Poll: Most Americans Reject Resurrection of the Body

The Christian Post ^ | 13 Apr 06 | Michelle Vu

[xzins]

Poll: Most Americans Reject Resurrection of the Body

Thursday, Apr. 13, 2006 Posted: 9:13:14AM EST

The results of a recent poll interviewing more than a thousand adults show that most Americans do not believe in the resurrection of their bodies after death.

Some 1,007 adults were interviewed by phone from Feb. 19 to Mar. 3 by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University and asked the question, “Do you believe that, after you die, your physical body will be resurrected someday?” Results indicate that out of those interviewed only 36 percent replied “yes” to the question while 54 percent said they do not believe in the statement and 10 percent remained undecided.

Poll findings have dismayed some theologians including the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., while other Christian leaders have expressed surprise and curiosity.

“I don’t know what to make of this,” said retired Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong, author of Resurrection: Myth or Reality, according to Scripps Howard News Service. “Maybe the old Greek idea of an immortal soul has taken over and the idea of a resurrected body has fallen into disrepute.”

Robert Wuthnow, director of the Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University, displayed interest in the poll result saying that the findings may help in understanding America’s popular theology.

“This is definitely interesting. I haven’t seen a similar question asked before,” said Wuthnow. “In a way, though, it doesn’t surprise me. I can think of interpretations of the creeds that would suggest a spiritual resurrection rather than one of the physical body.”

According to the poll, 90 percent of Americans believe in God or a Supreme Being, with 65 percent indicating that they were “absolutely certain” that God exists. Seventy-two percent replied they believe in an afterlife with “some sort of consciousness” with 47 percent of being absolutely certain of this.

The poll also found that half of those who attend church recently said they believe they will undergo a physical resurrection compared to a quarter of those who have not attended service recently.

[beezdotcom]

This is a controversial point, which is why it is not odd that opinion is split.

Identify the controversy. I haven't yet run into anyone (until now) who didn't think that Jesus was speaking of literal scars that would convince Thomas that he was the same Jesus who had been crucified. I may have led a sheltered life, though, so please elaborate.

[Always Right]

The question posed concerned the resurection of everyone, not Jesus. Physical body resurections in the Bible took place within days after death. Considering most bodies stay in the ground, that does not appear to be happening for everyone. Whether all bodies are physically resurections for everyone also seems to conflict with 1 Corinthians 15 which seems clear that your physical body is not resurected. So it is a controversial topic.

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

"There are going to be some very surprised people later on..."

Yes...

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Every week in our church we recite the Apostle's Creed. No one in our congregation has any doubt that our bodies will one day be resurrected either to eternal bliss or eternal judgment. It is a central tenent of the Christian faith.

[beezdotcom]

Let me replay the thread:

And Christ asked Thomas to thrust his hand in the side of Jesus' spiritual body?

This is a controversial point, which is why it is not odd that opinion is split. It does not show disbelief, but different understandings of concepts that we may not be able to understand from our earthly perspectives.

You'll forgive me for thinking that you were questioning the physical nature of Jesus' resurrected body, based on your use of the word "this" (I took that as a direct response to the pervious question). Instead, I guess you were attempting to indicate that the controversy is that we may given bodies that are different than Christ's resurrected body.

That may or may not be the case, but there seems to be enough evidence (to me) that we will have a body after resurrection with at least SOME physical characteristics. YDMV.

[LucyJo]

Excerpt of article on subject by Wayne Jackson -

The Bible and the Resurrection

The Bible clearly affirms the doctrine of the general resurrection of the dead. Note, in brief, the following points.

The concept of the resurrection is found in the Old Testament - though not as pronounced as it comes to light in the New Testament (cf. 2 Tim. 1:10). According to Jesus, God’s declaration to Moses regarding Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was an indication of the eventual resurrection (Mt. 22:31,32). Other Old Testament passages also suggested that man’s body would be raised ultimately (see Job 19:25-27; Psa. 17:15; Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:2; Hos. 13:14).

The doctrine of the bodily resurrection is affirmed abundantly in the New Testament (see Jn. 5:28-29; 6:39-40; Mk. 12:18-27; Acts 17:32; 26:8; Rom. 8:23; 1 Thes. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15; 2 Cor. 5:1-2; Phil. 3:21).

How any person can read Paul’s great discussion of the eventual disposition of the dead - in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15 - and not believe in the resurrection, has to be one of the mysteries of the ages. In that remarkable chapter the apostle develops his line of argumentation in the following fashion.

