Debunking Resurrection Theories

This weekend at Youth Group, we spring-boarded off of the Doubting Thomas Gospel read at Mass on Sunday.  We talked about doubt, and how it is ok to ask questions about our faith as long as we investigate and look for the truth.

With Easter just last weekend, I decided to share with the kids some historical and prevailing Anti-Resurrection theories.  I debated how to present the material to the kids, and ended up doodling  some stick figure representations of different ideas that people argue against the Resurrection.  We used those as a springboard for discussion.  The kids would make their own predictions about the theory and then we would tear it down with other background knowledge, Scripture, or logic.

They really enjoyed the drawings, and thought that some of the ideas were ridiculous.  It was interesting to listen to them argue about what made sense and what didn't.

For some more background, read here or here or here.

We closed by reading these verses:

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." ~John 20:29

"If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile." ~1 Corinthians 15:17

And by looking at the questions/answers of YouCat 96, 98, 101, 103-108, especially paragraph 105:

"The disciples who before had lost all hope, came to believe in Jesus' Resurrection because they saw him in a different way after his death, spoke with him, and experienced him as being alive."

(I love the YouCat, btw)

Anyways, I didn't set out to have a lesson to share, but here is the handout that we used.  Not super high quality, but available if someone else has a use for it.
Click here for the printable: