Jesus: Dead or Alive? A Lawyerʼs view of the evidence for the Resurrection

Have you noticed that in recent years it seems that we now have two major mainstream religious holidays in Australia? I exclude Christmas, of course- hardly any Australians see any religious significance in that any more! But to some extent Easter is seen as still having some religious significance. The other holiday, though, which is really overtaking Easter as a “religious ” holiday, is Anzac Day. This is increasingly becoming the day of the year when shops are shut- at least in the mornings. It is the day when crowds attend “religious ” services. In fact, there are some interesting similarities between the two holidays we are celebrating. On both occasions we remember an event that involved a heroic sacrifice, which is said to have ongoing consequences today. Anzac Day we remember, of course, not as a victory, but simply because so many Australians were prepared to lay down their lives for their country. Similarly, Jesus ’ death on the cross is seen as a sacrifice for the benefit of others. The key similarity I want to mention today, however, is this: that both Anzac Day and Easter Day are based on specific, verifiable, historical events. Of course, bein