The term resurrection has come to stand for what Christianity is all about. But a close look reveals that it should not be understood monolithically, but rather as a pluralistic and diverse phenomenon. Early Christian communities were convinced that Rome had not defeated Jesus when they crucified him. They employed a whole host of metaphors to express that conviction.

The use of the single term resurrection to cover the phenomenon is a mistake, one that has tyrannized Christianity. Furthermore, most Christians believe in a physical resurrection, although Paul clearly calls this into question. Once that tradition became fixed, it provided the lens through which everything else was viewed-and distorted. By examining the so-called resurrection stories in chronological order, this book aspires to prompt readers to consider questions such as,

• What does the New Testament really say about the resurrection?
  
• What is the influence of Judaism on Christian belief in the resurrection?
  
• How did the resurrection become the central belief in Christianity?
  
• Why did early Christians choose to believe in the resurrection?
  
• And why is resurrection not the right word?