Parapsychology, Hallucinations, Collective Delusions, and Jesus’ Post-Resurrection Appearances: A Response to Glenn Siniscalchi

After a brief outline of Glenn Siniscalchi’s apology for the traditional approach to the post-resurrection appearances, I examine his particular view that any attempt to compare the appearances of Jesus with the various apparitions discussed by parapsychologists is doomed to failure. Siniscalchi sta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal for the study of the historical Jesus
Main Author: Smith, Stephen Harry 1951- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2023
In: Journal for the study of the historical Jesus
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Jesus Christus / Resurrection / Hallucination / Deception
RelBib Classification:CA Christianity
HC New Testament
NBA Dogmatics
VA Philosophy
Further subjects:B Apparitions
B Siniscalchi
B Hallucinations
B post-resurrection appearances
B collective delusions
B Parapsychology
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Summary:After a brief outline of Glenn Siniscalchi’s apology for the traditional approach to the post-resurrection appearances, I examine his particular view that any attempt to compare the appearances of Jesus with the various apparitions discussed by parapsychologists is doomed to failure. Siniscalchi states, correctly, that the only category of apparitions worthy of consideration at all is the ‘post-mortem apparition’. However, some of the suggested differences between these and the appearances of Jesus seem somewhat banal, and are not as significant as they are made out to be. My suggestion is that some form of hypothesis coupling hallucinations with collective delusions would explain both individual and collective post-resurrection appearances, and serve as a viable alternative to the traditional evangelical view.
ISSN:1745-5197
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the historical Jesus
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/17455197-bja10024