crucifixion, burial, entombment, sealing, and guarding of Christ's
tomb that it becomes very difficult for critics to defend their
positions that Christ did not rise from the dead.  Consider these
facts:

SS: FACT #1: BROKEN ROMAN SEAL

As we have said, the first obvious fact was the breaking of the
seal that stood for the power and authority of the Roman Empire.
The consequences of breaking the seal were extremely severe.  The
FBI and CIA of the Roman Empire were called into action to find the
man or men who were responsible.  If they were apprehended, it
meant automatic execution by crucifixion upside down.  People
feared the breaking of the seal.  Jesus' disciples displayed signs
of cowardice when they hid themselves.  Peter, one of these
disciples, went out and denied Christ three times.

SS: FACT #2: EMPTY TOMB

As we have already discussed, another obvious fact after the
resurrection was the empty tomb.  The diciples of the Christ did
not go off to Athens or Rome to preach that Christ was raised from
the dead.  Rather they went right back to the city of Jerusalem,
where, if what they were teaching was false, the falsity would be
evident.  The empty tomb was "too notorious to be denied."  Paul
Althaus states that the resurrection "could have not been
maintained in Jerusalem for a single day, for a single hour, if the
emptiness of the tomb had not been established as a fact for all
concerned."

Both jewish and Roman sources and traditions admit an empty tomb.
Those resources range from Josephus to a compilation of
fifth-centry Jewish writings called the "Toledoth jeshu."  Dr. Paul
Maier calls this "positive evidence from a hostile source, which is
the strongest kind of historical evidence.  In essence, this means
that if a source admits a fact decidedly not in its favor, then
that fact is genuine."

Gamaliel, who was a member of the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin,
put forth the suggestion that the rise of the Christian movement
was God's doing; he could not have done that if the tomb were still
occupied, or if the Sanhedrin knew the whereabouts of Christ's
body.

Paul Maier observes that "... if all th evidence is weighed
carefully and fairly, it is indeed justifiable, according to the
canons of historical research, to conclude that the sepulcher of
Joseph of Arimathea, in which Jesus was buried, was actually empty
on the morning of the first Easter.  And no shred of evidence has
yet been discovered in literary sources, epigraphy, or archaeology
that would disprove this statement."

SS: FACT #3: LARGE STONE MOVED

On that Sunday morning the first thing that impressed the people
who approached the tomb was the unusual position of the one and a
half to two ton stone that had been lodged in front of the doorway.
All the Gospel writers mention it.

Those who observed the stone after the resurrection describe its
position as having been rolled up a slope away not just from the
the entrance of the tomb, but from the entire massive sepulcher.
It was in such a position that it looked as if it had been picked
up and carried away.  Now, I ask you, if the disciples had wanted
to come in, tiptoe around the sleeping guards, and then roll the
stone over and steal Jesus' body, how could they have done that
without the guards' awareness?

(Quote: "There exists no document from the ancient world, witnessed
by so excellent a set of textual and historical testimonies ...
Skepticism regarding the historical credentials of Christianity is
based upon an irrational bias." Clark Pinnock, McMaster University)

SS: FACT #4:  ROMAN GUARD GOES AWOL

The Roman guards fled.  They left their place of responsibility.
how can their attrition be explained, when Roman military disciplin
was so exceptional?

Justin, in Digest $49, mentions all the offenses that required the
death penalty.  The fear of their superiors' wrath and the
possibility of death meant that they paid close attention to the
most minute details of their jobs.  One way a guard was put to
death was by being stripped of his clothes and then burned alive in
a fare started with his garments.  If it was not apparent which
soldier had failed in his duty, then lots were drawn to see which
one would be punished with death for the guard unit's failure.
Certainly the entire unit would not have fallen asleep with that
kind of threat over their heads.  Dr. George Currie, a student of
Roman military discipline, wrote that fear of punishment "produced
flawless attention to duty, especially in the night watches."

SS: FACT #5:  GRAVECLOTHES TELL A TALE

In a literal sense, against all statements to the contrary, the
tomb was not totally empty-- because of an amazing phenomenon.
John, a disciple of Jesus, looked over to the place where the body
of Jesus had lain, and there were the grave clothes, in the form of
the body, slightly caved in and empty-- like the empty chrysalis of
a caterpillar's cocoon.  That's enought to make a believer out of
anybody.  John never did get over it.

The first thing that struck the minds of the disciples was not the
empty tomb, but rahter the empty grave clothes== undisturbed in
form and position.

SS: FACT #6:  JESUS' APPEARANCES CONFIRMED

Christ appeared alive on several occasions after the cataclysmic
events of that first Easter.

