Resurrection speculation

How are we to understand the Resurrection?

Jesus actually rose from the dead. This has been offered as the most plausible explanation for how his band of followers transformed from a downcast, defeated movement mourning their slain leader to an ebullient and inspired set of apostles preaching the good news. How else would you explain it?

Actually, I’ve never felt a need to explain it. I wasn’t there. I don’t know what happened. Don’t need to know. But now I have a guess as to what might have happened: Shared psychosis. It’s uncommon, but more common than people rising from the dead. And we have a real life model that has unfolded over the past twelve months.

Let’s set up the sequence of events:

  1. A group of people shares a passionate belief in a savior figure.
  2. The savior figure suffers a catastrophic loss, thus failing to deliver on the group’s expectations of salvation.
  3. Rather than accept defeat, the group invents a new narrative. The savior figure did not fail. He is still with us in power. The group believes this fervently. [Shared psychosis.]
  4. The world is uncooperative. The savior figure, believed to be still in power, is still not delivering.
  5. The narrative continues to change. The savior figure will be restored at a certain date in the near future. The savior figure will be restored at an uncertain date in the future. And so on.

Here’s how that has unfolded in the past twelve months:

  1. The QAnon faithful believe Donald Trump will save America from a satan-worshipping pedophile ring.
  2. Trump loses re-election to Joe Biden. [Catastrophic loss.]
  3. Word emerges that Trump actually still is President and is actively commanding the armed forces. The faithful believe. [Shared psychosis.]
  4. There is no outward sign that Trump is actually commanding the armed forces.
  5. A date in March is set for Trump’s reinstatement. March comes and goes. A date in  August is set for Trump’s reinstatement. August comes and goes. It will happen sometime in the future.

Here’s how that may have unfolded 2,000 years ago.

  1. Jesus’ band of followers believe he is the Messiah–spiritually and/or politically.
  2. Jesus is executed. [Catastrophic loss.]
  3. Rather than accept the shattering of their hopes and beliefs, his followers “see” the risen Messiah. They believe. [Shared psychosis.]
  4. There is no outward sign that Jesus is in control, either spiritually or politically.
  5. Jesus’ “return” is predicted “within our generation.” Nothing happens. A new date is set. Nothing happens. Jesus’ return continues to be just around the corner for the next 2,000 years.

Now, I am under no illusion that the observed QAnon shared psychosis in any way proves or demonstrates that the Resurrection was also a shared psychosis. Like I said, I wasn’t there; I don’t know what happened. But I do think the parallels are uncanny. And given a choice between an explanation that violates iron biological laws vs. an explanation that is consistent with an observed phenomenon, I think Occam’s razor favors the latter. 

What do you think? Christianity happened–that much is fact. How did it happen? Bodily resurrection? Shared psychosis? Something else? 

(Note: If they can sing the Hallelujah Chorus at Christmastime, I darn well can post an OP on the resurrection at Christmastime!)