Elenchus

ἜΛΕΓΧΟΣ

eh-LENG-kus /əˈlɛŋkəs/. The cross-examination that catches a contradiction. Socrates made it a method. Paul brought it to this rock.

The RecordΗ·ΑΝΑΓΡΑΦΗACTA{ymyh yrbd

PersonPhilosopherSophistNetSoundnessSageStandingPoints per hourDebates
Fr. AnaniasRaised Protestant in an evangelical nondenominational home, then Lutheran Missouri Synod, before becoming an Orthodox deacon Religio (Worldview) Eastern Orthodox 11.4 Philosopher, 2 Sophist, 85% soundness +3.2 sage, Philosopher Credentials Master's and PhD in philosophy, Bachelor's in classical liberal arts from Thomas Aquinas College, Degree from St Vladimir's Seminary, and 7 more Affiliations Teaches at a university Argues by Debates at the level of paradigms and first principles rather than proof texts, Appeals to the Vincentian canon: what was believed everywhere, always, by all, Tests his own arguments by playing the objector against them, and drops any that fail, and 3 more Style Declines to exegete the verse put to him, calling it a red herring, Speaks in long, slowly built paragraphs and cuts in mid-sentence to make a point, Refuses questions he judges loaded or false dichotomies rather than answering them, and 7 more Points per hour 11.1 Philosopher, 1.9 Sophist Measured speaks in short bursts: 1458 turns averaging 2.5 seconds, longest 15 seconds, across 3 debates Best at: framework objection (2), homologia (2), evidence (1) Caught at: misrepresentation (1) 2 debates (Neos): Fr. Ananias and Jay Dyer vs Matt Slick: Orthodoxy vs Protestantism Debate; Debate! Pagan vs. Orthodox: Logos, Language & Metaphysics - Jay Dyer Vs CB Robertson; Jay Dyer vs Ryan Dawson Debate: Theism vs Anti-Theism, Christianity vs Nihilism, Relativism, Atheism The whole record Fr. Ananias11.42+9.485%16Philosopher 88%11.1 / 1.92 debates Neos
Ryan TerbibullRyan Terbibull is a lifelong Nashvillian and a 33rd-degree Freemason whose great-grandfather, a Church of Christ song leader, was also a Mason. Religio (Worldview) Protestant 24.6 Philosopher, 4 Sophist, 86% soundness +1.2 sage, Philosopher Credentials 33rd-degree Freemason, a Mason for about eighteen years Affiliations National City Club (private club in Nashville) Argues by Source-authority objection: no Masonic writer (Pike, Mackey) speaks authoritatively for the craft, insider testimony…, Non-committal: Masonry treated as a moral/philosophical association, not a metaphysical or religious system, and 1 more Style answers by reading prefaces and passages aloud from Masonic books, with page numbers, asks for definitions of terms before engaging Points per hour 50.1 Philosopher, 8.1 Sophist Measured speaks in short bursts: 560 turns averaging 3.2 seconds, longest 15 seconds, across 1 debate Best at: direct answer (5), evidence (5), concession (4) Caught at: misrepresentation (2), dodge (1) 1 debate (Neos): Jay Dyer vs 2 Freemason Christians The whole record Ryan Terbibull24.64+20.686%5Philosopher 87%50.1 / 8.11 debate Neos
Jake the Muslim MetaphysicianJake, known as the Muslim Metaphysician, is an Athari Muslim apologist who defends tawhid against the Trinity from a nominalist standpoint. Religio (Worldview) Sunni Islam (Sunni (Athari)) 36.2 Philosopher, 9 Sophist, 80% soundness +1.2 sage, Philosopher Affiliations runs a video channel explaining Athari positions Argues by nominalism about universals, grounds first principles in the fitra, a direct non-inferential knowing Style reads long quotations from scholars, including his opponent's own tradition, presses for yes-or-no answers and repeats the question until he gets one Points per hour 29.2 Philosopher, 7.3 Sophist Measured speaks in short bursts: 1091 turns averaging 4.1 seconds, longest 29 seconds, across 1 debate Best at: direct answer (7), explicit argument (7), evidence (6) Caught at: ad hominem (3), tu quoque (2), non sequitur (1) 1 debate (Neos): HEATED DEBATE: Jay Dyer Vs Jake Muslim Metaphysician | Trinity Vs Tawhid -Modern Day Debate The whole record Jake the Muslim Metaphysician36.29+27.280%5Philosopher 81%29.2 / 7.31 debate Neos
