RESURRECTION

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RESURRECTION
1d Miracles
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JESUS RESURRECTION

• ...On the third day he rose again from the dead
  and is seated at the right hand of the Father...
• Christian creeds have all declared that Jesus did
  not stay dead after his crucifixion. For
  mainstream Christian belief, this is a fact in
  history which is of central importance. St. Paul
  famously wrote, ...if Christ has not been
  raised, then our preaching is in vain and your
  faith is in vain...
  
• 1
  Corinthians 1514

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HUMAN SIGNIFICANCE

• Not only does Christianity believe that Jesus
  Christ rose from the dead, but that this unique
  event in space-time history has huge
  implications. Like all so-called miracles in the
  New Testament, it points beyond itself. It is
  significant in a number of ways.
• Christians claim that the resurrection of Jesus
  shows that God overcomes death and that believers
  can live beyond their own death in a transformed
  existence.

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COSMIC SIGNIFICANCE

• But this is not all. The Resurrection of Jesus
  signals the belief that God will transform the
  whole of the universe. There will be a new
  heavens and a new earth (Revelation 21).
• What are we to make of these astonishing claims?
  Are they credible in a scientific age? If true,
  does the resurrection of Jesus affect our
  understanding of the nature of the universe? What
  is the nature of the dialogue between religion
  and science on this issue?

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KNOWLEDGE AND FAITH -1

• It has been fashionable, particularly since the
  work of the 18th century philosopher Immanuel
  Kant, to separate faith and knowledge.
• According to this way of thinking, science has a
  virtual monopoly on real knowledge and other
  disciplines are relegated to degrees of belief.
• Such a view claims that science can show that
  what it knows is true. Religion cannot - it has
  to exercise faith.

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KNOWLEDGE AND FAITH -2

• But fashion is a fickle thing. Few serious
  thinkers today hold to this strict division
  between science/knowledge and non-science/belief.
  Science contains beliefs, some of which are
  easier to test than others. Religion often wishes
  to talk about what it knows. The case of the
  Resurrection is interesting in that it is, if
  true, an event in history - a fact. As such it
  should be of interest to scientists, religious
  people and of course historians.

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SOME DO AND SOME DONT!

• Consider this letter posted in THE TIMES on 13
  July 1984 by 14 UK professors of science
• It is not logically valid to use science as an
  argument against miracles. To believe that
  miracles cannot happen is as much an act of faith
  as to believe that they can happen. We gladly
  accept the virgin birth, the gospel miracles, and
  the resurrection of Christ as historical events
  miracles are unprecedented events science
  (based as it is upon the observation of
  precedents) can have nothing to say on the
  subject. Its laws are only generalisations of
  our experience.

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FACTS IN SCIENCE

• Science has some deeply held beliefs about the
  nature of the universe. Theories in science must
  reflect the evidence. In the end, a theory must
  conform to the facts. Facts pull rank in the
  final analysis.
• A key question regarding our understanding of the
  resurrection has to be, Is it a fact?
• We must then ask, If the Resurrection was a
  fact, how do we interpret this in the light of
  science? Does the Resurrection affect our
  understanding of science?

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INFLUENCES ON RELIGIOUS BELIEFSIN GENERAL
BIBLE

TRADITION
EXPERIENCE
FAITH
REASON
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INFLUENCES ON BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION IN
PARTICULAR

Regarded as a reliable record of the event which
appeals to eyewitness accounts.
BIBLE
Continuity of belief traceable to the event
itself.
TRADITION
EXPERIENCE
FAITH
Millions of Christians throughout history claim
to have a relationship with the living
resurrected Jesus.
The resurrection is a pivotal event in
understanding Gods action in the world. It is a
central fact of history.
REASON
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IS SCIENCE LIKE RELIGION?

• Are there analogies in science with religion when
  it comes to why we believe something to be true?
• Are scientific textbooks like the Bible - sources
  of authority?
• Is experimentation analogous to experience?
• Science clearly reasons about things.
• Is there a tradition in science which affects
  scientific understanding?

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Is there sufficient evidence to persuade you that
the Resurrection is a historical fact worthy of
serious consideration?
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There are some scientists who believe in the
Resurrection and others who do not. Is science as
such got anything to say on this issue?
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What is the evidence used by those arguing for or
against belief in the Resurrection? What
convinces some for and some against?
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Can science deal with what is regarded as an
unprecedented and unique event in history?