Casey writes about his objection to the argument that video games influence violence. Maybe there could be a world where reality became a video game...much like Tron, and the plot could be about when the people return from the game, you focus on how their behavior has altered from when they were without tha game.
Alexandria writes about teenage sex, maybe she could write about a girl who is very clean. She wears white everyday and is organized etc. But her peers pressure her to dirty herself up, they pressure her to not be afriad to stain her white shirt...White being the girls innocence, and the dirtiness being her purity...
Browinski writes about affirmitive action. What if there was a world where mexicans and minorities ruled?
Friday, January 7, 2011
Monday, December 13, 2010
Jesus' Blog
Michael Rea
SLCC Period 5
Doc. Zerwin
1 December 2010
The Greatest Miracle in History or the Biggest Hoax ?
Many, if not all Americans have heard the christian stories of Jesus Christ. How he was born into this world to two people, Mary and Joseph, and that this day is now celebrated as Christmas. Most people should be familiar with his ministry of the day, his travels and maybe even some of his sermons. Jesus’ story is not one that people are completely oblivious too. His miracles, sermons and travels are important but the most important event that involved Jesus was the resurrection. Nothing in the christian religion is more important than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This single event in history marks the essential basis of an entire belief system. The disciple Paul said it himself, “ If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are in your sins (Moore). The resurrection is establishing itself in the historical world as truth. Many historians and philosophers cannot find ways to disprove the idea that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. As for any controversial topic there are many theories against the resurrection, but the caliber and validity of the disputes range between fathomable and completely ludicrous. The fact is that there are so many “What if” possibilities that can be used to disprove the resurrection, but the history along with the evidence proves that these disputes can only be “what if” questions and nothing more.
Among the many counter arguments that are being made against the mysterious happenings of the resurrection, perhaps the most ignorant and naive of them asks the question, “What if they all had been at the wrong tomb?” In fact a man by the name of Kirsopp Lake is an individual searching for alternative explanations to the resurrection. His research and personal opinion led him to believe that there could have been a mistake with the location of the tomb that Jesus was buried in. His argument is that Mary and Mary Magdalene, had traveled to the wrong location. Not only would the women have gone to the wrong tomb, but the hundreds of people after them that came to mourn. It doesn’t end there! The twelve disciples themselves would have had to arrived at the wrong tomb also(Moore)! The best friends of Jesus! I’m sorry Mr. Lake, the evidence is heavily against you. The body of Jesus Christ would have been transported directly to the designated tomb by roman guards. Transportation of the body would have attracted a crowd of people, and the body being placed inside the tomb would have been witnessed by many. The tomb would have been marked by a roman seal that would have been recognized by all people in those days as a warning to robbers and was used as visual representation that the tomb had importance. Directly in front of the stone resting place would be one or more roman guards whose duty was to protect the tomb (Gardner). These guards had to be aware of the important content that lied within. These men were stationed in front of the tomb at all times. Their job was to protect the tomb of Jesus. They were ordered to keep track of the resting place, you would think that even the highest authorities were also aware of the whereabouts. The Jewish leaders, like the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Sanhedrin, and the authorities of Rome could not have been so ignorant and careless. These men would have taken special care of this tomb. They would have gone to great lengths to ensure they knew which one he was in and that there was no way anything was going to get in or out (McDowell and Moore). Essentially, within context of the situation, very meticulous steps would have been taken by hundreds to assure that they all were at the correct tomb. There were too many people that would have known the exact location, and those people wouldn’t let others visit the wrong tomb.
