The discussion critiques Mel Gibson's claim that 'nobody dies for a lie,' focusing on the questionable historical evidence of the apostles' martyrdom. It explores how many martyrdom stories are embellished and often mythological. Hypothetical scenarios reveal that individuals can die for beliefs they may not truly hold. Additionally, the psychology of faith is examined, particularly how believers adapt after disillusionment, exemplified by the Millerites' response to failed prophecies. Ultimately, the complexity of human behavior challenges the straightforward notion behind martyrdom.
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Milk Miracle
The Acts of Paul claims milk flowed from Paul's neck after his beheading.
This pseudepigraphal text, once treated as scripture, exemplifies embellishment in martyrdom accounts.
insights INSIGHT
Peter's Crucifixion
The Acts of Peter, also not in the New Testament, first mentions Peter's upside-down crucifixion.
Jerome later attributed this to Peter's humility, highlighting evolving narratives.
insights INSIGHT
Dying for a Known Lie
Even if the apostles were martyred, they could have died for a lie they knew.
A scenario: falsely accused, coerced confession under torture, and execution.
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This book provides a detailed commentary on the Book of Daniel, offering insights and interpretations of the biblical text. Written by renowned biblical scholar Raymond Edward Brown, it is part of the Pamphlet Bible Series and aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the scripture.
Acts of Paul
Glenn E. Snyder
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.
Counter Apologetics 
