RESURRECTION THEORIES

A. __________________ THEORIES (Jesus didn’t really die, it just looked like it) 1. _________________ THEORY: Jesus “swooned” (fainted) on the cross, was buried, and then got up and either lived for a little bit (and then died) or disappeared to another country so he wouldn’t be killed. 2. __________________________ THEORY: Some kind of a plant-derived drug was given to Jesus that made him look like he was dead when he really wasn’t. B. ____________________________ THEORIES (Secret truth never before revealed!) 3. __________________________ THEORY: The disciples secretly stole Jesus’ body and then invented the story of the resurrection.

4. __________________________ THEORY: Someone else (not the disciples) took Jesus’ body, which made the disciples think Jesus rose from the dead, who then told everyone. 5. __________________________ THEORY: The disciples didn’t know which tomb Jesus was placed in, so it appeared as if Jesus rose from the dead, and then they told everyone.

6. ____________ THEORY: Jesus had a twin that either died in place of the real Jesus or went around town after Jesus’ death saying that he was actually the real Jesus. The disciples believed him and then told everyone that Jesus had risen from the dead. C. ____________________________ THEORIES (Disciples tricked into belief) 7. ______________________________________ THEORY: The disciples had visions or dreamed that Jesus rose from the dead. 8. ______________________THEORY: Jesus was a hypnotist who caused miracles by magic and hypnosis. Before he died, Jesus hypnotized his disciples to believe that he would rise from the dead. D. _______________ THEORIES (Jesus rose, but not literally… ) 9. ______________________________________ THEORY: Jesus’ body didn’t rise from the dead, but his spirit did (kind of like a ghost) and that is what visited the disciples. 10. ____________________________________________ THEORY: Jesus was so loved by his disciples that his memory “rose” in their hearts after he died. The disciples then shared this super strong memory with others who then received ooshy gooshy feelings of Jesus as well.

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First & Last Name: _______________________________________

Class: ______ Today’s date: _______________________________"

Saint of the Day: _________________________________________

2 OPTIONS

2. Jesus ____ die

1. Jesus ________ dieSwoon Theory Christianity

is ________POSSUM

THEORIES

Jesus ______

rise

2 OPTIONS

Drugged-Body Theory

CONSPIRACY THEORIES

Stolen Body Theory

Unknown Tomb Theory

Missing Body Theory

Twin Theory

MIND TRICK THEORIES

MYTH THEORIES

Hallucination/Vision Theory

Hypnosis Theory

Spiritual Resurrection

Theory

“In Our Hearts” Resurrection Theory

2 OPTIONS

Christianity is ________

Christianity is ________

Christianity is ________

Christianity is ________

“The resurrection separates Christianity from every other religion. The bones of Abraham and Muhammad and Buddha and Confucius and Lao-tzu and Zoroaster are still here on earth. But Jesus’ tomb is empty.” - Peter Kreeft

THE STORY FOUND IN

THE BIBLE

Jesus _____ rise

“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile (_____________________).” - St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:17aResurrection Possibilities

RRREEESSSUUURRRRRREEECCCTTTIIIOOONNN AAAPPPOOOLLLOOOGGGEEETTTIIICCCSSS DEFINITIONS Apologetics: Speaking in defense of a Christian doctrine or belief Rebuttal: An attempt to disprove someone else’s argument or theory YOUR JOB:

1. Give what you believe to be 2 of the strongest rebuttals for each of the following resurrection theories.

2. First, do your own theological CSI-like work and try and come up with rebuttals for each theory.

3. Then, after doing your best to come up with your own rebuttals, get expert theologian help from the Resurrection Apologetics with Peter Kreeft answers PDF to help you add more strong rebuttals to your sheet (you can summarize these in your own words).

4. Have as few repeat rebuttals as possible, please (a couple of repeats is okay). 5. Lastly, write what you think is the #1 proof for Jesus’ resurrection (see last page).

A. POSSUM THEORIES (Jesus didn’t really die, it just looked like it!) 1. SWOON THEORY: Jesus “swooned” (fainted) on the cross, was buried, and then got up and either lived for a little bit (and then died) or disappeared to another country so he wouldn’t be killed. REBUTTALS: 2. DRUGGED-BODY THEORY: Some kind of a plant-derived drug was given to Jesus that made him look like he was dead when he really wasn’t. REBUTTALS:

B. CONSPIRACY THEORIES (Secret truth never before revealed!) 3. STOLEN BODY THEORY: The disciples secretly stole Jesus’ body and then invented the story of the resurrection. REBUTTALS:

4. MISSING BODY THEORY: Someone else (not the disciples) took Jesus’ body, which made the disciples think Jesus rose from the dead, who then told everyone. REBUTTALS: 5. UNKNOWN TOMB THEORY: The disciples didn’t know which tomb Jesus was placed in, so it appeared as if Jesus rose from the dead, and then they told everyone. REBUTTALS:

6. TWIN THEORY: Jesus had a twin that either died in place of the real Jesus or went around town after Jesus’ death saying that he was actually the real Jesus. The disciples believed him and then told everyone that Jesus had risen from the dead. REBUTTALS:

C. MIND TRICK THEORIES (The disciples were tricked into belief) 7. HALLUCINATION/VISION THEORY: The disciples had visions or dreamed that Jesus rose from the dead. REBUTTALS: 8. HYPNOSIS THEORY: Jesus was a hypnotist who caused miracles by magic and hypnosis. Before he died, Jesus hypnotized his disciples to believe that he would rise from the dead. REBUTTALS:

D. MYTH THEORIES (Jesus rose, but not literally… ) 9. SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION THEORY: Jesus’ body didn’t rise from the dead, but his spirit did (kind of like a ghost) and that is what visited the disciples. REBUTTALS:

10. “IN OUR HEARTS” RESURRECTION THEORY: Jesus was so loved by his disciples that his memory “rose” in their hearts after he died. The disciples then shared this super strong memory with others who then received ooshy gooshy feelings of Jesus as well. REBUTTALS:

#1 Proof for Jesus’ Resurrection from the Dead

If someone asked you for only one reason to believe Jesus rose from the dead, what reason would you give?