Reddit reviews The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom

"Witnessed by hundreds. Unless of course they were all lying."

None of them wrote about it, so what evidence is there of that?

Also, the gospel authors (who are totally anonymous) were not eyewitnesses, and nobody else wrote about it.

And nobody was "hunted down and murdered" for anything. The martyrdom of the early church fathers is largely legendary and not based in actual historical fact.

>You seem to be clinging on to "what ifs" What if it WAS debunked, but it was destroyed?

It wouldn't have to have been written or destroyed even if it was. We do know that there was massive disagreement in early Christianity with many competing sects with different claims, including, for example, early Jewish Christians who accused Paul of being a liar and an anti-Jewish con artist.

And there is no evidence for any disciples being killed for their beliefs. Here's a book written by a New Testament professor at Noter Dame: The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom by Candida Moss.

It looks like you have not been exposed to much critical academic New Testament scholarship. A lot of your assumptions are mistaken.

> The apostle James'

Yes, that ONE death is, you're right. But you also said "willingly killed". That's not in the James story. Nothing about "James, we're gonna kill you unless you recant", and James says "Bring it on!". That part is not in the bible. So I'm afraid I can't give you James.

> King Herod had James “put to death with the sword,” likely a reference to beheading.

Ironically, his martyrdom is also attested by multiple secular historians - but they are unanimously agreed that he was stoned and/or beaten to death after he gave a speech.

> While he wasn't one of the twelve, the first Christian martyr, Stephen

Okay, so doesn't count as one of the disciples. Not an eye witness, just a second-generation member of the church. Moving on....

> In the first 300 years of the church it was common for Christians to be killed for their faith.

Maybe here and there, but it was never as common as you think. This is another element of urban legend. Check out The Myth Of Persecution.

But anyway - 300 years? Who needs that? Remember, your claim was about "why the disciples were willingly killed for asserting their faith".

So, you've got James, who was killed although you don't know whether willingly or not. That's it. You don't know about any other disciples who were martyred, especially willingly.

So, in the spirit of honesty, can I expect you will stop repeating that "the disciples (plural!) who were willingly killed for asserting their faith in Jesus"?

I have a book recommendation for you.

Regarding the point about martyrdom, check this out.