[Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy]

Or just get some people to claim there were 500 witnesses that died rather than disavow the truth of their claims. It doesn't take much to start a religion.

Especially when you control the world government of the day (the Roman Empire) and have the power to kill anyone who disagrees with your point of view, and the power to burn all of the books which contradict your interpretation of events. Not to mention the power to write or rewrite your own books and get them accepted as gospel, literally. Given that kind of power, "finding" 500 witnesses is a piece of cake.

This whole "argument" that people don't martyr themselves for something they don't believe in is a huge, ridiculous "straw man" argument, since no one has ever alleged that anyone did this. The "true believer" has never been in short supply; no one needs to rely on phony believers when the real thing is plentiful, eager, and willing to sacrifice life, money, and everything, for the belief. Any belief.

[jlogajan]

The "true believer" has never been in short supply; no one needs to rely on phony believers when the real thing is plentiful, eager, and willing to sacrifice life, money, and everything, for the belief. Any belief.

Yes indeed.

[balrog666]

The "true believer" has never been in short supply; no one needs to rely on phony believers when the real thing is plentiful, eager, and willing to sacrifice life, money, and everything, for the belief. Any belief.