Can You Reconcile the Resurrection?

The Easter Challenge

I'm not even going to pretend that this idea is mine. Not at all. It's the brainchild of Rev. Dan Barker, a Fundamentalist preacher and successful Christian songwriter turned atheist. Dan works for the Freedom from Religion Foundation, and has been putting this challenge out for a long time.

I think I'll take the opportunity here to explore the idea some, but keep in mind that I am borrowing heavily from Rev. Barker's original challenge. Dan is, in my opinion, the best and most important activist and debater for atheism alive today.

Here's the deal on the challenge. Just tell me what happened. A simple narrative, starting on Sunday morning with the resurrection until Jesus appears to the disciples. Who went where, who met whom and when--just a basic rundown. I don't know about Dan's version, but I'm not even interested in what was said. Just the physical aspects.

There's just one catch. Don't leave out any biblical information. Put the four different Gospel accounts together into one coherent story, without contradicting any biblically recorded occurrence.

Rev. Barker says that out of all the people--be it audience members at debates, ministers, or priests--who promised to, not one has responded to the challenge. Realistically, I don't expect to ever get a response to this one. The biblical gymnastics one would have to do to make this all fit are just not possible.

Unlike the way that Dan presents his challenge, I'd like to give everyone an example of what this challenge is like. Let me just cover the basics from each gospel, without even going into detail.

First, facts from the Gospel of Matthew (Chap. 28):

Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" go to the tomb.
After an earthquake, an angel rolls away the stone.
The angel sits on the stone.
The soldiers guarding the grave pass out from fear.
As they leave, Jesus appears to them.
Jesus sends them to the apostles, to direct them to Galilee.
The eleven apostles meet Jesus on a hill in Galilee.

Second, facts from the Gospel of Mark (Chap. 16):

Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, and Salome go to the tomb.
The stone was already rolled away.
A young man in white was sitting inside.
He tells them to direct the apostles to Galilee.
Jesus later appears to Mary Magdalene.
Mary Magdalene tells the apostles, who are skeptical.
Jesus appears to two apostles.
These two tell the rest of the apostles, who are still skeptical.
Jesus appears to the eleven.

Third, facts from the Gospel of Luke (Chap. 24):

"The women" go to the tomb.
The stone was already rolled away.
Two men in white were standing inside.
Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Joanna, and other women tell the eleven disciples what they saw.
Peter runs to the grave, bows down, but finds nothing.
Jesus appears to two apostles in Jerusalem, but they don't recognize him.
Jesus eats with these two; they recognize him.
These two tell the rest of the apostles, who are excited.
Jesus appears to the eleven.

Finally, the facts from the Gospel of John (Chap. 20):

Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb.
The stone was already rolled away.
She runs to find Peter and another disciple.
Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the other disciple go to the grave, finding nothing.
Peter and the other disciple leave.
Mary stays to cry, and two angels appear inside the tomb.
Jesus appears behind her, gives her a message for the apostles.
Mary tells them; they stay put in Jerusalem (for fear of Jewish leaders).
Jesus appears to ten of them (minus Thomas).
Jesus appears eight days later to all eleven.

I think we can see why this is indeed an interesting challenge. You can reconcile the first part. You can say that Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James (probably the "other Mary"), Joanna, Salome, and others all went to the tomb. This does not directly contradict statements that it was Mary Magdalene, or Mary and Mary, etc. It does make them a bit suspect, though.

If you actually take up this challenge, be sure to go into detail about the "two" out in the countryside. I'm still a bit fuzzy on that one.

Judging of any submissions will be done using biblical information. I figure from the King James Version, just to make it uniform. As I said, I am not interested in specific words. However, commands, like "meet me at Galilee," are important. The meaning, not the specific wording, must be included. In any event, no one knows the exact words, and I don't know Aramaic--at least not the Nazarene dialect. ;)

You have your mission, Christians! Prove the vile atheist wrong! All I am asking is that you tell your one important story, the big one, in a way that makes sense without compromising the accuracy of the text itself. If you can do this, I'll (1) post your story here, along with (2) a public retraction of this challenge, citing my own ignorance and poor reading/reasoning ability as the real reason I put up this challenge. My public shame and your public triumph will remain here, for ever and ever, Amen.

UPDATE: I received a different kind of response to this challenge that can be found here. I do not believe I was ever in danger of public shame.

No Biblical Verses Actually Quoted.

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