One of the best ways to respond to a Jesus Mythicist is to ask questions. Apologist Greg Koukl has developed a model called The Columbo Tactic, based on his book Tactics.
Instead of just arguing with a Mythicist, try to turn things back on them with questions. One of the most helpful is “What do you mean by that?”
So here some examples of how it could be used:
“Jesus was based on other pagan figures that experienced a virgin birth.”
What do you mean by a virgin birth? That there was no father involved? That the mother never had intercourse before? That there were just supernatural elements?
“Jesus was based on other pagan figures that experienced a resurrection.”
What do you mean by a resurrection? That the figure returned to life or had a pleasant afterlife? That they were raised bodily or some sign of hope supernaturally appeared?
One of the major problems with the Jesus Myth Theory is that they use phrases like virgin birth and resurrection from the dead in a different ways from Christians. Asking clarifying questions will go a long way toward making a more productive conversation.
