First of all, I did not mention ghosts in any quotes that I mentioned. I was only pointing out that spirits might have been used by G-d to influence the behavior of certain people in the Tanakh, so maybe evil spirits (actual spirits or just emotions) were used to get the original followers of JC to continue following him after he died. Or maybe their hearts were hardened. These are just possibilities.

Anyway, I looked up on the internet evil spirits and the Talmud, and, apparently, the Rabbis of the Talmud believed in evil spirits that could enter people's bodies and do harm or influence them in some way. Maybe you could ask a rabbi if this is true or not. I am not at all educated in the Talmud, but before you disregard the idea of evil spirits and hardened hearts, maybe you should check what the Talmud says about this possibility.

You like to discuss people's free will, but I think you are ignoring a part of Judaism that you think is superstitious.

manwithdream