Alternative Naturalistic Theories #5: Hallucinations Hallucinations This theory
states that all of Jesus’ appearances to eyewitnesses were only hallucinations. Problems: 1. Those
who preached the resurrection insisted repeatedly that Jesus was bodily raised
from the dead (see Acts 2:32, but there are many references). 2. This
theory contradicts certain laws and principles to which psychiatrists say
visions must conform. W. Corduan writes, “The problem with this theory is that,
in the case of the Resurrection appearances, everything we know about
hallucinations is violated. The appearances did not follow the patterns always
present in hallucinations, for hallucinations are private and arise out of a
state of extreme emotional instability in which the hallucination functions as
a sort of wish-fulfillment. What occurred after the Resurrection was very
different. The disciples had little trouble accepting Christ’s departure; they
decided to go back to their fishing. The appearances came as surprises while
the disciples were intent on other things. Most importantly, the appearances
came to groups of people, with each member seeing the same thing. That
is simply not how hallucinations work. Thus the Resurrection appearances could
not have been hallucinations (W. Corduan. No Doubt About It: The Case for
Christianity. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997) |
