Easter and history

At Easter time we recall an historical event that, if it occurred as the gospels claim it did, was a cosmos-altering moment that demands our attention and wonder. The crucifixion and resurrection of the man from Galilee either changes world history forever, or merely represents an eccentric phenomenon of interest to historians and sociologists, but few others. Which is it?

On this page we have gathered together material that focuses on the Easter events and asks, ‘What are we to make of a 2000-year-old story that many believe holds the key to all hope, meaning and understanding?’

The New Atheists challenge the crucifixion	Can we take the resurrection seriously?	The historical and exalted Jesus
Bart Ehrman and the New Testament Documents	Doubts about Jesus and the New Testament	Christianity on the Chopping block
The heart of Christianity	Is there proof for the existence of Jesus?	Professor Martin Hengel: The Gospels as history