Paul persuasively pled for the historical fact of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ on the basis of numerous eyewitnesses of the risen Lord. On one occasion, this consisted of more than 500 people (15:1-11).

The apostle maintained that the Lord’s resurrection is Heaven’s guarantee that we too shall be raised. Jesus is the “first-fruits” (a figure suggesting a future harvest) of the general resurrection to be effected at the time of His return (vv. 12-34).

Paul discussed the nature of the resurrected body. It will not be a physical or a corruptible body; rather, it will be spiritual and incorruptible (vv. 35-49). Nevertheless, there will be an identity continuum between our present body and the new, resurrected one. Only in this light can the term “resurrection” (which means to “stand up”) have any relevance. Moreover, each body will have its own individuality (v. 38). It is so thrilling to reflect upon the fact that our new body will be identical in form to the glorious body of our resurrected Lord (see Phil. 3:21).

Finally, the theological impact of the resurrection is set forth. It is a declaration of victory (vv. 50-57). In view of this great hope, saints are admonished to persevere in their fidelity (v. 58).

The biblical doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is a comforting concept. Those who would rob us of this hope are not friends of the cause of Christ.

http://www.christiancourier.com/archives/resurrection.htm

[Matchett-PI]

"...So it is a controversial topic." ~ Always Right

"The Christian faith is a definite system of beliefs with definite content (Jude 3 ) ... Because these central doctrines define the character of Christianity, one cannot be saved and deny these."


Theology http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c45.html


A cult of Christianity is a group of people, which claiming to be Christian, embraces a particular doctrinal system taught by an individual leader, group of leaders, or organization, which (system) denies (either explicitly or implicitly) one or more of the central doctrines of the Christian faith as taught in the sixty-six books of the Bible.


"Central doctrines" of the Christian faith are those doctrines that make the Christian faith Christian and not something else.


The meaning of the expression "Christian faith" is not like a wax nose, which can be twisted to mean whatever the speaker wants it to mean.


The Christian faith is a definite system of beliefs with definite content (Jude 3 )


Certain Christian doctrines constitute the core of the faith. Central doctrines include the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the bodily resurrection, the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and salvation by grace through faith. These doctrines so comprise the essence of the Christian faith that to remove any of them is to make the belief system non-Christian.


Scripture teaches that the beliefs mentioned above are of central importance (e.g., Matt. 28:19 ; John 8:24 ; 1 Cor. 15 ; Eph. 2:8-10 ).


Because these central doctrines define the character of Christianity, one cannot be saved and deny these.


Central doctrines should not be confused with peripheral issues, about which Christians may legitimately disagree.


Peripheral (i.e. non-essential) doctrines include such issues as the timing of the tribulation, the method of baptism, or the structure of church government. For example, one can be wrong about the identity of "the spirits in prison" 1 Peter 3:19 ) or about the timing of the rapture and still go to heaven, but one cannot deny salvation by grace or the deity of Christ (John 8:24 ) and be saved.


All Christian denominations -- whether Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Protestant -- agree on the essential core.

The relatively minor disagreements between genuinely Christian denominations, then, cannot be used to argue that there is no objectively recognized core of fundamental doctrine which constitutes the Christian faith.

[Matchett-PI]

"The question posed concerned the resurection of everyone, not Jesus. Physical body resurections in the Bible took place within days after death." ~ Always Right

You're confusing "physical body" with the "glorified body".

"Physical" resurrection is resuscitation (i.e what happened to Lazarus). Bodily resurrection is having a transformed immortal (glorified) body.

"....Another problem with the subjective vision/hallucination hypothesis is that it cannot account for how the early believers concluded that Jesus had been resurrected as opposed to having undergone an ascension to heaven or exaltation. The data we have from the period regarding Jewish belief in resurrection indicates that resurrection was something that would occur at the end of time and to everybody (or at least all of the righteous-see e.g. Daniel 12:1-3, John 11:21-24 [17]). Thus, the resurrection of an isolated individual apart from the general resurrection at the end of the age ran counter to Jewish beliefs at the time. While it is true that there are reports of numerous other people raised from the dead contained in the Bible (such as Lazarus), these were of a different category than that of what happened to Jesus. When Jesus was raised, he was, according to the early Christians, given an immortal, imperishable body (as is described in I Cor. 15) as opposed to the other cases where the individuals such as Lazarus were resuscitated, to eventually die again. ..."


