1st Corinthians, chapter 15, it is stated that more than 500 persons saw Jesus some time after Resurrection

[Multicolored Lemur]

Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 15 - King James Version

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also...

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3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas [Peter], then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8 And last of all he was seen of me [Paul] also, as of one born out of due time.

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Even though I am no longer a believer, and I was a very strong believer as a teenager,

I value honest conversations.

This is probably the biggest claim of a post-Resurrection Jesus, at least as far as crowd size. And I’m happy to put it out there for everyone’s consideration.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

This is probably the biggest claim of a post-Resurrection Jesus, at least as far as crowd size. And I’m happy to put it out there for everyone’s consideration.

I accept that the believed that Jesus resurrected not only because of what they said but also what they did. These disciples and witnesses were willing to suffer and die for their belief. No rational person would die willingly for a lie.

Another aspect this deals with is in confirming that Jesus's resurrection was 'physical' as opposed to spiritual or subjective. Jesus appearing to Paul for instance seemed more spiritual because he just saw a bright light, and those with Paul did not witness everything that Paul did. But to make an appearance where 500 people can see you "at once" would have to be something physical.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

I’m going to put a lot of weight on grief hallucinations. Someone who’s lost a loved one, especially a spouse, often sees them or hears them or feels their presence. This is something like 30% of people who have lost a spouse, or higher.

I’m not going to put much weight on group hypnosis. Although if we really want to argue on points, we could talk about such things as “Our Lady of Fatima” in Portugal in 1917. Believing three children had seen Mary, thousands of people gathered in a field. They seemed to stare at the Sun [always a dangerous occupation], and different people saw different things, including the Sun momentarily getting closer.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

I’m going to put a lot of weight on grief hallucinations. Someone who’s lost a loved one, especially a spouse, often sees them or hears them or feels their presence. This is something like 30% of people who have lost a spouse, or higher.

I’m not going to put much weight on group hypnosis. Although if we really want to argue on points, we could talk about such things as “Our Lady of Fatima” in Portugal in 1917. Believing three children had seen Mary, thousands of people gathered in a field. They seemed to stare at the Sun [always a dangerous occupation], and different people saw different things, including the Sun momentarily getting closer.

If we accept the details about Jesus' post-mortem appearances as written, I would say that they are too elaborate to fall under the category of a hallucination. Let's take Acts 1:3-4 for instance,

3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

As written, it seems that the disciples took steps to verify that Jesus was alive or was who he said he was which is sort of similar to what occurred in the doubting Thomas story. If someone wants to dispute the accuracy or authenticity of the details, then that's another matter.

Jesus's appearance to the apostle Paul comes off to me as an hallucination, although I'm open o the idea that it could've been a spiritual experience of some sort.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

If we accept the details about Jesus' post-mortem appearances as written, I would say that they are too elaborate to fall under the category of a hallucination.

I agree. Which is why I wish I had written grief hallucinations + urban legend.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

When I was an evangelical Christian, I often read the Upper Room entry for that day.

It had a verse or two of scripture, a medium-sized page and a half discussion, and then a suggested prayer.

I often read this even before I got out of bed in the morning.

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And it worked. It gave my day a positive footing and a positive flow.

What didn’t work as well was if I tried to read more than one chapter in the Bible.

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and after a while, The Upper Room didn’t address my issues, such as . . .

nagging worries that I wasn’t doing it right, and

continual sexual sin, meaning masturbation. I later read Christian leader James Dobson who basically said, I don’t want to disagree with your parents or religious leaders, but I’ve seen too many young people racked with guilt over masturbation. It won’t hurt your relationship with God, please don’t worry about it so much.
I wish I would have read Dobson earlier.

I still would have left the church, but I would have had less guilt along the way.

 

[Scooter]

and after a while, The Upper Room didn’t address my issues, such as . . .

nagging worries that I wasn’t doing it right

What you experienced is the same thing most Christians experience. This is where proper discipling is important. The truth is none of us can get it right. As long as we are in these mortal bodies, we’re going to struggle with sin. We all do. Even the Apostle Paul struggled with sin:
Romans 7:
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

7 . . . but what I hate, that do I.

a little hardcore for mere masturbation!

 

[Scooter]

When you understand how offensive sin is to God, then even the sins mankind considers small, hurts the heart of the believer.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

When you understand how offensive sin is to God, then even the sins mankind considers small,

I think this is one contributing factor of why churches of all stripes tend to cover up sexual abuse.

They lump it all together as sex. Or, they talk about a “sex scandal” rather than an “abuse scandal,” etc.