I critique Mel Gibson’s claim on the Joe Rogan Experience that “nobody dies for a lie,” which many apologists have used in the past to argue that the martyrdom of Jesus’ disciples supports the truth of the resurrection, as they wouldn’t die for something they knew to be false.

First, I challenge this by questioning the historical evidence for the apostles’ martyrdom, noting that accounts are late, based on oral traditions, and often embellished with legendary elements, such as milk flowing from Paul’s severed neck. Even if the apostles were martyred, the reasons for their martyrdom are uncertain due to the difficulty of establishing motivations and crucial details surrounding the apostles’ deaths, like whether it would have mattered if they’d recanted. I further undermine the apologist’s slogan by proposing scenarios where someone could die for a known lie, such as being falsely accused and coerced into confession under torture; and by highlighting human irrationality, like people confessing to capital crimes they didn’t commit. Finally, Matthew Hartke recounts the story of the Millerites, alerts us to the shortcomings of folk psychology, and explains how cognitive dissonance could explain Christian origins.

Ultimately, “nobody dies for a lie” fails under scrutiny, as history and human behavior are far more complex than the claim allows.

Linktree

Matthew Hartke – How Cognitive Dissonance Explains Christianity

Shameless Popery – The Hidden Danger of Mel Gibson

Bart Ehrman – Were the disciples martyred for their belief in the resurrection?

Joshua Schachterle – How did the apostles die?

Acts of Paul

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