Question for Atheists/Agnostics, about the body of Jesus?

Question

One of the foundations of Christianity is that Jesus rose into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). They contend that the body of Jesus was never found.
Now, this James Carmeron thing on Discovery, I don't think its the same Jesus I think its a rateing hoax.
But it has prompted the question about the body of Jesus.

Here is my question, even thou the body of Jesus wasn't found back 2000 years ago, it doesn't prove that it dissappeared and went into heaven does it? Its possible that someone hid the body and it was never found, isn't that a possibility?

What do you think? Since I'm an atheist the Acts 1:9-11 story to me is fiction and just not a real possibility.

Is there something wrong with the logic in my thought process?

Just because there isn't a "body of Jesus" that was ever found, doesn't mean it "went into heaven" does it?

Answer 1

Nope, Jim - your thought process is right on. It's definitely the fundamental difference between the believer and the non-believer - the believer takes what's provided to them (in this case, the story of the resurrection) based on faith, and the non-believer will not accept those ideas without proof. And neither side can understand the rationale of the other.

About Jesus' body ascending into Heaven...I, most definitely, don't believe it. As a non-believer, I want proof and I have no idea how that could be provided to me.

Answer 2

You're asking about ancient history. There are too many variables.

If Jesus is indeed the son of God, then it's possible that the events of 33 AD are simply unexplainable.

There are a lot of mundane reasons, but they won't help out much if we don't know what's going on. The body could have been moved. The records of his burial could have been destroyed. The disciples all agreed to pass down different accounts. And so on.

I'm not even convinced that Jesus was a real person. There has been no supporting evidence of his existence at the time he was purported to live. The only supporting documentation were written AFTER his death. Perhaps these bones may provide proof that Jesus actually did live. Maybe it's just a hoax, as you say.

People disappear all the time. The first thought that comes to mind is not that such-and-such ascended to Heaven. After all, no one thinks that Jimmy Hoffa ascended to Heaven.

Answer 3

Hello Jim,

I am not an Atheist or Agnostic.

But I would like to answer. Not with quotes either.

Question:

If the story is correct, and the body of Jesus was placed in the tomb. Then the tomb was sealed. Also by request of the Sadducee's and Pharisee's, Roman Centurion's were posted at the tomb;

"Who could possibly steal the body of Jesus?"

Not that I have gone out of my way to test the USA's military and tried to sneak into a military establishment. But if I did, would I not be caught right away?

So assuming Roman Centurion's were posted at the tomb, would it be impossible to steal the body of Jesus?

Just some questions to think on.

Answer 4

1. Maybe it was burned. Didn't the Romans burn their dead? It IS very possible that it was stolen, though.
2. There is nothing wrong with that logic... it makes way more sense than his body rising to heaven...
3. I'm thinking the "body went to heaven" was probably a way of keeping people from questioning why there was never a body found.

Now that the coffee is finally kicking in (yuk- splenda tastes like chemicals) I can be a little more serious :)

Answer 5

This calls for a job from the newly-appointed Minister of Logic.

...wait, that's me.

No, Jim, there's nothing wrong with your thought process... you also have to remember, that Acts refers to the gospels. There are 4 separate and incredibly contradictory accounts of who was there at the tomb.
Not to mention that this entire story is a mirror of the Mithras myth.

Possibilities:
1. The Roman guards took the body out to bury him with his family.
2. His body was never placed in the tomb in the first place.
3. Someone ELSE pulled him out of the tomb... probably a loyal follower to perpetuate the idea that his "body rose to heaven".

There are any number of possibilities here. Your last statement in this question is correct. Plenty of people throughout history have had their bodies gone missing... more often than not, they spawn cold cases, not religious fervor.

Answer 6

Well, in this case it isn't proof or disproof. For It to be one way or another we'd need a verified tomb of Christ, as it stands now, we have a location/temple that was built 400 years later for a visiting dignitary, with no archaeological evidence at all.

If we had the actual tomb, we would have 2 cases, either the body was there or not. In the case the body was there... well that speaks for itself. In the case not, we'd still have little proof as it may have been robbed in the following 2000 years or the disciples may have taken the body or he might have been resurrected.

In any case not having a body is not sufficient proof.

Answer 7

Well that's pretty much what an Atheist has to believe. Jesus was secretly buried and has never been found. If Jesus' body had been found, then the 1st century Christians would have had no argument.

One thing to consider, if Jesus never rose from the dead, where did the disciples find the strength and encouragement to start the Church? Jesus dies, disciples distraught and depressed (They should be, Jesus just died before their eyes), but something major happened for them to suddenly be overjoyed to tell everyone about Jesus. Hmmm....

Answer 8

i think you have a good point. i read an article in Newsweek about that today...and it shows that the alleged body of Jesus is in a box, just like they buried thousands of other people in that time. Wouldn't Jesus have a special burial? Also, the article said there have been thousands of those tombs unearthed in the last 100 years during the constructional revolution in Jerusalem. My question is...how do they KNOW this is Jesus's tomb and not some random person's?? The article did not clearly state that. Myself, I don't believe it.

Answer 9

There's precious little reason to believe the Jesus of the Bible ever existed at all, but if he did then his remains must be lying around somewhere - I just don't think there's the slightest possibility of identifying such remains today, so the latest story is bound to be nonsense. I'm not even interested enough to have read anything about it yet.

Answer 10

Well it my just be me but if the body of jesus did go into heaven wouldnt that mean he could still die agian? The theory is that the souls of people go to heaven...so why would the body of jesus (son of god or not) not be on earth...I am sure it has something to do with the bible..never got around to reading it. (tried once was relly boring)