So What...
Most of you that read my blog know I am at school and am finishing my Youth Work degree. Well, this semester I am taking a New Testament Theology class and for the first assignement we needed to read a novel, "A Skeleton in God's Closet" by Paul Maier. Anyway to catch you up to speed the book details an archeological dig that happens to find the bones, remains, body of Jesus Christ.
So for the paper we needed to write we were to discuss the ramifications, if any, this would have on the world. What if we did find the body of Jesus and his pyhsical resurection was put into question. What then? What kind of ripples would that send through religious beliefs and more specifically Christianity?
Just some food for thought. It has dominated my thinking as of late. Actually, I do have another thought to discuss but will save that for another day. Can't expound all I know in one day. So lets hear some responses.
md
So for the paper we needed to write we were to discuss the ramifications, if any, this would have on the world. What if we did find the body of Jesus and his pyhsical resurection was put into question. What then? What kind of ripples would that send through religious beliefs and more specifically Christianity?
Just some food for thought. It has dominated my thinking as of late. Actually, I do have another thought to discuss but will save that for another day. Can't expound all I know in one day. So lets hear some responses.
md
posted by YootguyMark at
3:33 PM
13 Comments:
"What if we did find the body of Jesus and his pyhsical resurection was put into question. What then?"
I think Paul said it quite well:
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (1 Cor. 15:17-18)
If there's no physical resurrection, there's no defeat of death and evil, only an eccentric, misguided Jewish prophet. Christians believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus is God's means of dealing with evil; if Jesus died just like everyone else, Christianity is a two thousand year mistake.
By
Anonymous, at 8:43 PM
Read "The Bone Box" by Itamar Bernstein, about a real archeological find raising this same possibility. Based on facts, not fiction.
By
Anonymous, at 7:03 PM
hey mark. this is alf. i saw your comment on my wifes blog.have to say that you're probably the last person i ever expected to get in touch with through blogging. that's not a bad thing, just unexpected.
By
Anonymous, at 9:10 PM
Thanks Alf for the reply. We should have coffee and catch up. It would be good.
As for the topic what would be the effect worldwide if this was actually the case, Jesus' bones being discovered. I understand our faith in a risen God being totally destroyed. But what about the faith world? Totally in shambles? Revolts?
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YootguyMark, at 11:00 PM
There is a movie with this theme, with Antonio Banderas, its called THE BODY, and in it they find what seems to be the body of Christ, and bunch of priests start killing them selves and such, its an interesting movie actually hard one to find. I lent it to Gil once, I think he showed it in his class...anyways reminded me of this. I wont give away the ending in case you want to see it. But I think there would be a lot of chaos in the faith community...
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Paul, at 10:54 AM
I believe a lot of retailers would be in shock at first. They would think that Christmas may not be as profitable this year because Christians would be so depressed. Hallmark's stock would drop instantly because Christmas card and Easter cards would grind to a halt. Cadbury Eggs would stand unsold in huge bins in Superstore. The air would be cleaner because no more little trees would be cut down every December. Christian musicians would probably commit suicide knowing that they would no longer be able to sell music that artistically has no merit. The guy who writes those witty little bumper stickers that say things like 'in case of rapture this car will be unmanned' and 'God is my copilot' will of course be out of job. The birth control industry will probably take off because the Catholic church will have lost its authority to tell its members that it is a sin to have sex just for the sake of it. This will lower the birth rate[since it is mostly Christian's having babies]even more and Western civilization will go extinct. Dan Brown, John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg will all say 'see I told you so.' The number one name in Mexico will no longer be Jesus and Mary. Well those are a few of the things I can think of. Is that the kind of stuff you are looking for?
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jc, at 3:42 PM
JC you are a geek as well as trying to stir the pot. Many of those are real things that would happen. I guess I was thinking along diffrent lines than commercialy. WHatevr thanks for the contribution, I think! HEHE!
Christians are the only ones having children? I don't agree seems like the reproduction isn't strictly Christian all walks of life seem to have it figured out.
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YootguyMark, at 5:09 PM
nobody has talked about denial
which is the first thing that jumped up into my mind
i think the natural tendency would be to deny the findings as inauthentic. This presents a whole other realm of consequences and questions:
what proof would be needed to convince especially the more fundamental parts of xianity?
in what ways would other theological positions change inorder to disprove the findings?
I think what this idea provokes is just how 'proof' based our 'faith' really is. We have placed so much importance on the provability of our religious perspectives that we have reduced xianity to something where faith really is not needed. Yet what is interesting is that as soon as you suggest that we can't fully rely on reason and proof some people get really shakey and agitated. On top of that they think that you are totally avoiding the use of reason and proof. Its a sucka!
Ryan the problem I have with your position on this is that it seems to reduce every theological possibility to one lynch pin. In my mind theology has to be able to withstand that sort of one shot attack. I think this is precisely why the DaVinci code caused sucha stir...
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Increasing..., at 11:28 AM
"Ryan the problem I have with your position on this is that it seems to reduce every theological possibility to one lynch pin. In my mind theology has to be able to withstand that sort of one shot attack."
What theological possibilities do you see as remaining if Jesus was not raised from the dead?
(I agree with your bit about the initial tendency being denial - I was sort of operating under the assumption that it was conclusively proven that the remains were Jesus')
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Anonymous, at 3:45 PM
So Ryan you would say even if it was conclusive people still won't deny it? I would say people would freak regardless of whether or not it was proven to be true.
So if we always need this proof of everything we believe where does fatith come in?
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YootguyMark, at 4:03 PM
I think the early Christians were forced into belief exactly because of the proof they saw: an empty tomb. 'Faith' comes in because we need it in order to believe that this event has had the kind of effect that Ryan's described, namely the conquering of evil and death.
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Gil, at 5:22 PM
"I think the early Christians were forced into belief exactly because of the proof they saw..."
Somehow that statement doesn't sit well with me. Do you mean that the disciples had not choice in what they believed? Help me out Gil.
Ryan, there is no denying the centrality of Jesus for faith as the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. (Just to be clear) So I am not taking exception to your theology on the resurrection as I am in rooting out places where our 'faith' has become over simplified or reduced to Bushesque 'talking points'. (I'm not suggesting that is what you were doing)
As many did in those first few hours and days of ecclesiological infancy, so today many deny the resurrection. It is one of the most unbelievable aspect of 'the story'.
So what can we say to someone who refuses to accept the resurrection? Surely we can say a whole lot and in the end the resurrection will be as plain as the girth of my expansive midriff.
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Increasing..., at 8:36 PM
I would hate God or at least any thought of him (since my faith would no longer exist). I would not know where to turn, what to think, or what to do. Paralysis of my being would be my response... if the evidence was conclusive. What other response could a believer have? For over 2000 years humanity would have been duped into a manipulative scam. I would not go near the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob ever again. I would be a lost soul.
By
Anonymous, at 1:53 PM
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