About Logic?

Question

"There are two types of logic:
1) Religious logic
and
2) Natural logic

The bible, therefore, can be considered as an element of Christian logic. Hence, just as an atheist uses natural logic to support his argument, a Christian uses biblical scripture, which is, in essence, an element of his logic."

Please comment on the statement above.

i see. but hey, "religious logic" does sound like a nice idea. ;)

Answer 1

I think the word you want is "reasoning," not logic. There's only one kind of logic. It either is logical or it is not.

Remember that logic does not have to do with the truth or falsity of a given proposition, most of the time. It assumes facts in evidence, and then tells you what you can infer from those facts.

All crows are black.
This bird is a crow.
Therefore, this bird is black.

The logic is correct, but in fact there may be such things as albino crows.

Answer 2

Haven't the religious already co-opted the word truth in that sense? There are Religious Truths which require no proof other than faith. That I can live with (sort of) and you can call it whatever you like. If you say Mary was a virgin and call that "Religious Truth" go right ahead. You're the one who has to believe that, not anyone else.

Logic on the other hand is a form of arguement. If you have to qualify logic as in the term "Religious logic" so you can use fallacious arguements, then that is no longer logic. The form of logic requires articles to be true or false. If an arguement is presented with proper form and properly defined premises, the conclusion can mathematically be determined to be true or false. This is how computers work (binary) and how electrical circuits are created. When the switch connects the circuit (true), the light goes on, when the switch does not, the light is off.

I hope you can see now how the concept of "religious logic" is a really bad one.

Do you people want Religious Math too where 2+2 <> 4?

Answer 3

It sounds like you're making a false dichotomy in order to excuse religious arguments from the rules of logic for no reason other than the religious ones just don't work.

Now, let's go ahead and pretend there's a religious logic system. Why wouldn't there be an astrological logic system that uses the star signs as an element of logic? Or a homeopathy system that uses anecdotal evidence as an element of logic?

If this is the case, then logic becomes utterly void of meaning. There's no reason to have it any more. Logic is logic. Arguments need to be both sound and valid in order to be supported. Soundness is determined from the structure of the argument, from the rules of logic, and validity is determined from the evidence for each premise in the argument. Excusing certain areas from this, such as religion, is not only pointless, but it can be dangerous.

Answer 4

Yes, your statement was logical. I agree with it, but I would like to add that not all Christians base the majority of their logic solely upon "religious logic," as you call it. The more one incorporates natural logic, yet does not discount another's religious logic, the more likely one is to be heard! I think I am founded upon natural logic -- religious logic is raising me above this level, but cannot exist without the natural logic as support.

Answer 5

Where did this religious logic idea come from ? To Christians, it's called bible study. No logic of any kind is involved.

Answer 6

Why are these the two types of logic? Could one be a subset of another? Why can't "natural logic" rule over "religious logic", or vice versa?

Answer 7

The notion of religious logic is a contradiction in terms: there is no such thing. Logic is what you apply to evidence, and in the case of religion, there isn't any.

Answer 8

Man's logic is man's logic whether it comes form a science book or a book of theology or philosophy it is still a man's logic. Our logic is limited to our finite understanding and the truth exceeds a man's understanding and comes from God and his revelation.

Answer 9

I think there's only one kind of logic. Aristotelian logic.

Nice try, though....

Of course you could have worded it differently, so that people could understand without having to supply definitions. For example:

There are two types of logic:
1) delusional logic
and
2) logic logic

Answer 10

"Religious logic" is not a term I've ever heard in a few post-secondary logic courses. ... I suggest it's not one used by mainstream logicians and is likely an oxymoron.

"Logic" is well-defined and rigorous.