Judge: "We are nearing the end of this investigation as to whether the resurrection of Jesus was a historical fact or not and whether it should be taught as a part of history." "Council for the Plaintiff you have the floor."
Council for the Plaintiff: "Thank you your honor." "In his last speech, council for the Defense inferred that the Christian religion was a cult. This is not true. A cult is a religion whose teachings are different from the mainstream and whose teachings are geared to the psychological and emotional captivating of the members through guilt and withdraw of socialization and love."
Coucil for the Defense: "Objection your honor."
"It may be true today that Christianity is not regarded as a cult. However, in 33 A.D. up until the mid 4th century, it definitely was regarded as a cult. In his 1st speech council for the Plaintiff introduced the writing of Tacitus where in his writing he referred to Christianity as a pernicious superstition ."
Judge: "Objection sustained." "Christianity today is not regarded as being a cult. However, council for the Defense makes a valid statement that in it's beginning, Christianity was regarded by both the Jews and the pagans as being a cult."
Council for the Plaintiff: The council for the Defense tried to make the argument that Mary Magdalene and the other women conspired with Joseph of Arimathea's gardener in stealing the Body of Jesus from Joseph's tomb. This theory falls flat because the tomb was sealed and if anyone removed that Roman seal on that stone door was to be put to death. Not only that, the Jewish leaders had Roman soldiers guarding the tomb."
Council for the Defense: "Objection your honor."
"Matthew's account of there being either Roman guards or Jewish guards at the tombsite has been discounted by the most prominent scholars and Apologists. One of the most convincing arguments is that of William Lane Craig where he states that if it were the case that the Jewish leaders knew Jesus said He was to be raised on the 3rd day, it would be unlikely that His own disciples would have been totally suprised and remained unbelieving upon hearing about it from the women on that Sunday morning."
Judge: "Objection sustained."
Council for the Plaintiff: "I must say that if there had been no guards present at the tomb to keep anyone from stealing Christ's body, then it is within the realm of possiblity that someone could have removed His body. Matthew;s account of there being guards present is a shield against that possibility. That is why the Gospel is the Gospel. I think most Christians believe Matthew's Gospel to be inspired by God. That it is the word of God and is not mistaken or meant to mislead."
Judge: "Council, we are not here to argue the inspiration of the Gospel of Matthew." "It is historically inaccurate that there were guards at the tombsite. "Just as it is historically inaccurate about there having been a great earthquake and the bodies of many of the righteous rising up from their graves and walkning into Jerusalem."
Council for the Plaintiff: "Your honor, your contempt for God's word is very apparent."
Judge: "I am closing this case at this time." "The historical evidence for the beliefs of many in the 1st century that there was a bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, does remain a historical fact. "However, I cannot allow the teaching as fact, that there was a bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ."
Judge: "Case closed."
Council for the Plaintiff: "Thank you your honor." "In his last speech, council for the Defense inferred that the Christian religion was a cult. This is not true. A cult is a religion whose teachings are different from the mainstream and whose teachings are geared to the psychological and emotional captivating of the members through guilt and withdraw of socialization and love."
Coucil for the Defense: "Objection your honor."
"It may be true today that Christianity is not regarded as a cult. However, in 33 A.D. up until the mid 4th century, it definitely was regarded as a cult. In his 1st speech council for the Plaintiff introduced the writing of Tacitus where in his writing he referred to Christianity as a pernicious superstition ."
Judge: "Objection sustained." "Christianity today is not regarded as being a cult. However, council for the Defense makes a valid statement that in it's beginning, Christianity was regarded by both the Jews and the pagans as being a cult."
Council for the Plaintiff: The council for the Defense tried to make the argument that Mary Magdalene and the other women conspired with Joseph of Arimathea's gardener in stealing the Body of Jesus from Joseph's tomb. This theory falls flat because the tomb was sealed and if anyone removed that Roman seal on that stone door was to be put to death. Not only that, the Jewish leaders had Roman soldiers guarding the tomb."
Council for the Defense: "Objection your honor."
"Matthew's account of there being either Roman guards or Jewish guards at the tombsite has been discounted by the most prominent scholars and Apologists. One of the most convincing arguments is that of William Lane Craig where he states that if it were the case that the Jewish leaders knew Jesus said He was to be raised on the 3rd day, it would be unlikely that His own disciples would have been totally suprised and remained unbelieving upon hearing about it from the women on that Sunday morning."
Judge: "Objection sustained."
Council for the Plaintiff: "I must say that if there had been no guards present at the tomb to keep anyone from stealing Christ's body, then it is within the realm of possiblity that someone could have removed His body. Matthew;s account of there being guards present is a shield against that possibility. That is why the Gospel is the Gospel. I think most Christians believe Matthew's Gospel to be inspired by God. That it is the word of God and is not mistaken or meant to mislead."
Judge: "Council, we are not here to argue the inspiration of the Gospel of Matthew." "It is historically inaccurate that there were guards at the tombsite. "Just as it is historically inaccurate about there having been a great earthquake and the bodies of many of the righteous rising up from their graves and walkning into Jerusalem."
Council for the Plaintiff: "Your honor, your contempt for God's word is very apparent."
Judge: "I am closing this case at this time." "The historical evidence for the beliefs of many in the 1st century that there was a bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, does remain a historical fact. "However, I cannot allow the teaching as fact, that there was a bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ."
Judge: "Case closed."
