Before I learned the term "ad hoc hypothesis", I contemptuously referred to such apologetics as "fudge factors".
Famous examples in Christian apologetics:
"Maybe Luke was talking about Mary's linage."
"Maybe Jesus had two identical temple cleansings which is why John and the three synoptics seem to disagree about when it happened."
"Maybe Luke 2:2 should be translated to 'before Cyrennius was governor.' or maybe he had two govenorships of Syria."
"Maybe Judas hung himself and the rope broke and then he split his gut open on the ground."
"Maybe Jesus was the same substance as the Father and yet a different person, which is why he could pray to God and yet forgive sins."
"Maybe when Luke says 'about 30', he meant that Jesus was 37." (my favorite)
If you say "maybe, maybe, maybe" enough times, you can believe anything, especially when you require nothing to justify your ad hocs than what you can pull out of the air.
Famous examples in Christian apologetics:
"Maybe Luke was talking about Mary's linage."
"Maybe Jesus had two identical temple cleansings which is why John and the three synoptics seem to disagree about when it happened."
"Maybe Luke 2:2 should be translated to 'before Cyrennius was governor.' or maybe he had two govenorships of Syria."
"Maybe Judas hung himself and the rope broke and then he split his gut open on the ground."
"Maybe Jesus was the same substance as the Father and yet a different person, which is why he could pray to God and yet forgive sins."
"Maybe when Luke says 'about 30', he meant that Jesus was 37." (my favorite)
If you say "maybe, maybe, maybe" enough times, you can believe anything, especially when you require nothing to justify your ad hocs than what you can pull out of the air.
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