How Easter Killed My Faith in Atheism

Paxton25 · Apr 17, 2011

It was the worst news I could get as an atheist: my agnostic wife had decided to become a Christian. Two words shot through my mind. The first was an expletive; the second was divorce.

I thought she was going to turn into a self-righteous holy roller. But over the following months, I was intrigued by the positive changes in her character and values. Finally, I decided to take my journalism and legal training (I was legal editor of the Chicago Tribune) and systematically investigate whether there was any credibility to Christianity.

Maybe, I figured, I could extricate her from this cult.

I quickly determined that the alleged resurrection of Jesus was the key. Anyone can claim to be divine, but if Jesus backed up his claim by returning from the dead, then that was awfully good evidence he was telling the truth.

How Easter Killed My Faith in Atheism

DiligentlySeekingGod · Apr 17, 2011

That is Lee Strobel. I knew that before I clicked on the link. I have read his testimony and many of his books.

Eudaimonist · Apr 17, 2011

Yawn...

eudaimonia,

Mark

JesusFreak4L · Apr 17, 2011

very intriguing! Love that! Without the Resurrection, Christianity is nothing, but because we have that, it is everything!

leftrightleftrightleft · Apr 17, 2011

I read the Case for Christ but did not find it all that convincing. Reading the Bible (especially the first three gospels) seems to indicate the Jesus was resurrected in a "different form" and "appeared" to them more like a "ghost" than a real man. The whole style of writing changes dramatically in all three gospels between his death and his resurrection. Suddenly people start "worshiping" at his feet, he is referred to as the "Lord Jesus Christ" which is Pauline term. He also "opens their minds" to Scripture which sounds more like they were on shrooms than him being a physical, resurrected, human being walking and talking among them. He obviously didn't look like the Jesus they know because they don't even recognize him when he meets them on the road. He also goes through walls by entering rooms where all the doors were locked. The descriptions of the risen Jesus do not line up with the much more tangible, physical descriptions of Jesus prior to his death.

The whole Christian idea of Jesus "conquering death" seems flawed because the Gospels themselves lend more to the idea that he "rose" in a spiritual or metaphorical fashion. He was not literally a zombie walking around and living after being dead and rotting for 3 days. He was more like an essence or a spirit who came through doors and appeared out of thin air and frightened people like a ghost and looking unrecognizable in a different form.

It seems much more likely that the disciples had more of a spiritual transformation while in hiding, some sort of "enlightenment" which they attributed to Jesus' spiritual presence among them. From there, mythologization took place most evident in the gnostic-laden Gospel of John.

Jesus resurrection is likely more metaphorical than literal which does not necessarily make illegitimate the reality of God or the importance of Jesus but it does challenge a lot of Christian theology.

JesusFreak4L · Apr 17, 2011

leftrightleftrightleft said:
I read the Case for Christ but did not find it all that convincing. Reading the Bible (especially the first three gospels) seems to indicate the Jesus was resurrected in a "different form" and "appeared" to them more like a "ghost" than a real man. The whole style of writing changes dramatically in all three gospels between his death and his resurrection. Suddenly people start "worshiping" at his feet, he is referred to as the "Lord Jesus Christ" which is Pauline term. He also "opens their minds" to Scripture which sounds more like they were on shrooms than him being a physical, resurrected, human being walking and talking among them. He obviously didn't look like the Jesus they know because they don't even recognize him when he meets them on the road. He also goes through walls by entering rooms where all the doors were locked. The descriptions of the risen Jesus do not line up with the much more tangible, physical descriptions of Jesus prior to his death.

The whole Christian idea of Jesus "conquering death" seems flawed because the Gospels themselves lend more to the idea that he "rose" in a spiritual or metaphorical fashion. He was not literally a zombie walking around and living after being dead and rotting for 3 days. He was more like an essence or a spirit who came through doors and appeared out of thin air and frightened people like a ghost and looking unrecognizable in a different form.

It seems much more likely that the disciples had more of a spiritual transformation while in hiding, some sort of "enlightenment" which they attributed to Jesus' spiritual presence among them. From there, mythologization took place most evident in the gnostic-laden Gospel of John.

Jesus resurrection is likely more metaphorical than literal which does not necessarily make illegitimate the reality of God or the importance of Jesus but it does challenge a lot of Christian theology.

I would disagree 100% with this! The disciples weren't the only ones who saw Jesus after He resurrected. And those who saw Jesus didn't all have that "Ghost appear" but rather all saw the Lord for who He was alive and resurrected in the LITERAL sense!

leftrightleftrightleft · Apr 17, 2011

JesusFreak4L said:
I would disagree 100% with this! The disciples weren't the only ones who saw Jesus after He resurrected. And those who saw Jesus didn't all have that "Ghost appear" but rather all saw the Lord for who He was alive and resurrected in the LITERAL sense!

Do you have any Bible quotes?

JesusFreak4L · Apr 17, 2011

what about the 500 people that Jesus revealed Himself to?
What about the angel in the tomb that said that the Lord has resurrected?
What about himself revealing to Mary and the other women?

