Certum est quia impossibile est
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Certum est quia impossibile est is Latin for "[this] is certain because [it] is impossible." It was coined by the influential early Christian philosopher Tertullian as argument in support of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The thrust of certum est quia impossibile est is that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so extraordinary that it must be true, otherwise Christians wouldn't use it as an argument to convert people.
By Tertullian's logic, if Christians were not proclaiming truth, but simply aiming to win converts, they would not choose a central tenet of faith that was so extraordinary. A "false" religion would presumably highlight tenets that are more attractive than the history of Christ's passion, and more plausible than his resurrection. Therefore, this means that Christianity is not false, and the life and resurrection of Jesus really happened.
This argument can be logically used to argue for the existence of reptiloids from the fourth dimension, a pantheon of three hundred million gods, a levitating noodle dish, or anything people might believe in. It should also be noted that such an idea defies the very concept of logic and the scientific method. According to Tertullian's twisted brain, if any absurd argument is presented in a debate, it is true, and the more absurd, the more likely to be true. Thus, the rebirth of Jesus would be less likely to be true then dynasties of shape-shifting lizards who secretly rule the earth, as the latter argument is more likely to be true.
[edit] See also
- Argument from incredulity: The exact opposite of this argument.