However, my reading offers some alternative possibilities. I list them, for others to attack.
1. In the new testament accounts of seeing the resurrected Jesus, some times those who knew Jesus did not recognize him, until he told them he was Jesus or "revealed himself" to them.
This may plausibly be consistent to the hallucination, or self deceptive hypothesis. If a person wants to believe strongly enough, they can convince themselves they have seen what they have not.
2. It seems unlikely 500 witnesses, who all may have said they saw Jesus after the resurrection, knew him before the resurrection.
3. It is not required that the Apostles took Jesus' body from the tomb. Other parties might have done so.
4. Once a belief has been committed to, people often are willing to die for it, even if it is not true. People are very good at lying to themselves.
I think the evidence is strong. I am a Christian. I do not think the evidence is absolute and overwhelming.
We are to believe by faith.
The Jews of the period desperately wanted a messiah.
There were hundreds of contenders.
The idea that Christianity would be sparked by that desire, is not completely irrational.
The “hallucination” argument is untenable. There is no such thing as shared hallucinations.
Thousands knew Jesus before the resurrection.
There is no plausible scenario for anyone taking the body from the tomb.
The 500 saw him at the same time:
After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 1 Cor 15:6
Jesus had been seen by many. For example a huge crowd witnessed his entry into Jerusalem a week before his resurrection. The 500 may have seen him in Galilee.
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”
The Apostles may have gathered the 500 in Galilee. In any case the fact that the 500 saw him at the same time means that those who didn't recognize him would have been made aware that it was him.