Hi wafflehead, you said:The rising after 3 days is more likely...

Hi wafflehead, you said:

The rising after 3 days is more likely to suggest that, after 3 days of mourning the death of Christ the disciples began to teach His message again. Thus He rose symbolically. Later embellishments were added to the story out of poetic licence.

On this specific point of rising and the disciples teaching I would make this point. I think the evidence is strongly against that idea. A number of men arose in the Jewish society at the time who were very like Jesus, they went around teaching and gathering followers but as soon as the leaders were killed the movements just died. But with Jesus the movement did not die so his resurrection was not symbolic but real. I base this on the following quote from Acts.

But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.

The empty tomb is the stark evidence for the resurrection.