(April 23, 2014 at 11:04 pm)Minimalist Wrote: What pisses me off about the historicists is their inevitable assumption that there "must be" a core of historical truth to the story. When confronted with the question of whether or not there was a historical core to Osiris, Ishtar, Zeus, Shiva and Quetzlcoatl they invariably resort to special pleading. "Obviously THOSE are myths....but not our godboy jesus...." And so it goes....right down the shitter.
That's when the exchange manages to progress that far. I've had these discussions enough times that I know the drill:
- Stage 1: Introductions or "Herp, derp, stooopid mytherzzz". Wade through not less than three separate posts of ad hominems. First they just laugh and act incredulous that you deny the obvious. In their second ad hom post, they'll call you names. In the third ad hom post, they'll ask if you also deny the holocaust. If you persist in demanding evidence, you'll make it to...
- Stage 2: The Dance Begins. You will have to demand in at least six posts, not less, to see the evidence that compels a belief in a Historical Jesus. During these exchanges, you will get to witness their performance art of repeating the claim that scholarly concensus agrees with them and that settles it. Only persistant demands for evidence will earn your way to...
- Stage 3: The Usual Suspects. Oh, look, here's the Annals of Tacitus, presented like you'd never heard about it before.
- Stage 4: More Usual Suspects. Josephus finds his way back to the witness stand. No really, the TF is "partially authentic". What's that? What do we base that on? Well, some scholars say...
- Stage 5: Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel. Hey, look, here's Seutonius talking about a Chrestus in Rome circa 50 CE. Could be. Could be. And what's this? We have a 4th century Talmudic reference to a Yeshua with five disciples. It just might be...
- Stage 6: The Bible Tells Me So. You know that "Paul" guy? Yeah, the one who's attributed writings I helped expose as subject to all manner of forgery and interpolation? Well, he says...
- Stage 7: Hitting the Reset Button. Ah, why should I explain anything to a stupid mythicist like you? I bet you also doubt the holocaust happened...
It's like they receive special training. This is the drill every... single... time.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
