The author makes the following tired apologetics:
What about the NT's teachings of morality? What of them? Do you know of ANY phony cult that doesn't teach morality? THEY ALL DO! Just because the Moonies are for everlasting marriage and are taught all sorts of morality doesn't mean that Moon isn't a cult leader! Even Hitler taught the Germans not to give beer to infants!
What about the martyrs? I've done this one SO many times! Of course every cult and religion has its martyrs - SO WHAT? Does this mean that every cult and religion is true? The author acknowledges the martyrs of Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses etc but claims that Christianity is different because the Martyrs saw Jesus. First; There is NO proof that the apostle martyr stories are true anymore than the miraculous Saint stories of the Roman Catholic Church. Second; The first Gospel AND the first persecutions were over 30-40 years after Jesus' ministry - well after the lifespan of most of the original witnesses. Third; MANY cultists die during the lives of their cult leaders which is even more impressive than Christians who died many decades after Jesus' death. I recommend that Christians read up on the PBMA cult which sports martyrs and a Messiah who supposedly has duplicated Jesus' miracles. It sounds a lot like 2nd century Chrsitianity.
Summary: If we accept that a cultist dying for his cult is proof of the cult's validity than we must accept the truth of "Branch Davidian", "Heaven's Gate" and "Jim Jones". Not only did many cultists die willingly for these cults but the cult leader also died.