An Introduction to the CADRE’S
Response to The Empty Tomb

By Christopher Price

Early in 2005, Prometheus Publishers released the book, The Empty Tomb: Jesus Beyond the Grave. The Empty Tomb is a collection of anti-apologetic essays by various skeptics, many of whom are active on the internet. Originally and candidly entitled “Jesus is Dead,” the title was changed to the more innocuous and balanced sounding “The Empty Tomb.” Claiming that the responses to Christian apologists “have been largely muted,” the contributors offer to provide “a sober, objective response” to the central arguments of apologists.

It is clear, however, that the critics of Christian apologists have been anything but “muted.” Almost all of the essays in The Empty Tomb were previously published and have for years been freely available at Internet Infidels or other websites. Contributor Richard Carrier and editor and contributor Jeffrey Lowder have founded one of the most influential websites on the internet dealing with matters related to early Christianity. Contributor Peter Kirby likewise founded the website Early Christian Writings, which is possibly the most popular internet source for primary material and secondary commentary relating to the New Testament. The rest of the contributors have been published in various journals and had their books released and publicized by various publishing companies. Clearly, therefore, the alleged suppression of Christianity’s critics cannot be maintained.

But what about the claim that The Empty Tomb provides a sober and objective response to Christian apologetics? This position likewise does not survive scrutiny. Richard Carrier and Jeff Lowder founded Internet Infidels for the express purpose of promoting naturalism (and by definition combating theism). Editor and contributor Robert Price spews condescension throughout The Empty Tomb, applying the term "apologist" to respected scholars that cannot fairly be called so and referring to saving people from "the foolishness of the untutored masses." (page 15). Though he insists on the sincerity of the book's contributors, Price declines to consider that his opponents share his sincerity though not his conclusions (he claims that Christian apologists are strewing "red herrings" around with "gleeful abandon" (Ibid.)). According to Publishers Weekly, Price and his three contributions to The Empty Tomb are “polemical and mean-spirited.” Accordingly, The Empty Tomb is not the result of impartial or objective scholarship, but is the product of writers who appear to have every bit as much bias and partiality as the apologists to whom they are responding.

In this section, the CADRE provides vigorous but fair responses to The Empty Tomb. We freely admit that we are not unbiased in this regard. CADRE members are Christians who seek to promote the Gospel and encourage other Christians in their faith. We also believe that a fair and frank discourse on the issues central to our faith, especially the resurrection of Jesus, is a means to accomplishing this end. It is the CADRE’s intention, therefore, to join that discourse with the contributors of The Empty Tomb, and other participants to the debate. To that end, this section will offer original articles and reviews written in response to The Empty Tomb, as well as links to other resources that have already done the same.