What's the most common fallacy used by atheists?

Question

I see a few fallacies consistently repeated by theists, I assume they are unaware. So I began wondering what argumentative flaws atheists may use that I overlook.

Answer 1

Let's see:

* The all-or-nothing fallacy - Often, the atheist will claim to have disproved god by only dealing with the Judeo-Christian god.

* False contiuum - There are several different types of Christians (fundamentalist, evangelical, charismatic, pre-suppositionalist spring to mind immediately), but most atheists lump all of their beliefs under the heading of Christianity. "They're all close enough."

* Ad Hominem - A lot of atheists just dismiss the religious as gullible, crazy, sheep, fools, extremists, etc. They feel calling a theist one of these is a way to end the arguement. This is an ad hominem attack; the atheist decides the other person's argument is invalid due to something about his or her character.

* Straw man - This occurs so often that coming up with an example is nearly overwhelming. It happens whenever the atheist assumes certain things about the religious, mischaracterizing their position, and then attacks it as though it were their position.

These are just a few I thought of, at least the ones that I find myself commiting most often.

Answer 2

One I'm fond of is the idea that Noah took all countless types of species of insects on the Ark with him.

The Bible states that only animals with the breath of life (something given by God, not just the ability to breathe air) were to be taken, and insects don't really qualify.

Another is the silly idea that religion has done more harm than good, but that requires a lot of study into the depths of history to determine conclusively - although Albania during its tenure as the only atheistic nation from 1948ish to 1991 rattles the rhetoric around here that abolishing religion from nations is a good thing.

Note that these are regular fallacies, falsehoods, not logical fallacies. Didn't really pay enough attention to the question's details. Sorry for that.

As for science being circular, the way dating methods have been done does back up what the above poster mentioned. You might be interested in reading the R.A.T.E. report if you'd like to see why otherwise intelligent people have problems with something as pronounced in our culture as the way ancient dates are calculated.

Answer 3

well the problem here is that theists also have a lot of bad ideas saying we are disrespectful and we riducle beliefs well, some do, thats some people you can't tar all atheists with the same brush like any other religious group

also i think if we use logic correctly there isn't a lot to pick apart

the person that said about circular belief, that science needs to have science to back science up making it circular belief well science isn't belief its theory some fact, backed up proven modelled tested and improved over time, gravity is a scientific princable do we need science to back this up, go drop a ball out a window, oh look it fell gravity no science in that

Answer 4

atheists tend to assume Christian is a synonym for closed minded hypocirte with no logic skills and tend to forget that some scholars and scientists are Christian.

atheists also tend to view Christians as a cohesive group, which is a false premise- for example-

atheists also tend to direct their questions to Christians when in fact many religions and their religious leaders demonstrate hypocrisy,
kinda like people from other countries assume Americans believe in American foreign policies and corporate practices that adversely affect their people on a socioeconomic level, when in fact alot of Americans are blissfully ignorant,unaware or just don't care about what happens globally as mainstream media fails to portray certain realities, anyways ,some atheists tend to view Christians the way some foreigners view Americans

if I were to ask a question which started- Mexicans, or black people, why do you alwys....? it would be considered ignorant as I just grouped everyone in a particular social group and assumed they all share the same values,etc.

however, atheists tend to start questions starting with Christians, why do you .......? which is the same type of ignorance and worse, we tend to flaunt our logic and accuse them of being the ignorant ones, while failing to use our critical thinking skills correctly or follow the rules of debate

Answer 5

Both theists and atheists get into logical fallacies whenever they claim they can "prove" their point of view. The existence of supernatural beings is inherently indeterminate and can't be proved or disproved. Atheists often forget that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

Answer 6

ok, replace God with flying spaghetti monster....... we won't be able to teach (the Christian) God does not exist, so we could consistently understand people who have self belief in (the Christian) God. This u . s .'s morals have been in keeping with (the Christian) God, so how are you able to anticipate us to no longer evaluate that as quickly as balloting? we won't be able to teach the flying spaghetti monster does not exist, so we could consistently understand people who have self belief interior the flying spaghetti monster. This u . s .'s morals have been based on the flying spaghetti monster, so how are you able to anticipate us to no longer evaluate that as quickly as balloting? evidence is significant once you're speaking of shoving those non secular perspectives into politics. you would be waiting to back up your reasoning for shoving faith into politics OR use your guy or woman arguments. 'faith' is own. Politics are customary.

Answer 7

I haven't a clue. I am aware of most logical fallacies and I don't commit them knowingly.


TedEx, Nina, neither of those are logical fallacies.

Answer 8

Kind of a tough one, as they act on logic and, if applied right, logic is not flawed. It may not bring you to the conclusion you want, but it is not flawed.

Answer 9

That they know that there is no God.
How could they know for sure.
They should be saying that they
don't know for sure. Those of us
in Christ know for sure that God is
real. The connection is real. So
when they say there is no God
they are lying. For even they know
that there might be a God. :)

Answer 10

Let me know when you find out,,,This rel...crap has got me about to scream..Especially here in Texas where prayer in schools is done every day..