8 Logical Fallacies Used by both Atheists and Christian Apologists

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As an immigrant, I found one thing about America that is fascinating.
Americans are so serious about their religious belief, or non-beliefs, and a big portion
of American public debate and discussion are centered around religious issues.
I am especially fascinated by the fact that there are so many YouTube channels focused
on just Christian apologism, and atheism, and they seem to have a very good symbiotic
relationship because a huge portion of their content is based on reacting to or quote-to-on-quote
“debunking” the other side's videos, which I find particularly enjoyable.
I recently began binge-watching these contents and noticed that both sides seem to frequently
employ logical fallacies in their arguments.
So today, I compiled 8 logical fallacies frequently used by both atheists and Christian apologists.
So let's talk about it with PAA:
Hi, I am Shao Chieh Lo, welcome to What People Also ask where I compiled some fun facts to
share with you, usually by conducting a lot of Googling.
Today I want to talk about 8 logical fallacies frequently used by both atheists and Christian
apologists, if you are an atheist or Christian apologist, I want to let you know I am not
trying to attack you, I simply just want to compile some logical fallacy that is frequently
used by both sides.
The examples I used in this video are just some examples I heard from some atheists and
Christian apologists, it does not represent all apologists or atheists, so I am not strawmaning
you.
Oh wait, what is strawmaning?
Let's talk about our first fallacy: 1.What is Strawman Fallacy?
The Strawman Fallacy occurs when someone misrepresents an opponent's argument to make it easier to
attack or refute, rather than addressing the actual argument.
This involves exaggerating, oversimplifying, or completely fabricating aspects of the argument.
It's a common technique in debates and discussions, used to undermine the opponent's position
by attacking this weaker "strawman" representation, rather than engaging with the real issues
or points being made.
Everyday Example:
Imagine a conversation about environmental policy.
Person A says, "I think we need stricter regulations to protect the environment."
Person B responds, "So, you want to shut down all factories and put everyone out of work?"
Here, Person B is misrepresenting Person A's argument.
Person A suggested stricter regulations, not the extreme measure of shutting down all factories,
which is a strawman that Person B created to attack the argument more easily.
Example of Atheist Use of Strawman Fallacy
In a debate on the existence of God, an atheist's claim that "Christians believe in God merely
because they cannot handle the reality of death and seek solace in the concept of an
afterlife" represents a strawman fallacy.
This fallacy arises from the oversimplification and misrepresentation of the complex reasons
behind Christian belief in God.
The atheist's argument does not acknowledge the array of philosophical, theological, and
personal motivations that Christians often cite as the foundation of their faith.
Instead, it reduces their belief to a simplistic and not universally applicable explanation
centered around fear of death and the need for afterlife assurance.
This approach effectively creates a distorted version of Christian beliefs, which is easier
to discredit, but fails to engage with the actual, nuanced reasons that many Christians
offer for their faith.
Example of Christian Apologists Use Strawman Fallacy:
When a Christian apologist says, "Atheists believe solely in science to explain everything
in the universe and reject any notion of non-physical entities," they are committing a strawman
fallacy.
This oversimplified depiction does not accurately reflect the diverse perspectives of atheists.
Many atheists do not assert that science has answers to all questions, nor do they all
discount the possibility of phenomena beyond the reach of current scientific understanding.
Their lack of belief in a god is often grounded in a lack of compelling evidence, rather than
an absolute reliance on scientific explanation for all aspects of existence.
By portraying atheists as strict materialists who deny anything beyond the physical, the
apologist overlooks the complex and varied views many atheists hold regarding the limits
of scientific knowledge and the unknown.
This generalization fails to address the real and multifaceted views of atheism.
2.What is Ad Hominem
The Ad Hominem Fallacy occurs when someone attacks their opponent's character or personal
traits instead of engaging with the actual argument being presented.
This tactic is used to undermine the opponent's position by discrediting them personally,
rather than addressing the substance of their argument.
The aim is to divert attention from the argument to the individual, making their argument seem
less credible or convincing.
Everyday Example: In a discussion about health policy, Person
A argues, "We should have universal healthcare because it leads to better overall health
outcomes."
Person B responds, "You just support universal healthcare because you're a socialist who
hates free enterprise."
Here, Person B is committing an ad hominem fallacy by attacking Person A's political
ideology rather than presenting the actual argument against universal healthcare to support
his refutation.
Example of Atheist Use of Ad Hominem Fallacy: In a religious debate, when an atheist states,
"You only believe in God because you're not educated enough to understand science," it
constitutes an ad hominem attack.
This approach unfairly targets the believer's intelligence and level of education, rather
than engaging constructively with the philosophical or theological bases of their belief in God.
