The Resurrection accounts likely originated from grief-induced visions, not literal resurrection
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/by/interesting-times. "Opinion | Did Jesus Rise From the Dead? - The New York Times." April 3, 2026. www.nytimes.com
The Gist
Ehrman argues that Jesus' disciples didn't actually see him physically rise from the dead, but instead experienced powerful grief-induced hallucinations after losing their beloved teacher. These visions felt completely real to them, and they convinced others, which started Christianity.
Conclusion
The early Christian belief in Jesus' resurrection most likely originated from disciples experiencing grief-induced visions of Jesus after his death, rather than from an actual physical resurrection
Premises
- Some disciples genuinely believed they saw Jesus alive after his death
- People commonly experience visions of recently deceased loved ones, and those who have such visions are typically certain they occurred
- All resurrection narratives in the New Testament contain significant doubt traditions, suggesting uncertainty among witnesses
- The accounts describe Jesus needing 40 days and 'many proofs' to convince disciples he was alive, which wouldn't be necessary for an obvious physical presence
- Paul claimed to see Jesus despite never knowing him in life, suggesting the experience was visionary rather than based on physical recognition
- These initial believers then convinced others, leading to the spread of resurrection belief and the founding of Christianity
Assumptions
- Physical resurrection from the dead does not normally occur
- Psychological explanations for religious experiences are more plausible than supernatural ones
- The doubt traditions in biblical accounts reflect historical uncertainty rather than literary devices
- Grief-induced visions are a well-documented psychological phenomenon that can explain religious experiences