That last point, about “religious” or otherwise non-secular philosophers not counting even though they are numerous, for the reason that some personal conviction or seemingly countercultural belief invalidates their views, also appears in biblical scholarship. The “majority” or “consensus” or “established” position on Pauline authorship of, e.g., 2 Thessalonians or Colossians is none of those things, except by fiat of a select few. But those who would or do dissent are made not to count, et voila, a scholarly consensus!