Ad hominem-Why is it used so much in answers for the Religion & Spirituality section?

Question

Ad hominem-just in case you're not familiar:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem

If you are already familiar with it, just skip to link.

Answer 1

Please note that I am using "YOU" in the generic. I am not specifically pointing to anyone.

Because Religion is about belief. There is no unarguable proof that you can point to, to support your belief system. Each religion's dogma or scriptures are accepted as unassailable fact by those within the religion, but not those outside of it. You can point out that Brahma created everything and support your argument with the Upanishads, but the reality of debate is that unless the source you base your debate on is universally accepted as fact, your argument is fundamentally weak and always will be no matter what you believe. A Christian cannot prove that God created the universe to an Atheist by quoting Genesis anymore than an Atheist can prove that the evolutionary theory on the origins of man by quoting Darwin.

After all, religion isn't like math where you can do an equation and prove it works and that it should always work.

What's left? A lot of emotion and very little means of convincing anyone that that you're right. How can you change someone's mind about their worldview without solid proof? All that's left is a tautology. I'm right because what I believe in is right. The "you just won't admit it" is implicit in most tautological arguments. If it hasn't already degenerated, it's going to.

Most people around here just seem to dispense with the debate and move right into arguing.

Answer 2

Why ad-hominem? Because people don't control themselves. Pure and simple. It takes self-control and a level of maturity to abstain from "giving the raspberries" to someone. Many here in R&S don't exercise this self-control.

Answer 3

My proportion exhibits that I frequently answer my friends' and contacts' questions, darling...and the miracle is they seem to love my experience of humor. yet for a man or woman to get all of her BAs from the comparable avatars interior the comparable order...that may not a miracle... and given the way a number of our extra sanctimonious participants wreck the regulations around right here, it is slightly a interest! (((Uncle)))

Answer 4

Of course theists resort to ad hominem attacks, they have zero logic and reason on their side.

Answer 5

logical fallacies are not always wrong and are often easier to use than to argue the facts. the possibility of being right or at least persuasive without having to confront content is very tempting.

Answer 6

They take the quote "The best defense is a good offense" too literally. They try to unbalance the opponent before they fire their shot.

Answer 7

"religion" and "faith" are passionate subjects.

Even the strongest of us fall prey occasionally to anger, envy and "self-righteousness"

Answer 8

because they dont know the answer