(December 6, 2013 at 2:09 pm)DOS Wrote: "Remember, young man, unceasingly, that the science of this world, which has become a great power, has, especially in the last century, analysed everything divine handed down to us in the holy books. After this cruel analysis the learned of this world have nothing left of all that was sacred of old. But they have only analysed the parts and overlooked the whole, and indeed their blindness is marvellous. Yet the whole still stands steadfast before their eyes, and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. Has it not lasted nineteen centuries, is it not still a living, a moving power in the individual soul and in the masses of people? It is still as strong and living even in the souls of atheists, who have destroyed everything! For even those who have renounced Christianity and attack it, in their inmost being still follow the Christian ideal, for hitherto neither their subtlety nor the ardour of their hearts has been able to create a higher ideal of man and of virtue than the ideal given by Christ of old. When it has been attempted, the result has been only grotesque."
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Yawn....
Argument from authority.
Lets count the fallacies:
1. "Has it not lasted nineteen centuries" - Argumentum ad populum
2. "is it not still a living, a moving power in the individual soul and in the masses of people" - Appeal to emotion
3. "It is still as strong and living even in the souls of atheists" - Question begging
4. "For even those who have renounced Christianity and attack it, in their inmost being still follow the Christian ideal, for hitherto neither their subtlety nor the ardour of their hearts has been able to create a higher ideal of man and of virtue than the ideal given by Christ of old" - Cherry picking.
Ephesians 6:5 - Slaves obey your masters.
Yeah, some high ideals alright
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.