Careful Analysis of Objections to the Swoon Theory: Objection #6 (Who Overpowered the Guards?)
WHERE WE ARE
Careful argument evaluation is the heart and soul of critical thinking. But in order to do a careful evaluation of an argument, one must first have a clear understanding of the argument that is to be evaluated. Careful argument analysis is usually required in order to obtain a clear understanding of an argument, so having the knowledge, skills, and desire to do careful argument analysis is crucial to being a critical thinker.
I have carefully evaluated nine objections against the Swoon Theory, objections put forward by Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli in Chapter 8 of their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. I arrived at the conclusion that all nine objections FAIL, and thus that their case against the Swoon Theory FAILS, and their case for the resurrection of Jesus FAILS. But in order to be in a position to do this, I had to first do a careful argument analysis of each objection (each objection constitutes an argument against the Swoon Theory).
In this post I will walk through my process of careful argument analysis, step-by-step, showing how the sausage gets made. The process of careful argument analysis that I use here can be applied to almost any text or speech that contains an argument or arguments. This post will focus on Objection #6 against the Swoon Theory.
ANALYSIS OF OBJECTION #6
Objection #6 is the first of three objections that are based on a Gospel other than the Gospel of John (or in addition to the Gospel of John):
OBJECTION #6: WHO OVERPOWERED THE GUARDS?
Here is Objection #6 by Kreeft and Tacelli against the Swoon Theory:
How were the Roman guards at the tomb overpowered by a swooning corpse? Or by unarmed disciples? And if the disciples did it, they knowingly lied when they wrote the Gospels, and we are into the conspiracy theory, which we will refute shortly.
(HCA, p.183)
IDENTIFICATION STEPS
How were the Roman guards at the tomb overpowered by a swooning corpse? – This is a rhetorical question, so it needs to be restated as a claim or claims. The main historical claim they are asserting is this:
1. [IF Jesus survived his crucifixion, THEN Jesus was too weak and frail to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb.]
Or by unarmed disciples? – This is a rhetorical question, so it needs to be restated as a claim or claims. The historical claims they are asserting are these:
2. [Jesus’ disciples were unarmed.]
3. [IF Jesus’ disciples were unarmed, THEN Jesus’ disciples would have been unable to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb.]
The third sentence asserts at least three claims that constitute a sub-argument:
4. [if the disciples did it, they knowingly lied when they wrote the Gospels,]
5. [and we are into the conspiracy theory,]
6. [which we will refute shortly.]
CLARIFICATION STEPS
1. [IF Jesus survived his crucifixion, THEN Jesus was too weak and frail to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb.]
=>1a. IF Jesus survived his crucifixion, THEN Jesus was too weak and frail to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
2. [Jesus’ disciples were unarmed.]
=>2a. Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples were unarmed on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
3. [IF Jesus’ disciples were unarmed, THEN Jesus’ disciples would have been unable to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb.]
=>3a. IF Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples were unarmed on the weekend after Jesus was crucified, THEN some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples would have been unable to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
4. [if the disciples did it, they knowingly lied when they wrote the Gospels,]
=>4a. IF some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified, THEN the disciples among Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples who wrote the Gospels knowingly lied about the resurrection of Jesus when they wrote the Gospels.
5. [and we are into the conspiracy theory,]
=>5a. IF the disciples among Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples who wrote the Gospels knowingly lied about the resurrection of Jesus when they wrote the Gospels, THEN the Conspiracy Theory is true.
6. [which we will refute shortly.]
=>6a. Kreeft and Tacelli refuted the Conspiracy Theory (in Chapter 8 of HCA).
FILL IN STEPS
Once again, Kreeft and Tacelli failed to state the conclusion of their argument:
A. The Swoon Theory is FALSE.
The first rhetorical question not only implies claim (1a) but also a sub-argument based on (1a):
B. IF the Swoon Theory is true, THEN Jesus survived his crucifixion.
1a. IF Jesus survived his crucifixion, THEN Jesus was too weak and frail to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
C. IF Jesus was too weak and frail to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified, THEN Jesus did NOT overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
THEREFORE:
D. IF the Swoon Theory is true, THEN Jesus did NOT overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
The second rhetorical question implies two claims that form part of a sub-argument:
2a. Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples were unarmed on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
3a. IF Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples were unarmed on the weekend after Jesus was crucified, THEN some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples would have been unable to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
E. IF some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples would have been unable to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after his crucifixion, THEN it is NOT the case that some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding the tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
THEREFORE:
F. It is NOT the case that some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding the tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
The third sentence makes three claims that provide another sub-argument supporting claim (F):
4a. IF some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified, THEN the disciples among Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples who wrote the Gospels knowingly lied about the resurrection of Jesus when they wrote the Gospels.
