Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: MNHCC@cunyvm.bitnet Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Attempts to Prove the Resurrection Message-ID: Date: 26 May 91 05:32:04 GMT Article-I.D.: athos.May.26.01.32.03.1991.13252 Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center Lines: 15 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Tom, The idea that Pilate faked the Resurrection to teach the Jewish leaders, who had pressured him into approving the Crucifixion, a lesson doesn't work. Pilate went along with the Crucifixion because he wanted to keep things quiet. A disappearance of the body could only stir up the people, as indeed it did. (The people were even more stirred up by the appearances of Jesus after the Resurrection, and by the working of the Holy Spirit, but that does not affect the basic point.) Furthermore, after Pentecost the Apostles proclaimed the Resurrection of Jesus, causing a lot of disorder. If Pilate had moved the body he would then have produced it to quiet things down. You are correct in saying that if the Apostles were going to invent a Resurrection they would probably have described the scene. Marty Helgesen