Excerpted from commentary here: V. Lack of Explanatory Scope of the Subjective Visions Hypothesis http://www.tektonics.org/guest/wildvis.html

[P-Marlowe]

While it is certainly within the power of God to gather up all the molecules that presently make up my body and put them all back together in the twinkling of an eye to give me back the same body I walked upon this earth with a thousand years hence.

But one of the problems there is that most of the molecules that make up my body at present will no longer be a part of my body in another 5 years and may very well be dwelling within the tabernacle of some other human being. Indeed since 75% of the dust in your house is made up of human skin, we have to ask ourselves the question, if our bodies are resurrected in their present form from the same material, will we all have skin that is two feet thick and will we all have a cloud of dust following us around for all eternity?

I don't think so. I suspect that God has our DNA code on file somewhere. I suspect that is enough for him to create an incorruptible body for us for eternity in the twinkling of an eye even if our present bodies are turned to vapor in a nuclear explosion or eaten by worms and bacteria for a thousand years.

We are promised the resurrection. How it will be accomplished is simply something we are not told. But it will be accomplished.

[blue-duncan]

"But one of the problems there is that most of the molecules that make up my body at present will no longer be a part of my body in another 5 years and may very well be dwelling within the tabernacle of some other human being. Indeed since 75% of the dust in your house is made up of human skin,"

Now that would be a fascinating defence to DNA evidence in a criminal case.

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

I think you've hit the nail squarely on the head -- churches (in general) have ceased teaching doctrinal truth.

CC&E

[RSmithOpt]

Our physical existence here on this earth is merely each individual's response to our 5 senses. So, our brain's interpretations of the 'electrical power' that is processed every second constitutes to our own and uniquely individual reality....our perceived reality. Even while asleep, our minds still word, rest, think, feel, process, etc. As we all know, each will sometime have a dream that seems 'so real'.

With that said, to me, it seems as though the very forces (cranial electrical energy) that drive our reality here on earth, conscious or asleep, can easily continue for eternity by the Grace of The Almighty whether in Heaven or Hell simply by His will.

Individual perception is individual reality, here, in the now and forever.

I remember Jodie Foster referring to God in the movie 'Contact' and the enormity of the universe and 'what a waste of space, it would be if we were the only ones'. I have the same conclusions analogous as to each individual human spirit that was created by The Almighty would be a great waste. The power of the scientifically unexplainable emotion in that we may love one another, to be loved, and most importantly, give praise and thanks in that we may glorify His name by learning his word and keeping His commandments:

John 3

16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

[Iscool]

Every week in our church we recite the Apostle's Creed. No one in our congregation has any doubt that our bodies will one day be resurrected either to eternal bliss or eternal judgment. It is a central tenent of the Christian faith.

You don't need the Apostle's Creed to figure that out...It's in the bible...Your body will be resurrected but by the time it hits Heaven, it will have a different form...

[Always Right]

I see where you misunderstood. But if you went back to post 6 you will see I was questioning about "your physical bodies will be resurrected". The reply in 8 talked about Jesus's resurrection as proof of us being physically resurrected. Going back only to post 8 it would appear I was questioning the physical body resurection of Christ, but I was not.

[P-Marlowe]

Here we are in our resurrected body:

[blue-duncan]

That's great. Let me introduce you to my yellow Lab Retriever.

[Always Right]

Certain Christian doctrines constitute the core of the faith. Central doctrines include the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the bodily resurrection, the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and salvation by grace through faith. These doctrines so comprise the essence of the Christian faith that to remove any of them is to make the belief system non-Christian.

The physical body resurrection of everyone is not part of the core Christian doctrine and that is what this specific poll asked. The form that our spiritual resurrection will take is speculation.

[Alex Murphy]

Why? It is a very odd question. I am not sure the Bible says your physical bodies will be resurrected. I think most Christians view it as a spiritual resurrection.

I think part of the problem is the overemphasis on dying and "going to Heaven" - being "absent from the body" - as if it all ends there. It's rare that the Gospel message includes what happens "after" that - namely the New Heaven and New Earth, wherein we will still be in the presence of God, yet resurrected "back into" our bodies and find ourselves on the (New) Earth.

[A.J.Armitage]

When you're speaking to a person face to face (or whatever the equivalent is when you're both nailed to pieces of wood), there's really no need to specify which day you're saying something. Of course it's today. Which other day would it be?