The Hallucination Hypothesis and the Resurrection

More than two billion people believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that he was seen alive in a real, physical body--not just as a hallucination, a dream, or a vision. The main Gospel accounts and Acts say plainly that men and women met the risen Jesus. Still, many skeptics and followers of other religions question the resurrection appearances. Most agree, however, that something unusual took place. What exactly happened is the center of ongoing debate. One of the oldest and most discussed challenges is the Hallucination Hypothesis. This book, The Hallucination Hypothesis and the Resurrection: A Comprehensive Review, takes a close look at this debate from both religious and skeptical viewpoints. For the first time, an entire text provides a comprehensive overview of the subject. It brings together the main arguments from both sides and provides a clear summary of the issue. The book draws on research from areas like Christian apologetics, Bible commentary, theology, cognitive science, neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, sociology, and cultural/psychological anthropology. Readers are invited to weigh the evidence and think carefully about the different perspectives.