Craig Evans Tries to Make Stupid Look Respectable

[toejam]

^Here's the Tertullian verse in question:

Come now, you who would indulge a better curiosity, if you would apply it to the business of your salvation, run over the apostolic churches, in which the very thrones of the apostles are still pre-eminent in their places, in which their own authentic writings are read, uttering the voice and representing the face of each of them severally"

http://earlychristianwritings.com/text/ ... ian11.html

Nothing there to indicate that he's probably talking about the "original" manuscripts. Possibility is not Probability.

[ericbwonder]

I agree. Just pointing out Evans is spitting images of himself too.

[outhouse]

Was reading this at Barts blog.

Evens makes way to many assumptions.

[Secret Alias]

Edit:

I already read this at Bart Ehrman's blog and came away thinking that Evans makes way too many unsupported assumptions.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Is there a word for this tactic of taking a theoretical possibility and trying to present it as a probability? If it's even remotely conceivable, it becomes an established fact. When such assumptions are stacked like this, it's like a thick head of foam on a mug of beer. It's mostly hot air.

[Peter Kirby]

Is there a word for this tactic of taking a theoretical possibility and trying to present it as a probability? If it's even remotely conceivable, it becomes an established fact. When such assumptions are stacked like this, it's like a thick head of foam on a mug of beer. It's mostly hot air.

We used to call it petitio principii or begging the question. Lately some like to call it a possibiliter fallacy (particularly R. Carrier).

[toejam]

^Let's name it. I vote for the probsible fallacy - conflating a probable from a possible.

[DCHindley]

Is there a word for this tactic of taking a theoretical possibility and trying to present it as a probability? If it's even remotely conceivable, it becomes an established fact. When such assumptions are stacked like this, it's like a thick head of foam on a mug of beer. It's mostly hot air.

Only in countries where beer is served warm.

DCH (on lunch break, Boss sir)

[Tenorikuma]

Cargo cult scholarship. Use big words and pretend you're doing something intellectual while you steer your "research" toward pre-determined findings.