GDR writes:
Without the resurrection Jesus would never have been remembered .
It wasn't the resurrection that got Jesus remembered and attracted followers to Christianity. It was the STORY of the resurrection! Any religion that wanted members had to have some kind of resurrection story of a hero or god that suffered an horrendous death but came back to life even more powerful: Osiris in Egypt, Innana (Ishtar) in Sumer, Eostre of the Anglo-Saxons (whose name gave rise to the Easter celebration of Autumnal rebirth), and, of course, Harold. Painful death and glorious resurrection is just one of the boxes Paul had to tick off for his religion to gain a foothold.
Here is a very short list of the many resurrection stories that pervaded the ancient world.
Edited by AnswersInGenitals, : No reason given.