You don’t have to convince millions of people all at once, in one generation, that they saw something, or even that their parents did.
You could, instead, convince a little cult today, and get that cult to grow over several generations until it is millions strong.
Or, instead, you could convince a small priestly caste that thus-and-so is a good legend to write down in what becomes the holy book; and teach millions of followers that everything written down in the priests’ holy book (which they can’t read) is true. Then some generations later, when there is an established tradition that whatever the priests’ book says, is true, when the masses finally do get to read the priests’ book, they will believe it too.
This is all obvious to me. It was pointed out in detail (along with other possibilities) during the debate, by myself and others. It was considered “unpersuasive.”
I actually made headway with one person (honestly he’s one of the most reasonable, fun to debate with guys I know) by saying “look, even if you consider the (fake story gets propogated somehow) idea impossible, divine miracles are ALSO impossible. So until we find more evidence, Mass Revelation can’t possibly be MORE likely than 50%.
You don’t have to convince millions of people all at once, in one generation, that they saw something, or even that their parents did.
You could, instead, convince a little cult today, and get that cult to grow over several generations until it is millions strong.
Or, instead, you could convince a small priestly caste that thus-and-so is a good legend to write down in what becomes the holy book; and teach millions of followers that everything written down in the priests’ holy book (which they can’t read) is true. Then some generations later, when there is an established tradition that whatever the priests’ book says, is true, when the masses finally do get to read the priests’ book, they will believe it too.
This is all obvious to me. It was pointed out in detail (along with other possibilities) during the debate, by myself and others. It was considered “unpersuasive.”
I actually made headway with one person (honestly he’s one of the most reasonable, fun to debate with guys I know) by saying “look, even if you consider the (fake story gets propogated somehow) idea impossible, divine miracles are ALSO impossible. So until we find more evidence, Mass Revelation can’t possibly be MORE likely than 50%.