Another claim to invalidate the resurrection is a tad more plausible. Claims have been made that the body of Jesus Christ was actually stolen. Could this be what actually happened? Well, it certainly explains the empty status of the tomb, but why would the body be stolen? And how would it even be possible? Who would have stolen it? Answers to these questions have been attempted to be answered, and every possible answer can be countered with the truth. A theory can be derived from Matthew 28:11-15, the scripture says that the guards who were in front of the tomb “returned to the city and reported to the chief priest everything that had happened (Gardner).” The scripture goes on to explain how the chief priests discussed a plan that would frame the disciples. The guards were payed to say that they had fallen asleep and the disciples stole the body when they were unaware. It becomes clear that if this scripture is read with the intention to disprove the resurrection,one can manipulate the text to be read as saying that the guards said the disciples stole the body while they were sleeping.Unfortunately for those with that intention, this scripture is very clear about the plan and what the guards were payed to say (Little). Also, what incentive would the disciples have that would drive them to steal the body? The disciples in the history of Jesus’ life have proven themselves scared and fearful of the Romans, and if they had stolen the body the Romans would have been the first to find out. The roman empire would have sent out their finest to go and find the people responsible for the crime, and execution would have been the immediate punishment. Taking a risk like that and going against every moral fiber they possessed was not something the disciples would have done. Their fear of the Roman and Jewish authority would have ultimately scared them out of attempting such a feat (McDowell). An argument parallel to the earlier possibility would be that greed-motivated robbers would have taken the body. For similar reasons this would not have happened. Thieves would be running the risk of immediate execution if caught. And what would be the main motive for someone to attempt a heist like this? The robbers would have had to overcome trained professional Roman guards, they would then have to move a stone that could have weighed anywhere from one to two tons that would have been sealed! A stone that large cannot be moved easily, it would have required a system of pulleys, rope and a channeled path for the stone to follow. How many robbers does it take to move a two ton stone? All humor aside, this rock could not have been moved without a large number of strong men (Moore). Once the thieves were in the tomb things were no easier. The body of Jesus would have been wrapped with 75-100 pounds of linen and spices. These garments were left in the tomb and were still in the shape of Jesus’ body. Garments can’t be re-organized to create what was a cocoon of a body that was no longer there. Anyways, if thieves had taken the body they would have taken the garments as well because those linens would have made a good sum of money (Little).
SLCC Period 5
Doc. Zerwin
1 December 2010
The Greatest Miracle in History or the Biggest Hoax ?
Many, if not all Americans have heard the christian stories of Jesus Christ. How he was born into this world to two people, Mary and Joseph, and that this day is now celebrated as Christmas. Most people should be familiar with his ministry of the day, his travels and maybe even some of his sermons. Jesus’ story is not one that people are completely oblivious too. His miracles, sermons and travels are important but the most important event that involved Jesus was the resurrection. Nothing in the christian religion is more important than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This single event in history marks the essential basis of an entire belief system. The disciple Paul said it himself, “ If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are in your sins (Moore). The resurrection is establishing itself in the historical world as truth. Many historians and philosophers cannot find ways to disprove the idea that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. As for any controversial topic there are many theories against the resurrection, but the caliber and validity of the disputes range between fathomable and completely ludicrous. The fact is that there are so many “What if” possibilities that can be used to disprove the resurrection, but the history along with the evidence proves that these disputes can only be “what if” questions and nothing more.
Among the many counter arguments that are being made against the mysterious happenings of the resurrection, perhaps the most ignorant and naive of them asks the question, “What if they all had been at the wrong tomb?” In fact a man by the name of Kirsopp Lake is an individual searching for alternative explanations to the resurrection. His research and personal opinion led him to believe that there could have been a mistake with the location of the tomb that Jesus was buried in. His argument is that Mary and Mary Magdalene, had traveled to the wrong location. Not only would the women have gone to the wrong tomb, but the hundreds of people after them that came to mourn. It doesn’t end there! The twelve disciples themselves would have had to arrived at the wrong tomb also(Moore)! The best friends of Jesus! I’m sorry Mr. Lake, the evidence is heavily against you. The body of Jesus Christ would have been transported directly to the designated tomb by roman guards. Transportation of the body would have attracted a crowd of people, and the body being placed inside the tomb would have been witnessed by many. The tomb would have been marked by a roman seal that would have been recognized by all people in those days as a warning to robbers and was used as visual representation that the tomb had importance. Directly in front of the stone resting place would be one or more roman guards whose duty was to protect the tomb (Gardner). These guards had to be aware of the important content that lied within. These men were stationed in front of the tomb at all times. Their job was to protect the tomb of Jesus. They were ordered to keep track of the resting place, you would think that even the highest authorities were also aware of the whereabouts. The Jewish leaders, like the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Sanhedrin, and the authorities of Rome could not have been so ignorant and careless. These men would have taken special care of this tomb. They would have gone to great lengths to ensure they knew which one he was in and that there was no way anything was going to get in or out (McDowell and Moore). Essentially, within context of the situation, very meticulous steps would have been taken by hundreds to assure that they all were at the correct tomb. There were too many people that would have known the exact location, and those people wouldn’t let others visit the wrong tomb.