5a. IF the disciples among Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples who wrote the Gospels knowingly lied about the resurrection of Jesus when they wrote the Gospels, THEN the Conspiracy Theory is true.
6a. Kreeft and Tacelli refuted the Conspiracy Theory (in Chapter 8 of HCA).
THEREFORE:
F. It is NOT the case that some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
The first rhetorical question makes a sub-argument for claim (D):
D. IF the Swoon Theory is true, THEN Jesus did NOT overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
The second rhetorical question and the third sentence both provide sub-arguments for claim (F):
F. It is NOT the case that some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
If we add one more unstated premise to (D) and (F), we will have an argument for the ultimate conclusion (A):
D. IF the Swoon Theory is true, THEN Jesus did NOT overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
F. It is NOT the case that some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
G. IF the Swoon Theory is true, THEN either (a) Jesus overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified or (b) some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
THEREFORE:
A. The Swoon Theory is FALSE.
DIAGRAMMING THE ARGUMENT
D. IF the Swoon Theory is true, THEN Jesus did NOT overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
F. It is NOT the case that some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
G. IF the Swoon Theory is true, THEN either (a) Jesus overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified or (b) some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
THEREFORE:
A. The Swoon Theory is FALSE.
B. IF the Swoon Theory is true, THEN Jesus survived his crucifixion.
1a. IF Jesus survived his crucifixion, THEN Jesus was too weak and frail to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
C. IF Jesus was too weak and frail to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified, THEN Jesus did NOT overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
THEREFORE:
D. IF the Swoon Theory is true, THEN Jesus did NOT overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
2a. Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples were unarmed on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
3a. IF Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples were unarmed on the weekend after Jesus was crucified, THEN some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples would have been unable to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
E. IF some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples would have been unable to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after his crucifixion, THEN it is NOT the case that some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding the tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
THEREFORE:
F. It is NOT the case that some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding the tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
4a. IF some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified, THEN the disciples among Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples who wrote the Gospels knowingly lied about the resurrection of Jesus when they wrote the Gospels.
5a. IF the disciples among Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples who wrote the Gospels knowingly lied about the resurrection of Jesus when they wrote the Gospels, THEN the Conspiracy Theory is true.
6a. Kreeft and Tacelli refuted the Conspiracy Theory (in Chapter 8 of HCA).
THEREFORE:
F. It is NOT the case that some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
THE STATED PREMISES OF OBJECTION #6
1a. IF Jesus survived his crucifixion, THEN Jesus was too weak and frail to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
2a. Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples were unarmed on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
3a. IF Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples were unarmed on the weekend after Jesus was crucified, THEN some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples would have been unable to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
4a. IF some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified, THEN the disciples among Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples who wrote the Gospels knowingly lied about the resurrection of Jesus when they wrote the Gospels.
5a. IF the disciples among Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples who wrote the Gospels knowingly lied about the resurrection of Jesus when they wrote the Gospels, THEN the Conspiracy Theory is true.
6a. Kreeft and Tacelli refuted the Conspiracy Theory (in Chapter 8 of HCA).
THE UNSTATED ASSUMPTIONS/PREMISES OF OBJECTION #6
A. The Swoon Theory is FALSE.
B. IF the Swoon Theory is true, THEN Jesus survived his crucifixion.
C. IF Jesus was too weak and frail to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified, THEN Jesus did NOT overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
D. IF the Swoon Theory is true, THEN Jesus did NOT overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
E. IF some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples would have been unable to overpower the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after his crucifixion, THEN it is NOT the case that some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding the tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
F. It is NOT the case that some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
G. IF the Swoon Theory is true, THEN either (a) Jesus overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding his tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified or (b) some (or all) of Jesus’ eleven remaining disciples overpowered the Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb on the weekend after Jesus was crucified.
EVALUATION OF OBJECTION #6
For my careful evaluation of Objection #6 against the Swoon Theory, see these posts on The Secular Frontier: