Biblical Criticism & History Forum - earlywritings.com

Argument from Credible Atheism

1- If atheists deny Jesus existed, Christians will dismiss that as a desperate, "scorched earth" attack on Christianity, and atheists will lose all credibility.
2- In order to maintain the appearance of a balanced approach towards Christianity, and focus on criticizing the real problematic aspects of the religion, atheists should just concede the historicity of Jesus.
3- Therefore, Jesus existed.

One line proof:

1) Jesus = "IS"

Argument from reluctance to accept Simonian/Marcionite priority over Mark

1) the only rational reason for the mention of Pilate, under the hypothesis of a mythical Jesus, is that Simonians/Samaritans introduced him in the gospel tradition.

2) I don't like the idea

3) therefore Jesus existed.

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Argument from Trobey, Vinzey and Klinghey

1) For over 1000 years the Church has taught that the Gospels agree in beautiful harmony.
2) Then in the 19th century a few historical-critical scholars came along and destroyed this belief.
3) But Trobey swears with an oath that it’s nonetheless perfectly true.
4) And Vinzey reveals through a great revelation that it’s true because GMarcion is the oldest Gospel.
5) And Klinghey, being in the spirit, says under unutterable groans that GMarcion is the oldest Gospel because it best reflects the historical Jesus
6) Therefore, Jesus existed.

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Argument from Trobey, Vinzey and Klinghey Revised and Corrected

1) For over 1000 years the Church has taught that the Gospels agree in beautiful harmony, despite the Celsus's claims of the contrary.
2) Then in the 19th century a few historical-critical scholars came along and destroyed this belief.
3) But Trobey swears with an oath that it’s nonetheless perfectly true.
4) And Vinzey reveals through a great revelation that it’s true because GMarcion is the oldest Gospel.
5) And Klinghey, being in the spirit, says under unutterable groans that GMarcion is the oldest Gospel because it best reflects the historical Jesus, despite of the fact that his precursor, about the priority of GMarcion, was the known mythicist Paul-Louis Couchoud, and the less known mythicists Edwin Johnson, Georges Ory and Guy Fau
6) Therefore, Jesus existed.

Proof from Archaeology

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Argument from human error

1) Since the times of the apostles there have always been people with totally crazy ideas. Just think of the Gnostics!
2) Indeed, every century new fantastic ideas came up, which were also believed by many, many people. Such opinions come and go. For the past hundred years, some have believed that Jesus didn't even exist.
3) At first glance, some of these thoughts even seemed plausible. These ideas somehow corresponded to the spirit of the age. It was wrong, but it was just in the air.
4) In retrospect, of course, that was all nonsense! But to err is human. That's why you don't have to seriously blame anyone for it.
5) At all times people mistakenly believed that their ideas were really true. That's how we humans are. ​Let's not judge ourselves too harshly!
6) Therefore, Jesus existed.

From the files of Professor James McGrath:

Argument from Trump campaign memorabilia:

1) IF Paul was historical...

2) IF what Paul wrote was preserved...

3) IF Paul had credibility in general...

4) IF when Paul wrote "brother of the Lord" he meant literal brother...

5) IF when Paul wrote "brother of the Lord" he meant Jesus...

6) IF when Paul wrote "brother of the Lord" he meant Jesus and thought this was the literal brother of Jesus...

7) IF Paul wrote this based on a second hand witness...

8) IF the second hand witness had a first hand witness...

9) IF we ignore how the above compares to good evidence for Jesus' existence...

10) Then Jesus existed.

WHEN Paul wrote his genuine epistles it was the 1t century of the CE.
WHEN Paul wrote he said Jesus spoke to him and that he didn't lie.

Therefore not only did Jesus exist, he existed in the 1st century of the CE.