Another claim to invalidate the resurrection is a tad more plausible. Claims have been made that the body of Jesus Christ was actually stolen. Could this be what actually happened? Well, it certainly explains the empty status of the tomb, but why would the body be stolen? And how would it even be possible? Who would have stolen it? Answers to these questions have been attempted to be answered, and every possible answer can be countered with the truth. A theory can be derived from Matthew 28:11-15, the scripture says that the guards who were in front of the tomb “returned to the city and reported to the chief priest everything that had happened (Gardner).” The scripture goes on to explain how the chief priests discussed a plan that would frame the disciples. The guards were payed to say that they had fallen asleep and the disciples stole the body when they were unaware. It becomes clear that if this scripture is read with the intention to disprove the resurrection,one can manipulate the text to be read as saying that the guards said the disciples stole the body while they were sleeping.Unfortunately for those with that intention, this scripture is very clear about the plan and what the guards were payed to say (Little). Also, what incentive would the disciples have that would drive them to steal the body? The disciples in the history of Jesus’ life have proven themselves scared and fearful of the Romans, and if they had stolen the body the Romans would have been the first to find out. The roman empire would have sent out their finest to go and find the people responsible for the crime, and execution would have been the immediate punishment. Taking a risk like that and going against every moral fiber they possessed was not something the disciples would have done. Their fear of the Roman and Jewish authority would have ultimately scared them out of attempting such a feat (McDowell). An argument parallel to the earlier possibility would be that greed-motivated robbers would have taken the body. For similar reasons this would not have happened. Thieves would be running the risk of immediate execution if caught. And what would be the main motive for someone to attempt a heist like this? The robbers would have had to overcome trained professional Roman guards, they would then have to move a stone that could have weighed anywhere from one to two tons that would have been sealed! A stone that large cannot be moved easily, it would have required a system of pulleys, rope and a channeled path for the stone to follow. How many robbers does it take to move a two ton stone? All humor aside, this rock could not have been moved without a large number of strong men (Moore). Once the thieves were in the tomb things were no easier. The body of Jesus would have been wrapped with 75-100 pounds of linen and spices. These garments were left in the tomb and were still in the shape of Jesus’ body. Garments can’t be re-organized to create what was a cocoon of a body that was no longer there. Anyways, if thieves had taken the body they would have taken the garments as well because those linens would have made a good sum of money (Little).
