RE: Common Apologist Fallacies
July 7, 2011 at 4:51 pm
(This post was last modified: July 7, 2011 at 5:06 pm by DeistPaladin.)
More
Shifting the Burden of Proof
The burden of proof belongs with one who states to know that X is true. The one who doubts or is skeptical of a claim is not charged with proving the negative. Also see "argument from ignorance".
Examples:
"You can't prove that there is no God"
"Atheists can't account for why the Big Bang happened."
"Atheists can't explain why morality or logic exists."
Argument from Ignorance
Stating that something must be true because it can't be disproved.
Example from Bill O'Riley: (paraphrased)
"Well, until science has all the answers, I'm going with Christianity."
Begging the Question
Similar to circular reasoning, an assumption or a definition is created without any proof and then, in turn, is used to prove another assumption.
Example:
"Without God, morality can't exist (assumption). Morality exists and therefore so does God."
"God is love (assumption). Atheists don't believe in any god. Therefore, they can't love."
Ad Hominem
This is probably the most misunderstood of the logical fallacies. Theists are quick to cry "ad hominem" after being called an idiot, fucktard or liar. An ad hominem is using the insult in place of an argument, where you exclusively attack the person and not the argument.
For example, in one of our exchanges on what the Bible says, YouTube poster Theologica37 lied about what the Bible said. When I called him a liar, he said it was an ad hominem. It wasn't because the fact that he lied directly related to the chapter and verse he was lying about. Because he lied about what it said, he was also wrong about what it said.
Dismissing all his opinions on the basis that he's a liar, without looking at any of the evidence submitted, would be an ad hominem.
Poisoning the Well
X is asserted to be false because of some alleged character flaw by an advocate. This is similar to an ad hominem.
Examples:
"Darwin was a racist. Therefore, evolution is false (or evolution promotes racism)."
(this is actually not true, that Darwin was a racist but even if it were so, it would not disprove evolution).
Note: This is why science doesn't care if someone's an asshole. They might still be right.
Non Sequitur
This fallacy translates to "it doesn't follow". It's where the conclusion isn't supported by the evidence offered because the evidence offered is irrelevant.
Example: Ontological Argument
"Something that exists is greater than something that doesn't. God is the greatest thing that can be imagined. Therefore, God exists."
Slippery Slope
An unsupported assumption that A will inevitably lead to B.
Examples:
"If we allow gay marriage, next we'll be allowing pedophilia."
"If evolution is taught in schools, next we'll be teaching nihilism and amorality"
Appeal to Consequence
We don't like X. Therefore, X isn't true.
Examples:
"I don't like the idea of a universe with a god watching over us. Therefore, my god exists."
(Actual quote from a Christian) "There's no comfort in deism. That's why I remain a Christian."
Appeal to Fear
Believe in X or bad things will happen to you.
Example: Pascal's Wager
"If you don't believe in God, then when you die you'll go to Hell. Isn't it better to believe and not take that chance?"
Appeal to Popularity
X is assumed to be true because more people believe X than not.
Example:
"Everyone else in your town is a Christian. They can't all be wrong."
Shifting the Burden of Proof
The burden of proof belongs with one who states to know that X is true. The one who doubts or is skeptical of a claim is not charged with proving the negative. Also see "argument from ignorance".
Examples:
"You can't prove that there is no God"
"Atheists can't account for why the Big Bang happened."
"Atheists can't explain why morality or logic exists."
Argument from Ignorance
Stating that something must be true because it can't be disproved.
Example from Bill O'Riley: (paraphrased)
"Well, until science has all the answers, I'm going with Christianity."
Begging the Question
Similar to circular reasoning, an assumption or a definition is created without any proof and then, in turn, is used to prove another assumption.
Example:
"Without God, morality can't exist (assumption). Morality exists and therefore so does God."
"God is love (assumption). Atheists don't believe in any god. Therefore, they can't love."
Ad Hominem
This is probably the most misunderstood of the logical fallacies. Theists are quick to cry "ad hominem" after being called an idiot, fucktard or liar. An ad hominem is using the insult in place of an argument, where you exclusively attack the person and not the argument.
For example, in one of our exchanges on what the Bible says, YouTube poster Theologica37 lied about what the Bible said. When I called him a liar, he said it was an ad hominem. It wasn't because the fact that he lied directly related to the chapter and verse he was lying about. Because he lied about what it said, he was also wrong about what it said.
Dismissing all his opinions on the basis that he's a liar, without looking at any of the evidence submitted, would be an ad hominem.
Poisoning the Well
X is asserted to be false because of some alleged character flaw by an advocate. This is similar to an ad hominem.
Examples:
"Darwin was a racist. Therefore, evolution is false (or evolution promotes racism)."
(this is actually not true, that Darwin was a racist but even if it were so, it would not disprove evolution).
Note: This is why science doesn't care if someone's an asshole. They might still be right.
Non Sequitur
This fallacy translates to "it doesn't follow". It's where the conclusion isn't supported by the evidence offered because the evidence offered is irrelevant.
Example: Ontological Argument
"Something that exists is greater than something that doesn't. God is the greatest thing that can be imagined. Therefore, God exists."
Slippery Slope
An unsupported assumption that A will inevitably lead to B.
Examples:
"If we allow gay marriage, next we'll be allowing pedophilia."
"If evolution is taught in schools, next we'll be teaching nihilism and amorality"
Appeal to Consequence
We don't like X. Therefore, X isn't true.
Examples:
"I don't like the idea of a universe with a god watching over us. Therefore, my god exists."
(Actual quote from a Christian) "There's no comfort in deism. That's why I remain a Christian."
Appeal to Fear
Believe in X or bad things will happen to you.
Example: Pascal's Wager
"If you don't believe in God, then when you die you'll go to Hell. Isn't it better to believe and not take that chance?"
Appeal to Popularity
X is assumed to be true because more people believe X than not.
Example:
"Everyone else in your town is a Christian. They can't all be wrong."
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