Indiana BrunnerIndiana Brunner is a Protestant from Louisiana with Catholic family, who posts online critiques of Catholicism. Religio (Worldview) Protestant 19 Philosopher, 6 Sophist, 76% soundness +1.2 sage, Philosopher Affiliations posts content focused on critiquing Catholicism Argues by tests a proposed text against scripture already known, on the Berean model of Acts 17:11 Style opens with a public apology for misrepresenting his opponent, declines to answer questions outside his study, saying so plainly, objects when interrupted and asks for room to finish Points per hour 56.8 Philosopher, 17.9 Sophist Measured speaks in short bursts: 422 turns averaging 2.9 seconds, longest 16 seconds, across 1 debate Best at: explicit argument (5), clarification (4), concession (2) Caught at: begging the question (1), dodge (1), misrepresentation (1) 1 debate (Neos): FULL SAVAGE DEBATE: Jay Dyer Vs Indiana Brunner: Protestant Bible Wrong??? The whole record Indiana Brunner196+1376%5Philosopher 77%56.8 / 17.91 debate Neos
Trent HornTrent Horn is a Christian apologist and host of The Council of Trent who, in the clips played here, criticises modern "blood sports" debate culture. Religio (Worldview) Roman Catholic 15 Philosopher, 5 Sophist, 75% soundness +1.8 sage, Philosopher Argues by natural theology built on foundationalism: reasoning up from self-evident truths, via Agrippa's trilemma Style lays out his case as numbered points and recaps them, quotes scripture and church fathers at length, verse by verse, returns repeatedly to the burden of proof and the circularity dilemma Points per hour 18.5 Philosopher, 6.2 Sophist Measured speaks in short bursts: 630 turns averaging 4.6 seconds, longest 24 seconds, across 1 debate Best at: direct answer (4), concession (2), evidence (2) Caught at: misrepresentation (4) 1 debate (Neos): DEBATE: TRENT HORN VS. JAY DYER: SHOULD CHRISTIANS ACCEPT NATURAL THEOLOGY? The whole record Trent Horn155+1075%8Philosopher 76%18.5 / 6.21 debate Neos
Daniel HaqiqatjouA Muslim debater and founder of Muslim Skeptic who defends Islam against intellectual challenges, including Christianity. Religio (Worldview) Sunni Islam (Sunni) 52 Philosopher, 20 Sophist, 72% soundness +2.7 sage, Dialectician Affiliations Muslim Skeptic (YouTube/Rumble channel) and muslimskeptic.com, which he founded Argues by endorses the historical critical method and appeals to academic consensus as evidence Style returns again and again to one demand, that his opponents condemn child marriage, answers by quoting Bible verses back at his opponents as counter-examples, lays out numbered lists of examples in his opening, and 2 more Points per hour 30.9 Philosopher, 11.9 Sophist Measured speaks in short bursts: 1309 turns averaging 4.6 seconds, longest 43 seconds, across 2 debates Best at: evidence (13), direct answer (7), clarification (4) Caught at: misrepresentation (6), dodge (2), straw man (2) 2 debates (Neos): DEBATE: CHRISTIANITY OR ISLAM: WHICH IS THE RELIGION OF THE PROPHETS? JAY DYER VS DANIEL HAQIQATJOU; Religion Debate: Islam vs Christianity The whole record Daniel Haqiqatjou5220+3272%13Dialectician 74%30.9 / 11.92 debates Neos
Yaron BrookHost of the Yaron Brook Show, former executive director and CEO and now chairman of the board of the Ayn Rand Institute, and author of books on inequality and capitalism. Religio (Worldview) Objectivist (Atheist (, Ayn Rand Institute)) 9.4 Philosopher, 4 Sophist, 70% soundness +1.2 sage, Dialectician Affiliations Ayn Rand Institute (former executive director/CEO, current chairman of the board), Host of the Yaron Brook Show Argues by Foundationalist; builds knowledge on self-evident axioms: existence exists, and consciousness Style talks over the opponent during the opponent's cross-examination and pushes back on being interrupted, illustrates his points with everyday examples, such as a child dropping a spoon, points listeners to Rand's books instead of explaining the argument in full himself Points per hour 21.0 Philosopher, 8.9 Sophist Measured speaks in short bursts: 497 turns averaging 3.2 seconds, longest 15 seconds, across 1 debate Best at: explicit argument (3), direct answer (2), distinguo (1) Caught at: begging the question (1), hasty generalisation (1), misrepresentation (1) 1 debate (Neos): Jay Dyer vs Yaron Brook Debate TAG, Science, and the Future of Civilization The whole record Yaron Brook9.44+5.470%5Dialectician 71%21.0 / 8.91 debate Neos
