First, technically I did not cite just one source but five different authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul) whose works were complied together as the Bible. If you are looking for further corroboration there are other non-Christian corroborative sources such as Josephus, Seutonius, Tacitus, and Pliney the Younger (see “Historical Evidence” below).

Second, you fault me for using circular reasoning. The funny thing is you commit the same fallacy by presupposing that your use of reason itself is without error. This is more of an epistemology issue than about the resurrection. But presupposing God revealing himself in words of truth called the Bible provides an equally, if not greater, source of confidence. The wiki aritcle actually isn’t that bad: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presuppositional_apologetics

Third, I’ll try and help by stating the argument in terms you may be more familiar with culturally:

Bertrand Russell, a famous athiest, wrote a book called “Why I am Not a Christian” and in it he states this about the resurrection of Jesus and the possiblity of our resurrection, “I believe that when I die I shall rot, and nothing of my own ego will survive.” That is what is on my mind today. Last week, we look at the evidence inside the Bible, but perhaps some of you would say that is circular reasoning, just because the Bible says it doesn’t make it true. Is there anything outside the Bible to support the resurrection.

Circumstantial Evidence

Circucumstiantial evidence is when unrelated facts when considered together can be used to infer a certain conclusion. Our lawyers here today know a lot about circumstantial evidence. So let’s look at the circumstances that surround the Bible’s claim of Jesus rising from the dead. So what the Bible says he did, is there any supporting evidence to conclude such a thing?

1. The Transformation of the Disciples

The disciples were changed from being lowly, timid, self-conscious followers to strong, powerful, compassionate and fearless leaders, giving to the poor, taking care of widows and orphans, who all suffered and died (except John) on the claim of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. (ex. story of Peter). Their good character and their courage evidences Jesus must have really appeared to them in bodily form.

2. The Day and Object of Jewish Worship Changed

The Sabbath was the sacred to Jews. That is Saturday. But Scripture tells us that the reason why Christians started worshipping on Sunday was because Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday and worship had become all about Jesus, instead of the Torah. Jews would not have done so, they would have been mortified if Jesus did not really do something as great as rising from the dead to change their sacred tradition.

3. The Practices of the Church

Baptism and Communion became fixed elements of Christian worship and they are elements that are meaningless if Jesus did not rise. Baptism is a picture of death to life and was talked about as a symbol of Jesus’ resurrection. Communion is a picture of Jesus death on the cross, which would have had no meaning if Jesus was not God and did not rise from the dead, he would have been just another crucified human and there is no need to attach theological significance to his death.

4. The Preaching of the Church

The preaching of the early church was saturated with talk about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. (how much do we preach about it today) This would not have been their primary source of material if it had not happened, they were stuck on it.

5. The Tomb was not Enshrined

It was the cultural way to enshrine the tombs of holy men, yet there is no trace of any veneration for a tomb of Jesus. There is no question that a hoy man named Jesus existed in the first century, if so then where is his gravestone inscription, unless he rose from the dead?

6. The Growth of the Church

The church grew at an unheard of exponential rate…essentially a worldwide phenemoenon. Only the widespread knowledge of something like a resurrection of Jesus could have spawned such a movement. Any other explanation for the rapid growth just doesn’t make sense. There were many wise men around…none had results like that.

Historical Evidence

Lastly, we look at the historical evidence. Maybe you have wondered is there any books or writings besides the Bible which mention the resurrection, maybe ones written by people who were not Christians? The answer is yes, there are several.

1. Josephus from “Antiquities” written ~AD 93 (Jewish historian worked for Roman governer)

“About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a wise man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Christ. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. On the third day he appeared to them restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has to this day not disappeared.”

2. Seutonius “Vita Nero” written ~AD 54 (Roman historian under Nero)

“Punishment was inflicted on the Chrstians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition [the resurrection].”

3. Tacitus “Annals” written ~AD 66 (Roman Historian)

“Nero fastened the guilt . . . on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of . . . Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome. . .”

4. Pliny the Younger “Letter to Turkey Emperor Trajan” written ~AD 111 (to explain Christian worship)

“I have never been present at an examination of Christians. Consequently, I do not know the nature of the extent of the punishments usually meted out to them, nor the grounds for starting an investigation and how far it should be pressed…They also declared that the sum total of their guilt or error amounted to no more than this: they met reguarly before dawn on a fixed day [Sunday rememberance of resurrection] to chant verses alternatlely amongst themselves in honor of Christ as if to a god…”

That’s the evidence. Ten confirming circumstances and written accounts outside the Bible, that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead. It will not due to simply dismiss it because we have never seen the resurrected Jesus or because it seems too fantastic. The burden of proof is on those who say it didn’t happen.

Jonathan, I hope that helps. I can’t help but pick up a tone of vehemence or anger in your words. But maybe that is because tone is hard to communicate in text. If it’s not, then let me tell you there is an answer whatever it is you are so frustrated about…if you feel Christianity is unjust or wronging you or if someone who called themselves a “Christian” hurt you, then know that Christianity is about a God who is objectively just (which you inherently appeal to by your apparently vehement condemnation) took injustice on into himself on the cross so that we might be freed and forgiven from hurt, pain, and the wrath of God for our personal defiance and rebellion.