Easter

A collection of 23 posts

David Austin

Answering Dan Barker’s Easter Challenge

With Easter not far away, I thought it would be instructional to examine the Easter story in some detail, and how the four Gospels seem to contradict one another on crucial details, and whether the different accounts can be harmonized. This situation inspired Dan Barker, a former evangelical Christian preacher,

Biblical Exegesis

Carrier: "Pearce’s New Take-Down of Resurrection Apologetics Is a Must-Have"

I am honoured to have Richard Carrier do a full write-up of my new book on the Resurrection (The Resurrection: A Critical Examination of the Easter Story [UK]) in one of his latest pieces on his blog. In it, not only does he fully endorse the book, but he also

Biblical Exegesis

"Historical" Bookends to a Historically Vacuous Life

This is an early draft section for one of the first chapters in my new book-in-the-writing, The Resurrection: A Critical Examination of the Easter Story: The birth and death of Jesus are historical bookends to the life of Jesus, obviously, even if the theology continues in Acts and the Epistles

Easter

The Resurrection: A Critical Examination of the Easter Story

Here are just some of the non-electronic books I have been perusing to research the book I am not 34,500 words into: The Resurrection: A Critical Examination of the Easter Story. And I have Raymond Brown's epic The Death of the Messiah winging its way to me

Easter

Amuse Bouche and Other Updates

Just to remind people of what I have been up to of late and what I plan for the near future (and a book that might be right up your alleys). Let's start with the now. I have just released a book called The Family Book of Word

Biblical Exegesis

Online Talk on the Resurrection, Wednesday Night BST

I am giving a talk on the historicity of the Resurrection accounts on Wednesday night, BST, to Skeptics in the Hub. The details are here. Tune in and hang out. After all, you've got bugger all else do to. Well, most of you. I am hoping I can

Comedy

Jesus, Resurrection, Humour and Appropriateness

I posted this on my Facebook page (H/T to Rick Humeny who pasted it on the ATP Facebook page) : I genuinely think this is not only funny but packs a theological punch. I have often before posted on the incoherence of atonement and the ridiculousness of the resurrection account.

Biblical Exegesis

Easter Round-Up: Everything You Need To Know About The Resurrection (Skeptically Speaking)

Well that came around quickly. It's like I've been a little bit distracted or something! Anyway here is your annual Easter skeptical roundup of previous writings I have done on the Resurrection and other things pertaining to the Easter story. Indeed, I was thinking of turning

Biblical Exegesis

The Resurrection Debunked: The Empty Tomb

As mentioned in my two previous posts, it is that time of year again where the Resurrection of Jesus requires a thorough going over. Here it continues. There are three aspects to the debunking of the Resurrection: 1) The Gospels are not reliable sources of information; they are poor quality

atonement

A Bit of Easter Humour

The serious philosophical point to one of these is that Jesus' sacrifice wasn't all that: he sacrificed himself to himself to sit on his own right-hand side for eternity in heaven. Not all that, right? Stay in touch! Like A Tippling Philosopher on Facebook: A Tippling Philosopher

Easter

The Resurrection Debunked: Extraordinary Claims

As mentioned in my previous post, someone in Malawi is about to have a debate on national TV with a Christian about the Resurrection accounts and I have been asked to help provide some ideas for the debate, so here goes. There are three aspects to the debunking of the

Biblical Exegesis

The Resurrection Debunked

I have recently been running a series debunking the Exodus and have linked to this Easter series. Since Easter is upon us, and since I have a raft of new readers, I am going to re-run my extensive series on the Resurrection and Easter. A few years back, someone in

Easter

Easter Doubt: Why Was Jesus' Tomb Not Venerated?

To follow on from my Matthew's guards post, here is another problematic scenario for the Easter story. Thinking about the tomb, in the context of the last post, it is incredibly suspect that the place of the greatest spiritual and religious significance in the whole world seems not

belief

Resurrection did not happen, say quarter of Christians

I meant to write about this the other day, when it came out, but have been so busy that you have probably read this in numerous places elsewhere, and here at Patheos. A BBC survey has looked at Christians' beliefs concerning the Resurrection, and there are some pretty interesting

Biblical Exegesis

Easter Doubt: On the Skepticism of the Resurrection (part 2)

As mentioned in my previous post, someone in Malawi is about to have a debate on national TV with a Christian about the Resurrection accounts and I have been asked to help provide some ideas for the debate, so here goes. There are three aspects to the debunking of the

Biblical Exegesis

Easter Doubt: On the Skepticism of the Resurrection

It's that time again, so I am going to re-run my extensive series on the Resurrection and Easter. Sorry if you've read it before, but there's nothing like a good reminder: Christmas is over, time to get on to Easter. A Few years back,

Easter

Easter Round-Up: Everything You Need To Skeptically Know About The Resurrection

Being that time of year, let me remind you of some things that I have written on the Resurrection (and death and burial) of Jesus: On the Skepticism of the Resurrection On the Skepticism of the Resurrection (part 2) On the Skepticism of the Resurrection (part 3) On the Skepticism

crucifixion

Jesus' Crucifixion and Burial Practices

Some time back, I had a massive debate on my facebook page with someone from the Unbelievable forum, which I have since left (tiring of the time-wasting silliness of some of the posters) about the Roman/Jewish burial practices after crucifixion with regard  to Jesus' death. Here is my

Biblical Exegesis

Joseph of Arimathea As a Rich Prophecy Fulfilment

I have spoken about Joseph of Arimathea before, in the videos linked below. Just reading a chapter by Robert M. Price in The End of Christianity, I came across this very simple aspect which shows, to me at any rate, that Matthew's sole job seemed to be to

Easter

Why was Jesus' tomb not venerated?

To follow on from my Matthew's guards post, here is another problematic scenario for the Easter story. Thinking about the tomb, in the context of the last post, it is incredibly suspect that the place of the greatest spiritual and religious significance in the whole world seems not

atonement

A Succinct Synopsis of the Nonsense of Easter

Easter is the time for the christian church. Christmas is all lovely and present-y, but Easter is what it's all really about. It is the climax of Jesus' existence. But this is really what is going on: JesusManGod sacrificed himself to himself to sit on his own

Biblical Exegesis

On the Skepticism of the Resurrection (part 2)

As mentioned in my previous post, someone in Malawi is about to have a debate on national TV with a Christian about the Resurrection accounts and I have been asked to help provide some ideas for the debate, so here goes. There are three aspects to the debunking of the

Biblical Exegesis

Easter: The Resurrection Round-up

Being that time of year, let me remind you of some things that I have written on the Resurrection (and death and burial) of Jesus: On the Skepticism of the Resurrection On the Skepticism of the Resurrection (part 2) On the Skepticism of the Resurrection (part 3) On the Skepticism