Muslim LanternMuslim Lantern is a Muslim debater with his own channel who argued Tawheed against Jay Dyer's Trinity, after an earlier exchange with Andrew Wilson that same night. Religio (Worldview) Sunni Islam (Sunni) 17.6 Philosopher, 9 Sophist, 66% soundness +1.2 sage, Dialectician Affiliations runs a channel with videos on evidence for Islam Argues by judges earlier scripture by the Quran: accepts what agrees with it, rejects what contradicts it, stays agnostic on the rest Style reads scholars' quotations with titles and page numbers, answers challenges by asking his opponent to define the terms, asks the moderators to enforce turns and mute his opponent Points per hour 45.8 Philosopher, 23.4 Sophist Measured speaks in measured turns, asks often: 255 turns averaging 5.4 seconds, longest 62 seconds, across 1 debate Best at: direct answer (4), clarification (3), explicit argument (2) Caught at: misrepresentation (2), ad hominem (1), equivocation (1) 1 debate (Neos): FULL Muslim Lantern Vs Jay Dyer Debate / SNEAKO - Islam / Christianity The whole record Muslim Lantern17.69+8.666%5Dialectician 67%45.8 / 23.41 debate Neos
CB RobertsonA married construction worker who says he has studied philosophy for nine years and has written a book with arguments against Christianity. Religio (Worldview) Pagan ((non-), per the debate framing) 13.4 Philosopher, 9 Sophist, 59% soundness +1.2 sage, Dialectician Argues by Builds his worldview organically from the bottom up, without a top-down system, and prefers a cooperative, conversational kind of inquiry Style apologizes and concedes points openly, including admitting he came unprepared, supports his points by naming sources and books instead of formal arguments, stops to ask clarifying questions about his opponent's terms Points per hour 15.0 Philosopher, 10.1 Sophist Measured speaks in short bursts: 1164 turns averaging 2.8 seconds, longest 17 seconds, across 1 debate Best at: concession (4), direct answer (1), escape between the horns (1) Caught at: ad hominem (2), appeal to authority (1), dodge (1) 1 debate (Neos): Debate! Pagan vs. Orthodox: Logos, Language & Metaphysics - Jay Dyer Vs CB Robertson The whole record CB Robertson13.49+4.459%5Dialectician 60%15.0 / 10.11 debate Neos
Austin PetersonAustin Peterson is a libertarian from Missouri who hosts a daily morning talk show and once ran for president. Religio (Worldview) not stated 17 Philosopher, 13 Sophist, 56% soundness +2 sage, Rhetorician Affiliations Hosts the Wake Up America show at rumble.com/apforliberty ("AP for Liberty") Argues by triangulation: gathering facts first rather than starting from revealed truth Style answers challenges with personal insults, declines metaethical questions as boring, argues through long runs of historical examples Points per hour 27.5 Philosopher, 21.1 Sophist Measured speaks in short bursts, asks often: 572 turns averaging 3.9 seconds, longest 29 seconds, across 1 debate Best at: direct answer (6), evidence (3), explicit argument (3) Caught at: ad hominem (2), dodge (2), self-contradiction (2) 1 debate (Neos): Debate MELTDOWN: Worst Opponent Yet: Austin Peterson Libertarian Debate Vs Jay Dyer The whole record Austin Peterson1713+456%9Rhetorician 58%27.5 / 21.11 debate Neos
Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: To the unknown god. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. Paul, on the Areopagus. Acts 17:22–23