When studying an event in history, it is important to know whether
enough people who were participants or eyewitnesses to the event
were alive when the facts about the event were published.  To know
this is obviously helpful in ascertaining the accuracy of the
published report.  If the number of eyewitnesses is substantial,
the event can be regarded a fairly well established.  For instance,
if we all witness a murder, and a later police report turns out to
be a fabrication of lies, we as eyewitnesses can refute it.

SS: OVER 500 WITNESSES

Several very important factors are often overlooked when
considering Christ's post-resurrection appearances to individuals.
The first is the large number of witnesses of Christ after that
resurrection morning.

One of the earliest records of Christ's appearing after the
resurrection is by Paul.  The apostle appealed to his audience's
knowledge of the fact that Christ had been seen by more than 500
people at one time.  Paul reminded them that the majority of those
people were still alive and could be questioned.  Dr. Edwin M.
yamauchi, associate professor of history at Miami University in
Oxford, Ohio, emphasizes: "What gives a special authority to the
list (of witnesses) as historical evidence is the reference to most
of the five hundred brethren being still alive.  St. Paul says in
effect. 'If you do not believe me, you can ask them.'  Such a
statement in an admittedly genuine letter written within thirty
years of the event is almost as strong evidence as one could hope
to get for something that happened nearly two thousand years ago."

Let's take the more than 500 witnesses who saw Jesus alive after
His death and barial, and place them in a courtroom.  Do you
realize that if each of those 500 people were to testify for only
six minutes, including cross examination, you would have an amazing
50 hours of firsthand testimony?  Add to this the testimony of many
other eyewitnesses and you would well have the largest and most lop
sided trial in history.

SS: HOSTILE WITNESSES

Another factor crucial to the interpreting Christ's appearance s is
that He also appeared to those who were hostile or unconvinced.

Over and over again, I have read or heard people comment that Jesus
was seen alive after His death and burial only by His friends and
followers.  Using that argument, they attempt to water down the
overwhelming impact of the multiple eyewitness accounts.  But that
line of reasoning is so pathetic it hardly receives comment.  no
author or informed individual would regard Saul of Tarsus as a
follower of Christ.  The facts show the exact opposite.  Saul
despised Christ and persecuted Christ's followers.  It was a
life-shattering experience when Christ appeared to him.  Although
he was at the time not a disciple, he later became the apostle
Paul, one of the greatest witnesses for the truth of the
resurrection.

The argument that Christ's appearences were only to followers is an
argument for the most part from silence, and arguments from silence
can be dangerous.  It is equally possible that all to wom Jesus
appeared became floowers.  No one acquanted with the facts can
accurately say that Jesus appeared to just "an insignificant few."

Christians believe that Jesus was bidily resurrected in time and
space by the supernatural power of God.  The difficulties of belief
may be great, but the problems inherent in unbelief present even
greater difficulties.

the theories advanced to explain the resurrection by "natural
causes" arre weak; they actually healp build confidence in the
truth of the resurreciton.

SS: THE WRONG TOMB?

A theory propounded by Kirsopp Lake assumes that the women who
reported that the body was missing had mistakenly gone to the wrong
tomb.  If so, then the disciples who went to check up on the
women's statement must have also gone to the wrong tomb.  We may be
certain, however, that Jewish authorities, who asked for a Roman
guard to be stationed at the tomb to prevent Jesus' body from being
stolen, would not have been mistaken about the location.  Nor would
the Roman guards, for they were there!

If the resurrection-claim was merely because of a geographical
mistake, the Jewish authorities would have lost no time in
producing the body from the proper tomb, thus effectively quenching
for all time any rumor resurection.

SS: HALLUCINATIONS?

Another attempted explanation claims that the appearances of Jesus
after the rresurrection were either illusions or hallucinations.
Unsupported by the psychological principles governing the
appearances of hallucinations, this theory also does not coincide
with the historical situation.  Again, where was the actual body,
and why wasn't it produced?

SS: DID JESUS SWOON?

Another theory, popularized by Venturiani several centuries ago, is
often quoted today.  This is the swoon theory, which says that
Jesus didn't die; he merely fainted from exhaustion and loss of
blood.  Everyone thought Him dead, but latter He resuscitated and
the disciples thought it to be a resurrection.

Skeptic David Friedrich Strauss-- certainly no believer in the
resurrection-- gave the deathblow to any thought that Jesus revived
from a swoon: "It is impossible that a being who had stolen
half-dead out of the sepulchre, who crept about weak and ill,
wanting medical treatment, who required bandaging, strengthening
and indulgence, and who still at last yealded to His sufferings,
could have given to the disciples the impression that He was a
Conqueror over death and the grave, the Prince of Life, and
impression which lay at the bottom of their future ministry.  Such
a resuscitation would only have weakened the impression which He
had made upon them in life and in death, at the most could only
have given it an elegaic voice, but could by no possibility have
changed their sorrow to enthusiasm, have elevated their reverence
into worship."

