How to deal with the bizarre Jesus mythers

[countgroucho]

I’ve been a longtime lurker but now I’ve decided to post because here I’m dealing with one of the most bizarre encounters I’ve had with a myther. On the God Who Wasn’t There board on IMDB I summarize labarum’s review of the section on the New Testament of the “documentary” in text. The resident myther on the board “megafauna005” however, responds with one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen from a myther. Instead of addressing the points made he says something that I still can’t understand the point of and links to John Loftus. So my question is, how on earth do I deal with the bizarre mythers who make even less sense than most mythers?

[fortigurn]

Ignore them. Seriously.

[ignorantianescia]

You might want to state that your opponent is being unclear, briefly say where he's wrong (like mentioning Josephus against his claim on non-corroboration) and ask him to rebutt your argument. It might impress casual readers, while the bizarre fits of that myther won't impress anybody.

[neodawson]

I agree with the suggestion of just ignoring them. I find it best not to waste time and energy on such people.

[unkleE]

Jun 14, 2012 1:40:55 GMT countgroucho said:

I’ve been a longtime lurker but now I’ve decided to post because here I’m dealing with one of the most bizarre encounters I’ve had with a myther. On the God Who Wasn’t There board on IMDB I summarize labarum’s review of the section on the New Testament of the “documentary” in text. The resident myther on the board “megafauna005” however, responds with one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen from a myther. Instead of addressing the points made he says something that I still can’t understand the point of and links to John Loftus. So my question is, how on earth do I deal with the bizarre mythers who make even less sense than most mythers?

I think everyone has to work out there own approach, probably based on what you're aiming at - convincing the mythicist, influencing the watching crowds, satisfying your own sense of fairness, or just trying to win an argument for ego's sake. The further through that list you go, the longer it will probably take you and the more frustration, but each to their own.

These days, like the others, I will generally give up earlier than I used to. This means I have to accept that the mythicist will probably make comments after I leave about how I didn't have any arguments, but that is probably going to happen even if I argue til the cows come home, so I just have to not worry about that.

But how we exit is probably important. I think politeness and a firm statement as ignoranianescia says is best - insults and snide comments only make the person a tougher nut for the next discussion.

[labarum]

These days I will only engage mythers is a small number of places: private e-mail or message exchanges, a few forums (such as this one) where mythers tend not to congregate in large numbers, and my own website. Other than that, I don't bother.

I think the best is to take it out of the public arena and make it private. Then you eliminate the grandstanding and "me too!" choruses. You also can get a better idea if the person is actually seeking real answers to questions or is a closed-minded polemicist.

For the serious quester, I just point them in the direction of solid material that obviously does not have a Christian bias. Some folks don't realize Jesus mythers are looked upon as circus freaks by historians and once they do, they get it.

For the polemicists, you need to realize they do not really care about evidence rather than their circular system. Whatever single argument you give will simply be reinterpreted (That was an interpolation!) to make it go away. They will argue the lack of evidence for their views was because Constantine destroyed all the evidence and that proves they're right. The lack of evidence becomes their evidence. These folks are a waste of time but I have gotten very good at stringing them on a bit until they reveal their particular brand of "woooooo" and then I give them both barrells and send them away with their tail between their legs. Can't say I'm always proud of that but it is the only sort of argument they seem to understand.