An alternate theory of Jesus rising from the dead is called [[noauthor_2011-ny|**The Hallucination Theory.**]] ([[Prendes-Brizuela2021-gt]], [[Habermas2008-se]]) This theory states that the disciples did experience the appearances of Jesus after He died on the cross as a result of vivid auditory and visual hallucinations that caused them to believe that He rose from the dead. While this seems like a good argument on the surface, once you have dived deeper into the events and evidence presented, it starts to fall apart. Over time, there have been several versions of this theory ([[Wright2003-bg]]). Most naturalistic claims against the resurrection have some form of this argument ([[Habermas2001-el]], [[Habermas2005-ye]]). We need to understand the different types of hallucinations used in these theories. Single-mode is when hallucinations involve only one sense, and multimode is when multiple senses are involved. Multimode hallucinations are even more irregular than single-mode hallucinations. Hallucinations are rare; only about 15% of the global population will experience them once in their lifetime ([[Aleman2008-xn]][[VandenBos2007-as]], [[Licona2020-jj]]). Scholars note that there is little scientific evidence that group hallucinations are even possible ([[Prendes-Brizuela2021-gt]]) . According to the book [[Zusne1982-jn|Anomalistic Psychology, A Study of Extraordinary Phenomena of Behaviour and Experience]] , there is barely any literature on group hallucinations. The authors discuss how a group hallucination may be possible ***if*** there is an expectation of emotional excitement ***and*** people were informed of the event beforehand. The reports of the individuals will vary, and the science is not conclusive on this subject ([[Siegel1976-il]]). In his book, William Lane Craig writes, > [!QUOTE] [[Copan2000-ax|Jesus Resurrection: Fact or Figment?: A Debate Between William Lane Craig & Gerd Ludemann]] > ...the fact remains that there is not a single instance in the casebooks exhibiting the diversity involved in the postmortem appearances of Jesus. Gary A. Sibcy, a licensed clinical psychologist with a Ph.D., reported in an email to Mike Licona , > [!quote] [[Licona2020-jj|The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach]] > I have surveyed the professional literature (peer-reviewed journal articles and books) written by psychologists, psychiatrists, and other relevant healthcare professionals during the past two decades and have yet to find a single documented case of a group hallucination, that is, an event for which more than one person purportedly shared in a visual or other sensory perception where there was clearly no external referent. And Gary Collins Reports; > [!quote] [[Strobel2009-ig|The Case for Easter: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for the Resurrection]] > Hallucinations are individual occurrences. By their very nature only one person can see a given hallucination at a time. They certainly aren't something which can be seen by a group of people. Neither is it possible that one person could somehow induce an hallucination in somebody else. Since an hallucination exists only in this subjective, personal sense, it is obvious that others cannot witness it. The odds of every single one of these people having a multisensory hallucination that is precisely the same is astronomical and goes against what we know of hallucinations [[[OConnell2009-jk]], [[Johnson2001-wb]]). In light of this evidence, some hallucination theories will say that only a few disciples, mostly Mary, Peter, or Paul, had a hallucination and simply convinced the rest of what happened. In [[Habermas2001-mj|Explaining Away Jesus' Resurrection: The Recent Revival of Hallucination Theories]], Gary Habermas states that the hallucinations theory continues to break down when you take into account the evidence like the empty tomb, the embarrassing details such as the [[The Status Of Women In The 1st Century|women witnesses]] or Peter's betrayal, the [[The Disciples Were Sincere In Their Beliefs|transformed]] life of the disciples, and the lack of [[The Jews Were Not Expecting A Resurrection Event|expectation]] for the event. Even if the hallucination theory holds water, it brings more questions: why would the opponents of the disciples and Christians not just simply bring the body of Jesus out to show the truth? If it was all made up, can this account for the rise of Christianity that started in the very place Christ was killed? ([[Flew1987-re]]) > [!quote] [[Habermas2004-dg|The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus]] > It pushes credulity beyond reason to regard every last one of these appearances as hallucinations. Other serious problems plague the hallucination theory. In fact, there are probably more refutations of this theory than any other. The Hallucination Theory is an alternate explanation that suggests the disciples experienced vivid auditory and visual hallucinations, causing them to believe Jesus rose from the dead. However, this theory has several flaws, including the lack of scientific evidence for group hallucinations and the fact that the reports of Jesus' appearances did not vary between the disciples. Furthermore, when taking into account the evidence such as the empty tomb, the transformation of the disciples, and the lack of expectation for the event, the Hallucination Theory becomes less plausible.