SS: THE BODY STOLEN?

Then consider the theory that the body was stolen by the disciples
while the guards slept.  The depression and cowardice of the
disciples provide a hardhitting argument against their suddenly
becoming so brave and daring as to face a detachment of soldiers at
the tomb and steal the body.  They were in no mood to attempt
anything like that.

The theory that the Jewish or Roman authorities moved Christ's body
is no more reasonable an explanation for the empty tomb than theft
by the disciples.  If the authorities had the body in their
possession or knew where it was, why, when the disciples were
preaching the resurrection in Jerusalem, didn't they explain:
"Wait!  We moved the body, see, He didn't rise from the grave"?

And if such a rebuttal failed, why didn't they explain it exactly
where Jesus' body lay?  If this failed, why didn't they recover the
corpse, put it on a cart, and wheel it through the center of
Jerusalem?  Such an action would have destryed Christianity-- not
in the cradle, but in the womb!

SS: THE RESURRECTION IS A FACT

Professor Thomas Arnold, for 14 years a headmaster of Rugby, author
of the famous _History_of_Rome_, and appointed to the chair of
modern history at Oxford, was well acquainted with the value of
evidence in determining historical facts.  The great scholar said:
"I have been used for many years to study the histories of other
times, and to examine and weigh the evidence of those who have
written about them, and I know of no one fact in the history of
mankind which is proven by better and fuller evidence of every
sort, to the understanding of a fair inquirer, than the great sign
which God hath given us that Christ died and rose again from the
dead."  Brooke Foss Westcott, an English scholar, said:  "Taking
all the evidence together, it is not too much to say that there is
no historic incident better or more variously supported than the
resurrection of Christ.  Nothing but the antecedent assumption that
it must be false could have suggested the idea of defeciency in the
proof of it."

SS: REAL PROOF, THE DISCIPLES' LIFES

but the most telling testimony of all must be the lives of those
early Christians.  We must ask ourselves:  What caused them to go
everywhere telling the message of the risen Christ?

(Quote:  "If the New Testament were a collection of secular
writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond
all doubt." F. F. Bruse Manchester University)

Had there been any visible benefits accrued to them from their
efforts-- prestige, wealth, increased social status or material
benefits-- we might logically attempt to account for their actions,
for their wholehearted and total allegiance to this "risen Christ."

As a reward for their efforts, however, those early Christians were
beaten, stoned to death, thrown to the lions, tortured and
crucified.  Every conceivable method was used to stop them from
talking.

Yet, they laid down their lives as the ultimate proof of their
complete confidence in the truth of their message.

SS: WHERE DO YOU STAND?

How do you evaluate this overwheming historical evidence?  What is
your decision about the fact of Christ's empty tomb?  What do _you_
think of Christ?

When I was confronted with the overwhemling evidence for Christ's
resurrection, I had to ask the logical question:  "What difference
does all this evidence make to me?  What difference does it make
whether or not I believe Christ rose again and died on the cross
for my sins?"  The answer is put best by something Jesus said to a
man who doubed-- Thomas.  Jesus told him:  "I am the way, and the
truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me"
(John 14:6).

On the basis of all the evidence for Christ's resurrection, and
ocnsidering the fact that Jesus offers forgiveness of sin and an
eternal relationship with god, who wuld be so foolhardy as to
reject Him?  Christ is alive!  He is living today.

You can trust God right now by faith through prayer.  Prayer is
talking with God.  God knows your heart and is not so concerned
with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.  If you
have never trusted Christ, you can do so right now.

The prayer I prayed is:  "Lord Jesus, I need You.  Thank You for
dying on the cross for my sins.  I open the door of my life and
trust You as my savior.  Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving
me eternal life.  Make me the kind of person You want me to be.
Thank You that I can trust You."

SS: AN OFFER TO YOU

(Small print:  Would you like more information about the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, the reliability of the Scriptures, or
on building lasting, meaningful relationships?  you can get a
complete catalog featuring books, cassette tapes, films, and videos
by Josh McDowell by writing:

The Josh McDowell Ministry.  Resource Center, Box 1000, Dallas TX
75221, or by calling toll-free 1-800-222-JOSH)

-- END QUOTED MATERIAL


-- 
  Steve Davis  |    Contact me at ...            | The Boarding House BBS!
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Don't believe what the Moral Majority says. Remember that they are neither.