Such a statement implies that the believer's faith is a result of a lack of understanding,
overlooking the myriad of reasons, including personal experiences and existential reflections,
that might underpin their belief.
By focusing on the believer's perceived personal shortcomings, the atheist diverts the discussion
away from the substantive arguments about faith and religion.
This tactic not only dismisses the believer's perspective but also evades a genuine exploration
of the complex reasons behind religious beliefs.
Example of Christian Apologist Use of Ad Hominem Fallacy:
In a discourse on faith, a Christian apologist's claim, "Atheists are just bitter people who
reject God because they want to live sinful lives without guilt," serves as an ad hominem
attack.
This statement criticizes atheists' moral character and personal motivations, rather
than constructively addressing the philosophical or rational arguments behind their disbelief
in God.
By attributing their lack of belief to a desire for an unaccountable lifestyle, the apologist
shifts the focus from a substantive debate on the existence of God to a judgment of atheists'
character.
This approach not only disrespects the genuine intellectual positions held by many atheists
but also sidesteps the opportunity for an honest discussion about the complexities and
nuances of belief and non-belief.
3.What is False Dilemma/False Dichotomy Fallacy
The False Dilemma (also known as False Dichotomy) Fallacy occurs when an argument presents two
options as the only possibilities, when in fact more options exist.
This fallacy limits the possibilities to two, often extreme, options, with the intent to
force a choice between them, ignoring other viable alternatives.
It's a tactic used in argumentation to corner the opponent into choosing an undesirable
option or to oversimplify complex issues into black-and-white choices.
Everyday Example: In a discussion about career choices, Person
A says, "You either go to college and succeed, or you don't go and end up failing in life."
Here, Person A is presenting a false dilemma by suggesting that success is only achievable
through college education and that not attending college inevitably leads to failure.
This ignores other paths to success, like vocational training, entrepreneurship, or
self-taught skills.
Example of Atheist Use of False Dilemma Fallacy An atheist might employ a false dilemma fallacy
by asserting, "You must either accept evolution and reject all religious teachings, or deny
science entirely and live in ignorance."
This statement presents an overly simplistic choice, implying that accepting scientific
theories like evolution is fundamentally incompatible with any religious belief.
It ignores the many individuals who reconcile their religious faith with scientific understanding,
and the various religious interpretations that do not conflict with scientific discoveries.
By framing the debate as an either/or scenario, it dismisses the nuanced positions many hold
that blend scientific knowledge with spiritual beliefs.
Example of Christian Apologist Use of False Dilemma Fallacy:
A Christian apologist might use a false dilemma fallacy by stating, "You either believe in
the Christian God and have a moral compass, or you are an atheist and live a life without
any moral guidance."
This creates an oversimplified binary choice, suggesting that morality is exclusive to Christian
belief and nonexistent in atheism.
It disregards the possibility of atheists and followers of other religions possessing
strong ethical principles independent of Christian doctrine.
This argument unfairly diminishes the complex landscape of moral philosophy and the diverse
sources of ethical values across different cultures and belief systems.
4.What is Circular Reasoning (Begging the Question)
Circular Reasoning, also known as Begging the Question, occurs when the conclusion of
an argument is assumed in the premises.
Essentially, the argument goes in a circle, with the conclusion simply restating a form
of the original assumption.
It's a logical fallacy because it doesn't provide any actual evidence or reasoning,
just reasserts the point in a way that appears to be an argument.
Everyday Example: Imagine someone arguing about the trustworthiness
of a news source said: "You can trust this news channel because it always tells the truth."
This is circular reasoning because the premise (the channel tells the truth) is the same
as the conclusion (it is trustworthy).
It assumes what it's trying to prove without providing any external evidence of the channel's
credibility.
Example of Atheist Use of Circular Reasoning: In a theological debate, an atheist may propose
a circular argument by asserting, "God is merely a man-made concept because all notions
of God are inherently created by humans."
This line of reasoning is inherently circular, as it employs the premise of God's concept
being human-generated as proof of its artificiality.
The argument essentially concludes that God is a man-made construct on the basis that
concepts of God originate from human thought.
However, this reasoning is circular because it assumes what it seeks to prove: the premise
that all ideas of God are human creations is used to substantiate the conclusion that
God, therefore, is a fabricated concept.
This approach neglects to consider the possibility of a divine entity existing independently
of human conceptualization, presupposing instead that the very act of human conception of God
invalidates the existence of a divine being.
Such an argument fails to provide external verification for its claim and instead relies
on its own logic to prove its point, making it a clear instance of circular reasoning.
