# Are there portions of Christianity who don't believe in the Resurrection? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 31, 2018, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514 "2018-03-31T04:06:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/61 "2018-04-02T19:19:56Z")
As a liberal Christian myself, I’d probably echo what was said upthread that if one doesn’t believe in the physical resurrection of Christ, then what’s the point in belonging to a religious community? Now obviously there are some who think the good work in the community (taking care of the poor and homeless) or just having a group of people to hang out with is a good reason to do so, but I’d rather sleep in on Sundays if I didn’t think Jesus rose from the dead. After all, without the resurrection, Jesus is just a prophet. Without the whole conquering death thing (and its corollaries: sin, the devil, etc) which leads one to hope that life and love is coming to wipe away all the crap (ie, the world is shit sometimes, people are mean - it’d be cool if that was reversed), it really isn’t all the compelling. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/62 "2018-04-02T21:13:46Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > As a liberal Christian myself, I’d probably echo what was said upthread that if one doesn’t believe in the physical resurrection of Christ, then what’s the point in belonging to a religious community? Now obviously there are some who think the good work in the community (taking care of the poor and homeless) or just having a group of people to hang out with is a good reason to do so, but I’d rather sleep in on Sundays if I didn’t think Jesus rose from the dead. After all, without the resurrection, Jesus is just a prophet. Without the whole conquering death thing (and its corollaries: sin, the devil, etc) which leads one to hope that life and love is coming to wipe away all the crap (ie, the world is shit sometimes, people are mean - it’d be cool if that was reversed), it really isn’t all the compelling. Just a prophet who did miracles, who died for our sins and created an entirely new covenant through which we could get into Heaven, right? And there are billions of people who belong to a religious community who don’t believe in the physical resurrection of Christ isn’t there? I mean…at least a billion? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/63 "2018-04-02T21:34:38Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Just a prophet who did miracles, who died for our sins and created an entirely new covenant through which we could get into Heaven, right? The later two don’t particularly resonate IMO if He didn’t come back. The dying to save us from the power of sin and to create a new covenant tend mean something if he conquers death (meaning Jesus actually is God and so can do those things - in Islam, where Jesus and Mohammed are prophets, they may have done the miraculous, but you don’t have a dying for the sins of the world/new covenant type of theology). I mean I guess you can believe that He did all that while staying dead, but I’m with Paul; if Jesus doesn’t come back from the dead, it doesn’t work for me. > [@](#): > > And there are billions of people who belong to a religious community who don’t believe in the physical resurrection of Christ isn’t there? I mean…at least a billion? This thread is about Christianity. Any religious community references refer to that which the OP was meaning to have discussed. ---
**Author:** ![WillReadmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/6f9a4e/32.png) [@WillReadmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillReadmore)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/64 "2018-04-03T00:32:07Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > The later two don’t particularly resonate IMO if He didn’t come back. The dying to save us from the power of sin and to create a new covenant tend mean something if he conquers death (meaning Jesus actually is God and so can do those things - in Islam, where Jesus and Mohammed are prophets, they may have done the miraculous, but you don’t have a dying for the sins of the world/new covenant type of theology). I mean I guess you can believe that He did all that while staying dead, but I’m with Paul; if Jesus doesn’t come back from the dead, it doesn’t work for me. > > This thread is about Christianity. Any religious community references refer to that which the OP was meaning to have discussed. Well, let me warn you I’m an atheist. However, it seems to me that once Jesus died, it would be the appropriate point in time for him to get busy with the “preparing a place” task. A significant part of the message is that our earthly bodies are temporary - lasting ~0% of one’s infinite lifetime. Coming back to a temporary body doesn’t really fit the message of Jesus offering eternal life with heavenly bodies. Plus, then “ascending into heaven” is also not on theme. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/65 "2018-04-03T02:34:29Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You’re still arguing points that I’m not making. Sorry, it wasn’t directed towards anything you had said. Or at least most of it wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/66 "2018-04-03T05:09:38Z")
> [@WillReadmore](#): > > Well, let me warn you I’m an atheist. > > However, it seems to me that once Jesus died, it would be the appropriate point in time for him to get busy with the “preparing a place” task. > > A significant part of the message is that our earthly bodies are temporary - lasting ~0% of one’s infinite lifetime. Coming back to a temporary body doesn’t really fit the message of Jesus offering eternal life with heavenly bodies. Plus, then “ascending into heaven” is also not on theme. Note, I was vaguely aware of this and didn’t realize its such a strong part of the Bible…but apparently, we don’t go to heaven or hell or limbo when we die, but stay in the ground until Jesus comes back and he will raise us ALL in our same bodies.\* And then we will be judged. And those judged worthy will ascend to heaven not in ghost like spiritual bodies but real bodies. I say all that without judgement except the asterisked part. \*Yes, yes…even if given the benefit of the doubt that we will rise in good condition and not as rotted skeletons or animated dust and ash…what about babies? Or the deformed? