Resurrection on Trial
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Description
Resurrection on Trial: A Judicial Inquiry into the Christian Claim of the Resurrection of Jesus
Resurrection on Trial puts Christianity's central claim in a courtroom. Written in the form of a hypothetical Supreme Court opinion, the book treats the Resurrection as a factual assertion to be tried, subjects it to disciplined evidentiary standards, and renders a reasoned holding.
For 2,000 years, the bodily Resurrection of Jesus has been proclaimed from pulpits and contested in lecture halls. Resurrection on Trial does something different. It puts the claim in a courtroom.
The Witnesses: The testimony of the eyewitnesses, their credibility, and the transformation of those who claimed to have encountered the risen Jesus.
The Historical Record: The empty tomb, the early proclamation, the appearances, the conversion of skeptics and persecutors, the explosive rise of the early Church, the evidentiary weight of the Gospels, the chain of custody of the teachings, and more.
The Evidence: Each fact is considered as part of a cumulative case, asking what explanation best accounts for the record as a whole. Each opposition is carefully framed and countered.
The Alternative Explanations: Resurrection on Trial tests every alternative explanation on its merits---from conspiracy and hallucination to legend and myth---asking whether each can bear the weight of the evidence.
The Opposition Gets a Full Hearing: The opposition receives a full and fair hearing, with an entire chapter devoted to addressing the dissent and engaging the arguments of prominent modern skeptics, including Bart Ehrman, Gerd Lüdemann, and Reza Aslan.
Follow the evidence. Reach your verdict.
Resurrection on Trial invites believers and skeptics alike to examine the case for themselves.
ISBN
979-8889117216
Publication Date
9-15-2026
Publisher
Sophia Institute Press
City
Nashua, New Hampshire
Keywords
Resurrection, Jesus, evidence, trial, witnesses, Supreme Court, litigation, proof, history, Christian, Christianity, Catholic, Roman Catholic, apologetics, faith, reason, skeptics, burden of proof, verdict
Disciplines
Catholic Studies | Christianity | Epistemology | Evidence | History of Christianity | History of Religion | Judges | Jurisprudence | Law and Philosophy | Law and Society | Legal History | Litigation | Oral History | Other History | Practical Theology | Public History | Religion Law | Religious Education | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion | Social History
Recommended Citation
Martino, Peter, "Resurrection on Trial" (2026). Books (Current Faculty). 1.
https://scholarship.stu.edu/current_faculty_books/1