Common Creationist Fallacies

[Nuggin]

Here's a list of common logical fallacies and examples of how they are used by Creationists.

Ad Hominem: Attacking the person rather than the argument.
"You're an atheist with the intellect of a 5th grader!"

Band Wagon/Appeal to Popularity: Arguing that since many people believe something it must be true.
"Millions of Christians believe in Creationism!"

Appeal to Antiquity: Arguing that because an idea is old, it's therefore good.
"People 6000 years ago knew the truth about Creationism!"

Appeal to Authority: Arguing that information from a source considered to be an authority is necessarily factual information
"The Bible supports Creationism!"

Appeal to Consequences: Arguing that the end result of a logical sequence should determine the validity of the sequence.
"If you believe in evolution, you will become Godless!"

Appeal to Force: Arguing through threats.
"If you believe in evolution, you will burn in Hell!"

Appeal to Ignorance: Arguing that because you don't understand something, it must not be correct.
"I don't see how animals could evolve, therefore evolution is false!"

Appeal to Novelty: Arguing that a new idea is necessarily better than an old one.
"Intelligent Design is so new that it has to be true!"

Argument from Personal Incredulity: Arguing that since you don't believe something, it's not true.
"Why would anyone believe the world was older than 6000 years?! That's crazy!"

Appeal to Pity: Arguing that your correct because you are put down.
"Everyone always beats up on Christians, that's how I know I'm right!"

Moralistic Fallacy: Arguing that because something should be a certain way, then it is a certain way.
"People should believe in God, therefore they need to believe in Creationism!"

Red Herring: Introducing a new topic rather than concluding an argument you are losing.
"Oh yeah! Well, what about fossils on top of mountains?!"

This is by no means a complete list. These are just some common ones we seem to see every day.

It's possible for anyone to make a logical fallacy while arguing.

I suggest that, rather than engage someone in debate, when they are utilizing a fallacy, simply identify it.

[Bob of Quantum-Faith]

*bump*

This thread needs to re-shuffle to the top of the list.

Good list, Nuggin

[Fossil Bob]

Yes...a good list. Maybe it should be numbered so we can shout "No. 6"... A couple of comments:

Appeal to Consequences: This could also be known as the "evolution caused the Nazis" claim.

Argument from Personal Incredulity:

I know this one as the "Well...I can't believe the World is billions of years old"
(answered by... You're right! YOU can't believe it! And your point is?":)

[Discord]

Fossil Bob wrote:

Yes...a good list. Maybe it should be numbered so we can shout "No. 6"... A couple of comments:
Appeal to Consequences: This could also be known as the "evolution caused the Nazis" claim.

I think that is slightly different. Consequences is if we believe in Evolution then life has no meaning, we can just kill each other.

The Nazis is Argument from Negative Association.

[Darwins Stepchild]

Discord wrote:

<quoted text>
I think that is slightly different. Consequences is if we believe in Evolution then life has no meaning, we can just kill each other.
The Nazis is Argument from Negative Association.

Good point.

[Discord]

Darwins Stepchild wrote:

<quoted text>
Good point.

Thanks, and remember, the Nazis breathed air, too.

[Bob of Quantum-Faith]

Discord wrote:

<quoted text>
Thanks, and remember, the Nazis breathed air, too.

Let us also not forget-- Nazis had..........

Mothers.

And, on occasion they might eat.........

Apple pie.

Hmmm.

[Darwins Stepchild]

Discord wrote:

<quoted text>
Thanks, and remember, the Nazis breathed air, too.

AND drank water.

[Bob of Quantum-Faith]

Darwins Stepchild wrote:

<quoted text>
AND drank water.

And drove a truck?

Good grief!

We have a COUNTRY and WESTERN SONG, here!

[Discord]

Bob of Quantum-Faith wrote:

<quoted text>
And drove a truck?
Good grief!
We have a COUNTRY and WESTERN SONG, here!

Did their dog die?

[hexene]

Bob of Quantum-Faith wrote:

<quoted text>
And drove a truck?
Good grief!
We have a COUNTRY and WESTERN SONG, here!

And unfortunately used barb wire.

[Edape]

Nuggin has a good post.
Darn sod-busters....can't even fool them.
The nazis I thought wanted to create a superior race though their own intervention.
A god put those words in my mouth to inscribe.
Nuggin has a good post.

[Nuggin]

Bumping this up with an addition:

I don't know which "fallacy" this fits under, but it's a trend I've noticed.

I'm going to call it "Appeal to one wrong person".

Apparently, for the Creationist crowd, if ONE scientist is wrong about ONE thing, ONE time - then ALL of science is completely wrong all the time.

Meanwhile, Creationists have yet to be right about ANYTHING even once, therefore EVERYTHING they say must be true.

[Edape]

Discord wrote:

<quoted text>
Did their dog die?

You did not add and go to heaven.
That would be a common fallacy that we might say in perspective to whom we are talking to.
No creationist that I ever encountered in this forum would believe dogs go to heaven.
To a child I see nothing wrong with saying this.
It does fall under common fallacies.
I realize you rationalized a question.
I intentionally gave it a meaning.
It does not disprove science.

[Bob of Quantum-Faith]

Edape wrote:

<quoted text>
You did not add and go to heaven.
That would be a common fallacy that we might say in perspective to whom we are talking to.
No creationist that I ever encountered in this forum would believe dogs go to heaven.
To a child I see nothing wrong with saying this.
It does fall under common fallacies.
I realize you rationalized a question.
I intentionally gave it a meaning.
It does not disprove science.

To animal lovers such as myself, if animals ARE NOT in heaven, then I'm flatly not interested.

I had a very smart cat who literally saved my life-- his continued affection and attention kept my mental state on an even keel. I had just gone through a divorce, and my self image and mental state was in the dumps.

But my cat-- he kept on giving me attention and affection regardless.

Caring for him, and he for me in return is what I attribute to climbing out of that funk (and from keeping me out of an even deeper funk).

Animal companions in heaven?

I should THINK so-- else it ain't heaven at all-- it's more akin to 'other place....

[Edape]

Bob of Quantum-Faith wrote:

<quoted text>
To animal lovers such as myself, if animals ARE NOT in heaven, then I'm flatly not interested.
I had a very smart cat who literally saved my life-- his continued affection and attention kept my mental state on an even keel. I had just gone through a divorce, and my self image and mental state was in the dumps.
But my cat-- he kept on giving me attention and affection regardless.
Caring for him, and he for me in return is what I attribute to climbing out of that funk (and from keeping me out of an even deeper funk).
Animal companions in heaven?
I should THINK so-- else it ain't heaven at all-- it's more akin to 'other place....

Most of us can relate and I certainly can.
You know Bob I got upset when my mom said she wanted her Skippy buried with her. The dog died and she had him cremated and keeps his boxed ashes on a dresser. This is a very rare time that I had argued with my mom and I wanted the ashes buried then.
I will have that decision someday and you have made it decisive. Skippy will be with her.

Ed