Five Draft Chapters from: Thinking Critically about the Resurrection of Jesus

Bradley Bowen | May 9, 2025

I have completed a DRAFT (10 chapters) of my upcoming book:

Thinking Critically about the Resurrection of Jesus
Volume 1: The Resuscitation of the Swoon Theory

I am making DRAFT versions of the last five chapters of my book available to you.

The primary focus of this book is on the case for the resurrection of Jesus made by Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics (HCA). Their case can be summarized in just three claims:

IF Kreeft and Tacelli refuted the four alternative (skeptical) theories, THEN Kreeft and Tacelli have proved that the Christian Theory of the resurrection of Jesus is true.
Kreeft and Tacelli refuted (in Chapter 8 of HCA) the four alternative (skeptical) theories.

THEREFORE:

Kreeft and Tacelli have proved that the Christian Theory of the resurrection of Jesus is true.

They raise objections to each of four skeptical theories. In the first half of my book, I focus on their nine objections against the Swoon Theory, and show that their case against the Swoon Theory fails.

In Chapter 6, I show that the case against the Swoon Theory by William Craig in The Son Rises fails.
In Chapter 7, I show that the case against the Swoon Theory by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona in The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus fails.
In Chapter 8, I show that the case against the Swoon Theory by Josh McDowell in The Resurrection Factor fails.
In Chapter 9, I show that there are many more than just the five theories that are discussed by Kreeft and Tacelli in HCA.
In Chapter 10, I point out some other serious problems with the case for the resurrection of Jesus put forward by Kreeft and Tacelli in HCA. I explain why my book is a resuscitation of the Swoon Theory. I state why I think Christian apologists consistently fail to refute skeptical theories about the resurrection, and I discuss the question of the significance of the claim that God raised Jesus from the dead.