Example of Christian Apologist Use of Circular Reasoning:
A Christian apologist may utilize circular reasoning by claiming, "The Bible is inherently
true because it is the word of God, and its divine origin is confirmed because the Bible
itself asserts it."
This form of argumentation is circular as it relies on the Bible's self-proclamation
as the word of God to validate its truthfulness.
The conclusion that the Bible is true is embedded within the premise that it is the word of
God, a premise which, in turn, is substantiated solely by the Bible's own declaration.
This reasoning does not offer external verification or independent reasoning to support the truth
of the Bible.
It assumes the veracity of the Bible to prove its divine origin and then uses its purported
divine origin to assert its veracity.
Such a methodology fails to step outside the internal logic of the Bible to provide an
independent basis for its truth, making it a clear instance of circular reasoning.
By not engaging with external historical, archaeological, or textual analysis, the argument
closes in on itself, using its own claim as the sole evidence for its conclusion.
5.What is Slippery Slope Fallacy?
The Slippery Slope is a logical fallacy that occurs when it is assumed that a relatively
small first step leads to a chain of related events culminating in some significant (usually
negative) effect.
This fallacy suggests that taking a specific action will inevitably lead to other actions
resulting in an undesirable outcome, without providing sufficient evidence for such inevitability.
Everyday Example: Consider an argument against relaxing work
dress codes said: "If we allow employees to wear casual clothes on Fridays, soon they'll
start dressing casually every day, and before we know it, the office will become unprofessional
and productivity will plummet."
This is a slippery slope fallacy because it assumes a series of increasingly negative
and uncontrolled outcomes from a simple change in dress code, without evidence to support
such a drastic decline.
Example of Atheist Use of Slippery Slope: In a debate on religious freedom, an atheist
might argue, "If we allow any religious symbols in public schools, it will soon lead to schools
forcing religious teachings on all students, ultimately ending in government-enforced religious
practice."
This argument is a slippery slope because it presumes that a minor acceptance of religious
expression will inevitably escalate to extreme outcomes like mandatory religious indoctrination,
without substantiating how or why these extreme steps would necessarily follow.
Example of Christian Apologist Use of Slippery Slope:
A Christian apologist might claim, "If society begins to accept atheistic beliefs, it will
lead to the decline of moral values, followed by increased crime and societal breakdown."
This presents a slippery slope fallacy by suggesting that acceptance of atheism will
unavoidably result in dire moral and social consequences.
The argument leaps from a change in belief systems to extreme societal decay without
providing evidence or logical reasoning to support such a catastrophic chain of events.
6.
What is Appeal to Authority The Appeal to Authority is a logical fallacy
that occurs when an argument relies on the opinion, position, or authority of an individual
or institution as the primary basis for a conclusion, without sufficient supporting
evidence.
This fallacy arises when a conclusion is based mainly on an authority's endorsement, not
on solid evidence or analysis.
It's problematic because authorities can be mistaken, and history shows experts have
held now-disproven beliefs.
Focusing on who makes the argument rather than its intrinsic merits can lead to neglecting
actual evidence.
Authorities can also be misquoted or influenced by biases, leading to misinformation.
Furthermore, reliance on authority discourages independent thinking and critical analysis,
promoting acceptance of ideas without proper scrutiny.
Everyday Example: Consider someone arguing about a health trend
said: "This diet must be effective because a famous scientist follows it."
This is an appeal to authority fallacy because it claims the diet's effectiveness on a scientist's
endorsement, not on scientific evidence or nutritional studies.
Additionally, the scientist's personal choice to follow a diet does not necessarily reflect
scientific consensus or rigorous research.
Example of Atheist Use of Appeal to Authority
An atheist might argue, "Renowned scientist Professor X states that there is no evidence
for the existence of God, therefore God does not exist."
This argument is an appeal to authority as it relies heavily on the scientist's reputation
and authority in the field, rather than presenting concrete evidence or logical arguments to
support the non-existence of God.
It assumes that the scientist's authority alone is sufficient to validate the claim,
without engaging in a deeper analysis of the evidence or arguments involved.
Example of Christian Apologist Use of Appeal to Authority
A Christian apologist may claim, "The existence of God is true because it has been endorsed
by several Nobel Prize-winning scientists."
This represents an appeal to authority fallacy, as it uses the accolades and recognition of
scientists to validate religious beliefs.
The argument assumes that the authority of these Nobel laureates lends credibility to
the belief in God, without providing direct evidence or logical reasoning related to the
existence of a divine entity.
It fails to recognize that expertise in one field (like science) does not automatically
confer authority on theological matters.
7.What is No True Scotsman Fallacy
The No True Scotsman fallacy is a form of logical fallacy that involves modifying a
generalization in an ad hoc fashion to exclude a counterexample and thus protect the generalization
from refutation.