Could Jesus have survived the physical torture that he was faced with? According to the skeptics, they claim that he in fact did survive. Lee strobel in his book The Case For Christ, starts his chapter on the resurrection with the subtitle “Resurrection or Resuscitation?” Skeptics of the resurrection Lee strobel in his book The Case For Christ, starts a chapter on the resurrection with the subtitle “Resurrection or Resuscitation?” This title is pertaining to skeptics of the resurrection introducing a hypothesis called “The Swoon Theory.” Supporters of this theory argue that Jesus didn’t die; rather he entered a state of comatose from the overwhelming pain and exhaustion. When the unconscious body of Jesus was placed inside the tomb, the three days of the cold damp air inside gave him what he needed to snap out of his current state. After he awoke he got up and escaped the tomb. Now take a second to ponder the probability of this explanation. Based on common knowledge that is known about the crucifixion, this theory has huge holes in the validity. When Jesus was handed over to the Romans by the disciple Job no time was wasted to torture Jesus. After the public humiliation and beatings he received by walking through the town, he was taken and tried by Pilate. After he was sentenced to be killed he was taken to be flogged. In the days of Jesus, the Romans had perfected the art of execution. They knew how to kill, and how to do it well (Moore). One of their methods was in fact flogging. They had crafted a weapon called “The Cat of Nine Tails.” What it was was the everyday whip with a few new accessories. Romans would take shards of glass, broken clay, broken metal, and large rocks and they would attach these items to the ends of the leather on whip. Ideally the rocks would beat and tenderize the skin while the glass and clay would tear the skin. The metal pieces usually looked like the letter “L”. The tip of the metal would anchor into the skin and would rip the skin mercilessly. Historically a man who received this punishment would receive 40 lashes. Soon the Romans discovered that 40 would usually kill the victim before the lashings were over. So they sympathetically reduced the number to 39 lashings. After Jesus endured this horrific torture, he was given a purple robe and a crown of thorns to indicate his “royalty”. He was given a cross to carry, and was forced to walk through the city once again. On his way to the hilltop where he was to be crucified, he had to persevere through another wave of public humiliation and beatings. Once they reached their destination, Jesus was placed on the cross and the nails were hammered through his hands and feet. His cross was raised and there he hung. Hanging on a cross was a slow and painful death. Asphyxiation would have been the cause of death. Breathing required the victim to push their body up to relieve the pressure on the chest, and to exhale they would have to ease their muscles and go down. The energy required to do such an arduous task quickly depleted causing the victim to succumb to the exhaustion and eventually suffocate (Strobel).
Consider now what he has already been through, the beatings, the flogging, the second wave of beatings, carrying a coarse and splinter covered cross, the nailing and even the raising of the cross. Keeping all that in mind, due to the circumstances Jesus had to be close to death. In Matthew 27:50, it says, “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.” It was here that Jesus died. But skeptics overlook this! The next thing that happened to him was that Jesus’ side was pierced with a spear to assure death. In Mr. Strobel’s book, he interviews a man named Alexander Metherell,M.D., PH.D. Strobel asks about the spear piercing Jesus and Metherell explains a very detailed explanation of what his research leads him to believe. “The spear apparently went through the right lung and into the heart, so when the spear was pulled out, some fluid- the pericardial effusion and the pleural effusion-came out. This would have the appearance of a clear fluid, like water, followed by a large volume of blood, as the eyewitness John described in his gospel.” This examination provides insight on the highest medical level. The spear pierced the heart according to this source. No man could have survived a spear to the heart. Finally inside the tomb, the tattered body of Jesus was wrapped in 75 pounds of linen and spice. Enough weight to put a strain on the breathing of someone. “And it is unthinkable that the battered and beleaguered Jesus could have thrown back the stone, walked into town, and convinced the troops he was the living Lord. (Moore).” It would take more faith to believe in the swoon theory than to believe in the resurrection.
The facts are there. Every counter point to the truth can be countered right back. The truth is evident. Jesus’ resurrection is only explainable by miracle. There can be no scientific or valid historical debate against it! It either happened or it didn’t. Proof is abundant. Jesus’ tomb could not have been mistaken. His body being stolen is an incredulous statement with no evidence to back it up. The swoon theory is an ignorant and hollow claim, which with research, is easily disproved. Overwhelming proof has been presented and the truth seems to show itself. Works Cited
Gardner, Lynn. Christianity Stands True: a Common Sense Look at the Evidence. Joplin, MO: College, 1994. Print.
Little, Paul E. "Did Christ Rise from the Dead?" Know Why You Believe. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2000. 47-57. Print.
McDowell, Josh. "Evidence for the Resurrection." Leadership University. Web. 02 Dec. 2010. <http://www.leaderu.com/everystudent/easter/articles/josh2.html>.
McDowell, Josh. The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict. Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1999. Print.
Moore, Mark E., and Mark Scott. "Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?" A Humble Defense ; Evidence for the Christian Faith: a Special Tribute Honoring Dr, Lynn Gardner. Joplin, MO: College Pub., 2004. 145-57. Print.
Strobel, Lee. The Case for Christ: a Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998. Print.
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