People are always looking for a conspiracy theory. There is always another way to explain the situation – a “truer truth”. Just think about some of the most popular conspiracy theories that have been circulated:
- The Kennedy Assassination
- Pearl Harbor Allowed by Government
- The Moon Landing of 1969
- Shakespeare Never Existed
- Area 51 Housing UFOs
- 9/11 Performed by the US Government
- Holocaust Revisionism
- Secret Societies Control the World
- Faked Deaths: Elvis and Tupac
- AIDS is a Manmade Disease
- Aliens Built the Pyramids
Perhaps the most popular conspiracy theory of all time is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. People are constantly trying to refute the possibility that Jesus of Nazareth could have come back from the dead. Furthermore, there is not just one
Conspiracy theory – but many! Here are a few:
1. The Swoon Theory
This theory stated that Jesus did not really die – but only passed out. This would mean that the disciples saw only a resuscitated Christ. This theory explains the swoon by saying that Christ was nailed to a cross and suffered from shock, pain and loss of blood – and thus fainted from exhaustion. Therefore, when Jesus was buried, He was truly alive; then, after the three days, he revived in the coolness of the tomb and left.
This argument is easily refuted! First of all, it ignores the evidence of death, for example, that which John provides in his gospel account: “One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.” Second of all, how could a man who suffered severe beating, torture, thirst, and crucifixion simply resuscitate, roll a boulder away from his own tomb, and proceed to walk 7 miles on the road to Emmaus (amongst other travels)? It’s impossible.
2. The Hallucination Theory
This theory holds the belief that Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances were really hallucinations on behalf of the believers. Due to this “fact”, all the post-resurrection appearances can then be rejected as false.
This seems highly improbable though. After all, “he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time” (1 Corinthians 15:6) – how could they all have the exact same hallucination? On top of this, there were a number of sightings aside from this one; Jesus was sighted many times and in many places – over the course of 40 days. Is it like that so many people, in so many places, at so many different times had similar hallucinations? No.
Furthermore, such communal hallucinations would defy every accepted principle and law concerning this psychiatric phenomenon. Such laws include these: only certain kinds of people have hallucinations (and the sighting of Jesus occurred amongst many different types of people), hallucinations are linked to a person’s subconscious (yet no resurrection of Christ was part of their past), and hallucinations typically occur in a spirit of anticipation or hopeful expectation (which certainly wasn’t the case of people watching their Messiah leave).
3. The Theft Theory
This is an easy one to explain – people believe the disciples stole the body of Christ. This theory originates in the Bible itself. Check out Matthew 28:11-15:
As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.
So you mean to tell me that these nervous, afraid, country-boy disciples stole the body of Jesus from a guard of highly orderly and trained Roman soldiers while they all slept (an offense punishable by death)? And, in addition to that, you say that they stole the body, but even in their hurried state took the linen wrapping of his body and left it in the tomb – and even folded it up (John 20:5-8)? I think not.
4. Et Cetera
And on and on it goes – with many more theories. And so the refutations come just as easily. So what are we left with? Jesus really rose from the dead. Therefore, Christ really died for our sins and rose from the dead to bring us new life. Jesus of Nazareth and his actions according to the Holy Bible are the real deal!
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