The idea among some modern Catholics and other Christians that the Resurrection can be explained away as not miraculous is beyond absurd. The preaching of the Resurrection by people who had seen Christ after His death on the Cross, or who had listened to people who had seen Him, is what caused the Faith to spread around the Mediterranean and beyond in one generation. Saint Paul, as always, hit the nail on the head:
[12] Now if Christ be preached, that he arose again from the dead, how do some among you say, that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen again. [14] And if Christ be not risen again, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. … [15] Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God: because we have given testimony against God, that he hath raised up Christ; whom he hath not raised up, if the dead rise not again.
… [16] For if the dead rise not again, neither is Christ risen again. … [17] And if Christ be not risen again, your faith is vain, for you are yet in your sins. … [18] Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ, are perished. … [19] If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. … [20] But now Christ is risen from the dead, the firstfruits of them that sleep:
1 Corinthians 15: 12-20
If you don’t believe in the Resurrection you are not a follower of Christ.
It was after reading ‘Who Moved the Stone” some 29 years ago that I became convinced the Resurrection was real, and therefore I should become a Catholic. Without the reality of the Resurrection, and that Jesus is the Son of God (and man), Christianity would not even be a religion, only another self-help code.
only another self-help code.
Well said Bob.
Bob, that was an important book for me as well.
Another good one is “The Third Day”by Arnold Lunn originally published in 1945