[stuartcr]

Look, we're talking about the only human in the history of mankind that has claimed to come back from the dead. This is not in the same league as when some ancient battle was fought, or some king ruled. Please tell me what is as realistic as resurrection. We have battles today, we have rulers today, we have historical events that are at least believable. What is so believable about rising from the dead?

[L,TOWM]

Look, we're talking about the only human in the history of mankind that has claimed to come back from the dead.

Correct. In a millieau of MANY who have claimed to be somebody; who have shouted 'Follow Me God!' It would take something pretty extraordinary for the ONE who actually was'nt nuts or lying to put his claim on the unique level it needed to be, now would'nt it?

Please tell me what is as realistic as resurrection.

As realistic as a pack of cowards, envious and jealous of each other, resurfacing 6 weeks after their leader was killed and they scattered to face down the people they were hiding from, united behind an uneducated fisherman that was the biggest coward of them all.
As realistic as an uneducated man arguing down the most learned theologians of his day on their opinion of the first leader of the group.
As realistic as 11 and then hundreds and then thousands of people putting aside their personal agendas to devote them selves to one misssion.
As realistic as ten men going to their deaths praising the name of their first teacher, when all they had to do was acknowledge the "reality" that once some one dies, they do not come back and that their claims to the contrary about their first teacher were lies.
As realistic as a trained and educated priest that was given the assignment of stamping out a sect of uneducated, dangerous dissidents, renouncing his life as priviledged leader, living in comfort and respected by his fellows, to become one of the most effective spokesman for those he tried destroy.
As realistic of that man enduring all the things he did for 30 years, not wavering in his statements about the Messiah, and who that is.
As realistic as that man going to death without renouncing a faith found on a dirt road between Jerusalem and Damascus, when that simple act would have saved his life.
As realistic as G-d doing all the work needed to reconcile us to him, thus putting to end the man made idea that a person can "do things" to "get right" with God.

What is so believable about rising from the dead?

On the face of it, it is'nt. But it is a whole lot more believable than any other explanation for the early days of the Christian Church.