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Christians, what happened on that very first Easter? This is an open-book test, so no pressure. The only requirement is that you must use all of each gospel story. No cherry picking, please—every “fact” claimed from the crucifixion through the resurrection and ascension must be worked into your composite story.

With four accounts inspired by an infallible deity, this should be no problem.

In practice, however, it’s trickier. If you thought harmonizing the two birth accounts (Matthew’s magi and murderous Herod vs. Luke’s census and shepherds) is troublesome, consider the chart below. It lists every claim from each gospel. They harmonize like bickering children.

(Chart reprinted with permission of Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin.)

(PDF version of chart here)

(This is an update of a post that originally appeared 4/5/15.)

Image credit for chart: Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin (used with permission)

Image credit for lamb: moonjazz, flickr, CC

CROSS EXAMINED In his first career, Bob Seidensticker designed digital hardware and was a contributor to 14 software patents. Since then, he has explored the debate between Christianity and atheism for...