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Since Most People Are Wrong When They Make Supernatural Claims, Why Didn't God Do Better?

Risen Jesus — Mike Licona

Since Most People Are Wrong When They Make Supernatural Claims, Why Didn't God Do Better?

September 17, 2025
Risen Jesus
Risen JesusMike Licona

Dr. Matthew McCormick, a philosophy professor at California State University, Sacramento, doesn’t believe that there is satisfactory historical evidence to support the idea that Jesus rose from the dead. This is because humans have a high error rate when making claims about the supernatural. Therefore, those who reported Jesus’ post-death appearances were likely wrong. Furthermore, if an all-powerful God wanted people to believe this claim, why didn’t he provide more substantial evidence for us? Why didn’t he do better? In a 2016 debate at Sacramento State University, Dr. Michael Licona faces these contentions from McCormick, arguing that evidence strongly supports theism over atheism and that the existing historical data suggests that Jesus did rise from the death. Which case do you think is better?

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