Biblical Criticism & History Forum - earlywritings.com

ARGUMENT FROM CARRIER'S EMPLOYMENT
(1) Richard Carrier argues that Jesus did not exist.
(2) Richard Carrier is not employed at any university.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.

ARGUMENT FROM EHRMAN
(1) Ehrman is a hard-boiled atheist.
(2) Ehrman argues that Jesus existed.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.

ARGUMENT FROM ENCYCLOPEDIA
(1) Julius Caesar is a historical figure.
(2) Jesus is a historical figure.
(3) Just check the encyclopedia.
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed.

ARGUMENT FROM ANALOGY WITH OTHER GUYS
(1) Muhammad, the Buddha, King Arthur, William Tell, Moses, and other guys might not have existed.
(2) But we believe they did.
(3) Jesus might not have existed.
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed.

ARGUMENT FROM HARMONY
(1) Can't we all just get along?
(2) Suggesting that Jesus didn't exist offends some people.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.

REVERSE ARGUMENT FROM SILENCE
(1) Jesus wasn't such a big deal.
(2) Silence in contemporary sources is exactly what we would expect.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.

ARGUMENT FROM BULTMANN
(1) Bultmann hated orthodox Christianity and did everything he could to destroy it.
(2) Bultmann said that Jesus existed.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.

ARGUMENT FROM HAVING A COLLEGE DEGREE
(1) Look at my degree.
(2) Now look at my horse.
(3) Now look back at my degree.
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed.

ARGUMENT FROM CULTURE WARS
(1) Arguing that Jesus didn't exist is unlikely to convince a fundamentalist.
(2) Fighting fundamentalists is the only thing that matters.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.

ARGUMENT FROM FASHIONABILITY
(1) Mythicist ideas made some inroads into scholarship in the early 20th century.
(2) It's the 21st century.
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.