Palaismata (kill shots)

The throws that ended an exchange: an argument turned, a question forced, a point settled, each one upheld by the bench as decisive.

1 of 4

“… if the son is not equal to the father because he doesn't spirate, then the spirit has to also spirate. But nobody teaches the the spirit spirates or generates a person. So by your own argument, you subordinated the spirit…”

— Jay DyerantistrephonThe Catholicism or Orthodoxy DEBATE: Tim… at 1:32:38

1 of 4

“But you say you know how females think though. You did say that.”

— KimberlyperitropeHEATED Debate w/ Feminists. Wage Gap, Pro… at 2:59:03

1 of 4

“Same thing but flips for your end. No offense. Whatever you guys have is invisible.”

— IslaperitropeHEATED Debate w/ Feminists. Wage Gap, Pro… at 2:19:05

Skōmmata (zingers)

The most quotable gibes, and each one scored on the Sophist ledger. Sharp, and beside the point.

1 of 4

“I believe that God has confirmed and blessed the choice of those books.”

— Pastor Pbegging the questionJay Dyer vs Pastor P Debate Orthodoxy vs… at 44:31

1 of 4

“That's you you got the mindset of a woman. Women believe in intuition.”

— Cooleyad hominem@deanwithrs Gets DESTROYED In Heated Debate… at 23:32

1 of 4

“That's a p and also not p. You just contradicted yourself. That's what I said. We just didn't understand what I No. I did understand what you just said. You you just said that the laws of logic is conceptual.”

— Cooleymisrepresentation@deanwithrs Gets DESTROYED In Heated Debate… at 19:12

Stoa of fallacies (hall of fallacies)

Every fallacy the referee has caught across all debates, ranked by how often it turns up, with the worst example of each.

misrepresentation

1 of 60

“Jay refuses to condemn Thomas Aquinas as a pedophile. That's shocking. I hope all the Christian listeners, especially the Protestants listening, note that these heretics, Sam and Jay, are down with pedophilia.” — Daniel Haqiqatjou
Religion Debate: Islam vs Christianity, watch at 2:40:29. All 60 instances

ad hominem

1 of 49

“I don't call you, like, a basement dwelling retard that looks like you smell bad and you haven't taken a shower in a month. ... If you're gonna throw me your TV, you should take a shower, retard.” — Austin Peterson
Debate MELTDOWN: Worst Opponent Yet: Austin…, watch at 1:13:28. All 49 instances

straw man

1 of 24

“I don't care about your definition of power.” — Jake the Muslim Metaphysician
HEATED DEBATE: Jay Dyer Vs Jake Muslim…, watch at 1:27:50. All 24 instances

dodge

1 of 17

“No. I don't. Because I think that shit's boring, bro.” — Austin Peterson
Debate MELTDOWN: Worst Opponent Yet: Austin…, watch at 57:36. All 17 instances

self-contradiction

1 of 16

“I can't [can] be arbitrary when I wanna be arbitrary. I can't [can do] whatever the fuck. ... It's not a it's not a hard debate format, so I can do whatever I want.” — Austin Peterson
Debate MELTDOWN: Worst Opponent Yet: Austin…, watch at 1:00:26. All 16 instances

begging the question

1 of 14

“I believe that God has confirmed and blessed the choice of those books.” — Pastor P
Jay Dyer vs Pastor P Debate Orthodoxy vs…, watch at 44:31. All 14 instances

hasty generalisation

1 of 11

“… every Protestant does this gnostic anti matter [anti-material] reading into these texts. I know I used to be a Protestant.” — Jay Dyer
FULL SAVAGE DEBATE: Jay Dyer Vs Indiana…, watch at 33:47. All 11 instances

non sequitur

1 of 10

“That's not my position. When did I ever say that I'm an empiricist? Well, if you're a nominalist, you're an empiricist.” — Jay Dyer
HEATED DEBATE: Jay Dyer Vs Jake Muslim…, watch at 1:15:41. All 10 instances

Recently judged All the agōnes

Bill: So-crates. The only true wisdom consists in knowing that you know nothing.
Ted: That's us, dude.
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, 1989