The Unapologetic Apologia

The Myth/ Legend Theory coincides with the conspiracy theory and that the resurrection and the appearances were a myth similar to the myth of Jesus. That the claims were made up at a much later date (centuries later), and were not early or primary sources.
This, for sure is not a theory used by scholars, but appears mostly in memes and internet threads similar to the conspiracy theory.

Much of my answer for the conspiracy theory applies here. When talking about the appearances of the resurrected Jesus, one has to look at the factors at play. The main one, being the multiple early eye witness accounts that are reliable. Mark, Luke, John, and Matthew all record, the eyewitnesses in their accounts. The book of Acts also records this, the apostle pauses epistles. As well as Jewish historian Josephus (c.37AD-100AD). Scholars date these eyewitness accounts. No later than 40 years at most.

Another factor is the reliability of the eyewitness statements. It is said that eyewitness testimony becomes unreliable when the events explained happen quickly, or when a weapon is involved, the brain won’t have time to properly process the information to give a statement. I witness testimony becomes unreliable. When the person giving the statement is or was looking for what they want to find, a majority will fool themselves into thinking that they found Something. As well as being around strangers, according to research, memory can become hard to retain when around people unfamiliar.

But when using these two facts above to examine the eyewitness testimony’s reliability, none of these factors come into play. All the disciples and the 500 in the ministry all knew each other, and understood what they were witnessing, despite being unbelievable.

And Jesus’ appearance is could not have happened quickly and wouldn’t have been expected because in John 21 1-14, and Acts 10-41, Jesus’s resurrection was not anticipated or expected they were far too grief stricken. Matthew 16:21-23, Mark 8:31-32, Luke 24:10-11, Acts 1:6, John 20:9, John 20:24-29, all report embarrassingly, that the disciples had misread their scriptures and what Jesus had claimed. This context strengthen the idea that the disciples were not expecting a return in that way. So the myth/legend cannot explain the resurrection eyewitnesses.

Next: Pt.5