It's typically used to salvage an unfounded claim by changing the terms to exclude specific
cases.
This fallacy is problematic because it dismisses relevant counterexamples arbitrarily and avoids
genuine discussion or analysis of the claim.
Everyday Example: Imagine a person who argues, "All students
at my school are outstanding scholars."
When presented with an example of a student with poor academic performance, they counter,
"Well, no true student of my school would perform poorly."
This is a No True Scotsman fallacy, as it arbitrarily redefines 'true students' to exclude
the counterexample, without addressing the original claim's accuracy.
Atheist Example of No True Scotsman Fallacy: An atheist might assert, "All religious people
are irrational," a sweeping generalization.
However, when presented with a counterexample, like a religious individual renowned for rational
thinking, the atheist might retort, "Well, no truly religious person can be rational."
This response is a classic example of the No True Scotsman fallacy.
Because he revises a universal claim ('all religious people are irrational') in the face
of a valid counterexample (a rational religious person), rather than acknowledging the exception
or reevaluating the original claim.
By redefining the criteria for what constitutes a 'religious'' person to exclude anyone
rational, the atheist conveniently sidesteps a direct challenge to their belief.
This tactic allows them to maintain their original assertion without engaging with contradictory
evidence, thus avoiding a substantive discussion or reexamination of their stance.
Christian Example of No True Scotsman Fallacy:
A Christian might assert, "No true Christian would ever leave their faith."
This statement implies that maintaining one's faith is an essential, unchanging characteristic
of a true Christian.
However, when faced with examples of devout individuals who have renounced their Christian
faith, the claimant might respond, "Well, anyone who leaves the faith was never a true
Christian to begin with."
This reaction demonstrates the No True Scotsman fallacy.
It involves redefining the criteria of what constitutes a 'true Christian' in response
to a counterexample that challenges the original claim.
Instead of acknowledging that faith can be complex and subject to change, even among
sincere believers, the assertion is adjusted to dismiss these instances as not fitting
the 'true Christian' definition.
This approach sidesteps the need to address the original statement's validity and avoids
engaging with the reality of diverse faith experiences.
8.What is Appeal to Ignorance (Argumentum ad Ignorantiam)
The Appeal to Ignorance is a logical fallacy that occurs when a conclusion is drawn based
on the absence of evidence, rather than the presence of evidence.
This fallacy suggests that a claim is true because it has not been proven false or that
a claim is false because it has not been proven true.
It's problematic because the lack of evidence is not a valid indicator of truth.
In many cases, evidence may be undiscovered or unobtainable, making such arguments baseless.
Everyday Example:
Imagine someone arguing that a certain celebrity must be a good person because no scandals
or negative stories have been reported about them.
This is an appeal to ignorance, as it assumes the individual's virtue based on the absence
of negative evidence.
It fails to consider that lack of public scandal does not inherently equate to proof of good
character.
Such an argument overlooks other possibilities, like effective public relations management
or simply a lack of public scrutiny.
Atheist Example of Appeal to Ignorance :
An atheist might assert, "Given the absence of conclusive evidence or empirical data supporting
the existence of God, it is rational to conclude that God does not exist."
This statement exemplifies the appeal to ignorance fallacy.
It incorrectly assumes that the lack of evidence confirming God's existence inherently validates
His non-existence.
This perspective fails to acknowledge the epistemological limitations inherent in human
understanding and the nature of scientific inquiry, which may not be equipped to explore
or validate metaphysical or transcendental concepts.
The argument oversimplifies a complex philosophical and theological issue by applying empirical
standards to a domain where such standards may not be applicable or sufficient.
It also disregards alternative methods of understanding, such as experiential, anecdotal,
or faith-based approaches, which, while not empirical, hold significance in the discourse
about the divine.
This reasoning, therefore, conflates the absence of empirical evidence with the evidence of
absence, overlooking the nuanced nature of belief and the existential questions that
may lie beyond the realm of empirical verification.
Christian Example of Appeal to Ignorance:
A Christian might argue, "Since science has yet to disprove the existence of God, we can
confidently believe that God exists."
This statement is a classic example of the appeal to ignorance fallacy.
It incorrectly assumes that the absence of scientific evidence against God's existence
is equivalent to positive proof of His existence.
This line of reasoning overlooks the fundamental nature of scientific inquiry, which is primarily
designed to test and understand the natural world, not to delve into metaphysical or theological
realms.
It also ignores the principle that science, by its nature, often refrains from making
definitive statements about phenomena that lie outside empirical observation and measurement.
It conflates the limitations of scientific methodology with affirmative evidence, neglecting
the nuanced relationship between faith, belief, and empirical knowledge.
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