danielius

Yes, I know, though the evidence is far from overwhelming.

Again, no really good evidence for this.

Here's the problem:

I don't understand how you talk of the universe being everything, and readily, even blithely, speak of 'other universes', a suggestion which presupposes that our universe might not be everything, after all.

Let me requote you, with your 'synonym' in place:

"because everythings are conceivable where it is false" (?)

Assertion. Just one example: Saint Paul is given in the Encyclopaedia Britannica as living to around the age of 57 years (10 AD - 67 AD) Source: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article...int%20paul&ct=

Answering the 'contradictions' in the gospel accounts:

All the gospels speak of the women setting off very early in the morning, at dawn. John says:

"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark..." (John 20:1)

There is no important contradiction here at all. Dawn was only just beginning to break; it would still have been dark as the women left their homes for the tomb.

All agree on Mary Magdalene. John speaks of Mary starting out on her own around or even just before dawn for the tomb. It is readily conceivable that she met with the other women on her way.

Actually the women had already seen the tomb in Matthew's gospel as well (27:61). The purpose was to look at the tomb and bring spices. They may not have been aware of the spicing done by Joseph of Arimathea, or they may simply have wished to do another 'anointing'.

Yes. Though Matthew describes the opening of the tomb, he gives no indication that the women witnessed it.

The 'men' are synonymous with 'angels', as they are described as being dressed in brilliant white, and having a message to give the women from God. The gospels taken in combination suggest two angels, though Matthew and Mark refer only to the one who speaks to the women.

Matthew describes what happened at the site of the tomb before the women arrived, while John's verse refers to the second visit to the tomb. Luke does not in fact specifically refer to the angels standing, but:

"While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them." (Luke 24:4)

There is nothing to say that they were not sitting as the women first entered the tomb. It is also possible that some of the women noticed the angel sitting nearest to them as they first entered, while the others were surprised when they stood suddenly.

All that is reported in Matthew, Mark and Luke. John 20:13 refers to the women's second visit to the tomb.

Yes. Mark 16:8 only tells what happened initially.

John chooses to focus only on Mary's report, while the others mention the other women, who had understood that Jesus had risen. All emphasize that the women left the tomb frightened and bewildered.

After she returned to the disciples. Mark 16:9-10 is said not to have been part of Mark's original gospel, while there is a gap in events described in Matthew 28:8-9. During this gap, Mary returned to the disciples (John 20:2). Matthew 28:9 occured after the women gave their report and returned to the tomb, and so describes the same appearance as John 20: 11-17.

John 20:17 does not say 'do not touch me', but 'do not hold on to me', meaning 'I have things to do'.

Peter. Luke 24:34 indicates this was before the disciples in Emmaus.

In a room in Jerusalem. Matthew 28:16-20 is a later appearance.

Luke 24:34 does not refer to the disciples' reaction to the story of the two men. The Mark verse is disputed by some scholars as not being part of Mark's original gospel.

What is described in Luke and John. Mark's verse is disputed by scholars, Matthew's describes a later appearance.

Nowhere in Luke 24 does it say everything happened in one day. Acts 1:3 (also written by Luke) makes it clear there was a time gap between the resurrection and the ascension. Mark's verse is disputed by scholars as to whether it is original.

The Mount of Olives which is near Bethany. (Luke 19:29). Luke 24:50 translates in my Bible as: 'In the vicinity of Bethany'. Mark's verse is disputed. Matthew and John do not mention the ascension explicitly, but this is effectively an argument from silence.

Paul, in fact, does mention the ascension in Ephesians 4:8-10 and implies it in 1 Thessalonians 1:10.

Danielius