"One word of truth outweighs the whole world." —Alexander Solzhenitsyn
I wish more people understood that factual statement. They seem to think that it is a numbers game and that numbers determine what is true, right, moral, or acceptable. This might work for society, but society does not determine what is true, right, moral, or acceptable, nor does it have the authority or power to change it. As determined as they are to suppress the truth in their unrighteousness, God will hold them accountable and judge them accordingly. It does not matter what kind of numbers society has backing their ludicrous ideologies and beliefs, God outnumbers them all! The Christian would do well to remember and practice these things:
"I am The Way, and The Truth, and The Life." —Jesus; John 14:6a
"Your Word is truth." —Jesus; John 17:17b
"Be diligent [Study] to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." —2 Timothy 2:15"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching [What is right.], for reproof [What is wrong.], for correction [How to get right.], for training in righteousness [How to stay right.]; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." —2 Timothy 3:16-17"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." —Acts 17:11"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." —1 Corinthians 2:12-13
Below are the most common fallacious arguments typically employed by the world in their illogical thinking, whether it be self-professing "atheists," Evolutionists, homosexuals, or other Post-Modern, Humanistic individuals. Appeal to Common Belief, Appeal to Majority, Appeal to Popularity, or Bandwagon is the most common fallacy employed, assuming that numbers some how determine what is true, right, moral, or acceptable. But as the quote above informs us, "One word of truth outweighs the whole world."
Appeal to Authority: Referencing an 'expert.' (The expert, of course, may not be an expert, but they are a touchstone that people use to avoid having their own expertise challenged.)As you read over the above fallacies, no doubt examples of them were brought to your mind from arguments/debates with self-professing "atheists," Evolutionists, homosexuals, etc. Once you understand these logical fallacies, you will be able to recognize them on the fly and stop your opponent in their tracks by calling attention to their erroneous arguments. These fallacies are all the world has to fall back on, and they will continuously fall back on the Appeal to Common Belief, Appeal to Majority, Appeal to Popularity, or Bandwagon fallacies because they think numbers make the difference. In society they might (for a time being), but on Judgment Day before the throne of God they will not mean diddly because truth and justice will prevail. These people will know how wrong they were and it will be too late for them. Just because the odds seem stacked against you, do not fret; if truth is on your side, that is all that matters.
Appeal to Common Belief, Appeal to Majority, Appeal to Popularity, Bandwagon: If others believe it to be true, it must be true.
Appeal to Emotion: If it feels good, it must be true.
Appeal to Fear: Gaining compliance through threats. (E.g., calling someone a "homophobe")
Appeal to Pity, Appeal to Sympathy: Going for the sympathy vote. (Please feel so sorry for me or my cause that you agree with me.)
Assertion: What I say is true.
Attack the Person (a.k.a. Ad Hominem): Distracting them from their argument.
Begging the Question: Circular reasoning to prove assumed premise.
Cherry Picking, Incomplete Evidence, Stacking the Deck, Suppressed Evidence: Pointing at individual cases/data that seem to confirm a position, while ignoring significant portions of cases/data that contradict that position.
Example: "There is scientific evidence that homosexuals are born that way because:Missing the Point: Drawing the wrong conclusion.
With the above example, a form of Stacking the Deck, the cases of scientific evidence to the contrary (which far outnumber the above examples) are deliberately overlooked or dismissed entirely, where:
- with identical twins, both are homosexual
- with identical triplets, all are homosexual
- with identical triplets where one is female and the other two are male (or vice versa), either all are homosexual or just the two of the same gender."
- with identical twins, only one is homosexual while the other is not
- with identical triplets, only one is homosexual while the other two are not
- with identical triplets where one is female and the other two are male (or vice versa), only one of the three is homosexual while the others are not, or one of the two with the same gender is homosexual while the other is not.
Red Herring: Distracting with an irrelevancy.
Repetition: Repeating something makes it more true.
Social Conformance: Agree with me or be socially isolated.
Strawman: Attack a weak argument used by the other person, making it seem their entire argument. (You have a several arguments for your case. I disprove one of those arguments, therefore the whole case is false.)
Wishful Thinking: 'A' is true because I want it to be true.
"Prove [examine] all things; hold fast that which is good." —1Thessalonians 5:21
"Hold fast the form of sound words, which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." —2 Timothy 1:13
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised)." —Hebrews 10:23
"One word of truth outweighs the whole world." —Alexander Solzhenitsyn