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/67 "2018-04-03T11:06:41Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Just a prophet who did miracles, who died for our sins and created an entirely new covenant through which we could get into Heaven, right? > > And there are billions of people who belong to a religious community who don’t believe in the physical resurrection of Christ isn’t there? I mean…at least a billion? That implies that he wasn’t worth following prior to the crucifixion. I would say that his message during his working years was the main reason for revering him. The Romans crucified a lot of people; they weren’t all moral visionaries. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/68 "2018-04-03T13:05:09Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > but apparently, we don’t go to heaven or hell or limbo when we die, but stay in the ground until Jesus comes back and he will raise us ALL in our same bodies. Well, not our SAME bodies. From [I Corinthians 15](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15&version=NIV), the main chapter where Paul talks about the importance of the resurrection: > [@I Corinthians 15:35-44](#): > > But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. > > So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. See also a bit further down, verses 50-54, which are the source of the famous lyrics from Handel’s _Messiah_: > [@](#): > > The trumpet shall sound > And the dead shall be raised incorruptible > And we shall be changed. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/69 "2018-04-03T14:19:28Z")
Thanks Thudlow. That’s very interesting. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/70 "2018-04-03T14:51:18Z")
Yes, the idea is what we will all be resurrected in a perfected body - so like our body, but a bit better. And Christ was the “first fruits” (1 Cor 15:20), so we’re all supposed to be resurrected like Him, at the end. Now there will be a judgment, but as to the question of whether anyone doesn’t go to Heaven at the end of judgment is a debatable point. ---
**Author:** ![drivekiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@drivekiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drivekiller)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/71 "2018-04-03T15:30:15Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Yes, there are those who refer to themselves as Christians but do not believe that Jesus was resurrected. I don’t know of a particular term for such people (which is part of what the OP was asking). Unitarians? > **[Unitarianism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarianism)** > > Unitarianism (from Latin unitas 'unity, oneness') is a nontrinitarian branch of Christianity. Unitarian Christians affirm the unitary nature of God as the singular and unique creator of the universe, believe that Jesus Christ was inspired by God in his moral teachings and that he is the savior of humankind, but he is not equal to God himself. > Unitarianism was established in order to restore "primitive Christianity before later corruptions set in". Likewise, Unitarian Christians generally reject... ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/72 "2018-04-03T17:39:20Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Yes, the idea is what we will all be resurrected in a perfected body - so like our body, but a bit better. And Christ was the “first fruits” (1 Cor 15:20), so we’re all supposed to be resurrected like Him, at the end. Now there will be a judgment, but as to the question of whether anyone doesn’t go to Heaven at the end of judgment is a debatable point. That’s going to suck for anyone who was cremated. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/73 "2018-04-03T17:44:52Z")
That was indeed the reason that Christians didn’t cremate anyone for a long while. > **[Cremation in Christianity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cremation_in_the_Christian_World)** > > Cremation is a method used to dispose of the deceased in the Christian world despite historical opposition to the practice. > Acceptance of the practice has grown over the past century, especially in West Europe, North America and Australia, but not so much in conservative Christian majority places like East and Central Europe, Russia, Sub-Saharan Africa, The Caribbean, The Philippines and in the biggest part of Latin America. In other large areas such as South Asia, it is strongly opposed due to ... ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/74 "2018-04-03T22:57:53Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > That was indeed the reason that Christians didn’t cremate anyone for a long while. > > [Cremation in Christianity - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cremation_in_the_Christian_World) Fascinating. Thanks for this. ---
**Author:** ![senoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@senoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senoy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/75 "2018-04-04T19:52:21Z")
It would have to be non-creedal. All of the creeds include it. What is or isn’t a Christian is a matter of debate of course. My personal opinion is that the Nicene Creed is pretty much the definition of Christian. If you believe it, you fall within the definition of Christian. If you don’t, you may be something close to Christian, but you’re probably outside the box. It’s pretty basic stuff, God made the world, Christ came into it, died and rose again, because of that our sins can be forgiven and we get to be with him one day. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/76 "2018-04-07T16:27:33Z")
I have a liberal Christian Facebook friend who believes like that. Weird thing is that she grew up pentecostal and spoke in tongues and all that. She just calls herself a liberal Christian. Since I didn’t agree with her beliefs, I chose “Jesus was a liberal” as my religion. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514/77 "2018-04-07T17:43:29Z")
When I was attending a Quaker congregation, I took part in a weekly study group in which one of the elders walked us through the history and practices of the denomination. She explained to us that while there wasn’t a central dogma in Quakerism, there were some basic things that unified all Quakers. One of those things is the belief that Jesus was divine. So to be a Quaker (at least according to this one person), you don’t have to believe that Jesus rose from the dead. But you do have to appreciate that he was special…that he wasn’t just a mere human being…but that he was a living testament to God’s existence. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-portions-of-christianity-who-dont-believe-in-the-resurrection/811514.md?page=3)