There is a strong movement within Christendom to question the Bible (Higher Criticism), and specifically question fundamental Christian givens, such as the Virgin Birth and the Death-and-Resurrection of Christ, and other similar metaphysical wonders recorded in Scripture.
The main protestant denomination in South Africa is the Dutch Reformed Church, commonly referred to as the N.G. Kerk (“Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk”). A recent (2007) documentary exposes how leading professors within the N.G. Kerk and many other denominations deny the death and literal resurrection of Christ. This includes the internationally known Archbishop Desmond Tutu (of the Anglican Church).
St. Paul warned: “…if Christ is not raised, your faith is foolish; you are yet in your sins. Then also those that fell asleep in Christ were lost. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are all men most miserable. But now Christ has risen from the death, and has become the firstfruit of those who slept” (1 Corinthians 15:17-20).
The Christian faith would be “foolish” and “miserable” if Christ did not literally rise from the dead.
I think part of the reason for such questioning lies in the pagan dogma of the innate immortality of the soul, adhered to by most of Christendom. If one believes that at death a thinking rational soul separates from the body and goes to heaven (or hell), then why is a physical literal resurrection necessary – not only of Christ, but of anyone?
However, the Bible does teach of a physical resurrection. Christ being the “firstfruit of those who slept”.
The unbiblical idea of an innate immortal soul is leading to other unbiblical theories such as “The Historic Jesus” and the “Jesus Seminar”, which propagate ideas such as that Jesus did not die at the cross, but married Mary Magdalene and other such fantasies.
When people cling to unbiblical doctrines (like the innate immortality of the soul) it is inevitable that they will come up with other false theories to uphold the silliness they already adhere to.