JesusFreak4L · Apr 17, 2011

In Luke, Jesus appears to the disciples and eats with them, demonstrating that he is flesh and bones,[6] not a ghost. He tells them to wait in Jerusalem for the start of their mission to the world, and then he ascends into the heavens. In Acts, written by the same author as Luke, Jesus appears to his disciples after his death and stays with them for 40 days before ascending to heaven. Acts also describes Jesus' appearance to Paul, in which a voice speaks to Paul and a light blinds him while he's on the road to Damascus. In John, Mary alone finds Jesus at the empty tomb, and he tells her not to touch him because he has not yet ascended to the Father. Later, he appears to the disciples. He moves through a closed door and has "doubting Thomas" touch his wounds to demonstrate that he is flesh and bones. In a later appearance, Jesus assigns Peter the role of tending to Jesus' sheep, that is, leading Jesus' followers. The traditional ending of Mark summarizes resurrection appearances from Matthew and Luke.

TerranceL · Apr 17, 2011

Reads like propaganda.

I fail to see what the pagan celebration of the spring has to do with christianity.

Crusader05 · Apr 17, 2011

JesusFreak4L said:
what about the 500 people that Jesus revealed Himself to?
What about the angel in the tomb that said that the Lord has resurrected?
What about himself revealing to Mary and the other women?

Why didn't any of those 500 write about the amazing event? Why are the only accounts we have in the gospels (i.e. not an independent source).

It would seem to me that all the events described in the gospels; like earthquakes, random people rising from the dead and darkness in the middle of the day, would have inspired historians and others to write about them. The lack of cooresponding historical evidence leads me to conclude the gospel stories are mostly works of fiction.

Here's a question, if Jesus really did rise from dead and walk around teaching why didn't the Romans or Jewish authorities try to arrest him since he was a condemned criminal?

b&wpac7 · Apr 17, 2011

JesusFreak4L said:
what about the 500 people that Jesus revealed Himself to?

Not as impressive as the 4000 that saw me jump over a skyscraper

Borromeo · Apr 18, 2011

TerranceL said:
Reads like propaganda.

I fail to see what the pagan celebration of the spring has to do with christianity.

How is it a "pagan celebration" of spring when it is dated according to when Passover occurs and celebrates the death and redemptive sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ? That is what it is about, that is the only thing it has ever been about for any church, so how is it pagan? It has nothing to do with celebrating spring (which doesn't belong to pagans to begin with, so wouldn't make it pagan even if it were) or anything pagan.

Phaedron777 · Apr 18, 2011

Same story in the scientific evidence for God video (which also disproves evolution)

YouTube - Scientific Proof of God Documentary (Full Length)

Spiritlight · Apr 18, 2011

leftrightleftrightleft said:
I read the Case for Christ but did not find it all that convincing. Reading the Bible (especially the first three gospels) seems to indicate the Jesus was resurrected in a "different form" and "appeared" to them more like a "ghost" than a real man. The whole style of writing changes dramatically in all three gospels between his death and his resurrection. Suddenly people start "worshiping" at his feet, he is referred to as the "Lord Jesus Christ" which is Pauline term. He also "opens their minds" to Scripture which sounds more like they were on shrooms than him being a physical, resurrected, human being walking and talking among them. He obviously didn't look like the Jesus they know because they don't even recognize him when he meets them on the road. He also goes through walls by entering rooms where all the doors were locked. The descriptions of the risen Jesus do not line up with the much more tangible, physical descriptions of Jesus prior to his death.

The whole Christian idea of Jesus "conquering death" seems flawed because the Gospels themselves lend more to the idea that he "rose" in a spiritual or metaphorical fashion. He was not literally a zombie walking around and living after being dead and rotting for 3 days. He was more like an essence or a spirit who came through doors and appeared out of thin air and frightened people like a ghost and looking unrecognizable in a different form.

It seems much more likely that the disciples had more of a spiritual transformation while in hiding, some sort of "enlightenment" which they attributed to Jesus' spiritual presence among them. From there, mythologization took place most evident in the gnostic-laden Gospel of John.

Jesus resurrection is likely more metaphorical than literal which does not necessarily make illegitimate the reality of God or the importance of Jesus but it does challenge a lot of Christian theology.

why would anyone die for a metaphor? they all got martyred.
no one dies for a gimmick., you die for what you have seen and believe in.

Skavau · Apr 18, 2011

Spiritlight said:
why would anyone die for a metaphor? they all got martyred.
no one dies for a gimmick., you die for what you have seen and believe in.

Or, you die for what you think is true.

That is, unless you think that Islamic suicide bombers have actually died for something very real.

awitch · Apr 18, 2011

Phaedron777 said:
Same story in the scientific evidence for God video (which also disproves evolution)

Hate to burst your bubble again, Phaedron, but the title screen alone is enough to debunk it. I'm going to trust biologists, geologists, astronomers, and chemists over your philosopher from the Action Institute, which by the way, is a right-wing funded Christian think tank that urges taking a Biblical approach to business, the government, and education. They're in with the dominionists.

Now back to our topic.

Spiritlight · Apr 18, 2011

Skavau said:
Or, you die for what you think is true.

That is, unless you think that Islamic suicide bombers have actually died for something very real.

what has islamic suicide bombers got to do with Easter and the story of the early people that lived with Jesus?
Does anyone know why atheists hang around Christian forums? It's like me hanging around a scientogy forum it's kinda weird

Delphiki · Apr 18, 2011

I may be using the "No true Scotsman" fallacy here, but the fact that he calls it his "faith in atheism" already discredits the author's honesty.

awitch · Apr 18, 2011

Spiritlight said:
Does anyone know why atheists hang around Christian forums? It's like me hanging around a scientogy forum it's kinda weird

Like any non-Christian, we slowly eat your souls over the Internet every time you read one of our posts. Yours tastes like chicken.

How Easter Killed My Faith in Atheism

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