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Loading... How Did Christianity Begin? Hallucinations? Fabrications? Myths? Resurrection? A Look at the Evidence (edition 2023)by Christopher Hearn (Author)
Work InformationHow Did Christianity Begin?: Hallucinations? Fabrications? Myths? Resurrection?: A Look at the Evidence by Christopher Hearn
None No current Talk conversations about this book. ![]() The material in this short book likely will not be sufficient to convince every doubter. Those whose minds are already set firmly against the possibility of a dead man coming back to life will be hard to convince. However, people with honest uncertainty about the resurrection will find this easy-to-read work a useful aid as they study for themselves and reach conclusions that are based on solid evidence. ![]() I did find this book useful in confirming some personal beliefs, as well as increasing my Biblical literacy and providing some early non-Biblical sources. With due caution to the circular reasoning, circumstantial evidence, and some weak arguments this book is worth reading to explore the questions raised. ![]() ![]() Part Two focuses on the Empty Tomb … with the basic claim that resurrection deniers attempt to explain how the early believers could have found the tomb of Jesus empty. There are 10 more specific claims here, each with a response. And while I don’t have the credentials needed to verify how accurate this information is, it seems reasonable in many cases and does have some supporting citations (from people that I have not previously encountered in my own studies). For example, there is an interesting connection on why Joseph of Arimathea was the one who had to claim the body of Jesus that was connected to his belonging to the Sanhedrin that was pretty investing and not something that I had heard before (will still need to do some follow-on research to verify though). Additional there was an interesting discussion about why the tomb had to be new in order not to run afoul of custom and law; however, the discussion of why we are so certain of the tomb’s location doesn’t appear to follow any consensus and fails to mention any of the competing claims, giving the a impression of certainty here. Additionally he talks about the James ossuary as if it has been determined to be authentic, while that is actually still contested. This might be inferred by the fact that Oded Golan was eventually acquitted of personally forging the ossuary, but the courts made no ruling on the items actual authenticity. Part Three attempts to defend the New Testament as a whole; doing so with a combination of strawman arguments and historical inferences (the later being a list of extra biblical documents that mention Jesus by name). An immediate problem here is the inclusion of Thallus, who, while a favorite of Christian apologists because of its early date (52AD), really only confirms that solar eclipse around the time of the crucifixion and it was Africanus writing nearly 200 years after the fact that made the connection to Jesus. So the best external reference we have is actually Josephus as part of his histories, who mentions Jesus primality in passing as the founder of a Jewish sect that was [believed to have been] executed on a cross by the sect members. In short, all of these arguments have potential, but they are all circumstantial and fairly weak on their own. no reviews | add a review
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LibraryThing Early Reviewers AlumChristopher Hearn's book How Did Christianity Begin?: Hallucinations? Fabrications? Myths? Resurrection?: A Look at the Evidence was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Current DiscussionsNone
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The book's strength lies in its exploration of differing perspectives on the birth of Christianity, including theories of hallucinations, fabrications, and myths. Hearn presents these theories alongside evidence, allowing readers to critically evaluate each argument.
Despite its brevity, the book offers a comprehensive overview of the historical and theological factors shaping Christianity's beginnings. Hearn's writing is accessible yet scholarly, making it suitable for both academic and general audiences interested in the subject.
While some readers may crave more in-depth analysis on certain points, the book serves as an excellent starting point for those seeking to understand the historical context and evidential basis of Christianity's origins.
Overall, as a first book on the topic of Christian origins, How Did Christianity Begin? Hallucinations? Fabrications? Myths? Resurrection? A Look at the Evidence may be felt to be a thought-provoking exploration that invites readers to engage with the complexities of Christian history. Do study some more, but ... (