Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead?

“Conversant with both the relevant scholarship as well as the misconceptions and false presentations of Jesus current in contemporary culture, Olson s book is an inviting, readable introduction to the question of the resurrection that deepens one s faith in the fundamental fact of Christian faith that Jesus Christ was truly raised from the dead.”
— Dr. Leroy Huizenga, Associate Professor of Theology, University of Mary (Bismarck, N.D.)

“Scholars are often busy ‘rethinking’ the Resurrection of Christ only to find, so they tell us, that it never happened, or perhaps that Christ never happened. Carl Olson has read over these various theses and examined  their credibility. Not surprisingly, he finds them wanting on this or that particular issue of fact or logic. The Resurrection is at the center of Christianity. Olson’s book shows quite clearly why it is and that it is. The scholarship that opposes the Resurrection is seen to be deficient not only in faith but also in reason, in scholarship itself.”

—Fr. James V. Schall, S.J., Professor Emeritus, Georgetown University

“For the earliest Christians, to preach Christianity meant primarily to preach the Resurrection. It was the focus of every sermon reported in the book of Acts. It was the heart of the good news which the Christians brought to the world. Yet in some circles today, it has become fashionable not just to doubt the Resurrection, but to question such basic facts as Jesus’ very existence. That’s why this new book by Carl Olson is so desperately needed. As St. Paul did in the first century, Olson affirms the life-changing power of the Resurrection. But he does more: he shows how the best evidence and contemporary scholarship affirm what Christians have believed for centuries, that Jesus really did rise from the dead. Comprehensive, well-researched, and accessible, this is the best defense of the Resurrection from a Catholic perspective.” —Brandon Vogt, Content Director at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and founder of StrangeNotions.com

“Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead? is a brilliant and lucid presentation of the overwhelming evidence for Christ’s resurrection. Like a skilled surgeon, Carl E. Olson masterfully analyzes and dissects the radical skepticism and iniquitous criticism that often dominate the study of the Gospels. The question and answer format allows the reader to follow the arguments in a logical progression, and is a wonderful medium for Olson to showcase his unique talent for keeping the reader interested and engaged while bridging the chasm between academic scholarship and the armchair intellectual. This book should be required reading for every priest, deacon, seminarian, catechist, apologist–anyone who wants to strengthen their Christian faith and deepen their love of Jesus Christ.” —Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, author, Behold the Man: A Catholic Vision of Male Spirituality

Carl E. Olson, MTS, is the editor of Catholic World Report and Ignatius Insight. He is the author of two best-selling books, Will Catholics Be “Left Behind”? and The Da Vinci Hoax, and the author of hundreds of articles on theology, Scripture, current events, and apologetics.