"The punishments we observe are always the result of a higher authority. When a criminal is sentenced to prison, it is because of the Court's authority, when a child is grounded, it is because of the parent's authority. Cancer is far worse than these punishments and so it must be from a Supreme Authority, we call this Law-maker God."
I'm not asking whether I am right or wrong, rather what is the flaw in this argument?
2007-12-19 06:35:30 · 32 answers · asked by Eleventy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It falsely assumes that cancer is a punishment.
2007-12-19 06:38:35 · answer #1 · answered by rbc_commish 3 · 20⤊ 2⤋
The flaw is saying that Cancer is punishment. Cancer is not punishment but is that what you are really saying? That Cancer is punishment? If not then the flaw would be saying that "God" is punishing innocent people. That is something that happens in court at times which is why we have a process that allows appeals to be made. Sometimes logic is flawed because of the way something is said and not the actual intent of the words/ argument. I suppose in a way the argument is and at the same time is not flawed.
2007-12-19 06:55:22 · answer #2 · answered by jcandelario31419 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'll take a different approach.
Your interjection of the concept 'god' is itself a flawed premesis. Mutated DNA is usually a cause of cancer. Even by assuming cancer is a punishment and that punishment comes from higher authority, your higher authority is DNA.
Good luck avoiding academic failures.
2007-12-19 06:52:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My aunt died of cancer and she was a devoit christian. She was as beautiful on the inside as she was outside. Everyone who knew her loved her. She was devoted to her family, and she had a generous heart. So, why exactly was she punished?
I've always had a problem with that kind of logic. I worked in an AIDS clininc for awhile when I was younger, not all of those people got it from "sinnful" behavior- even if they were, I have difficulty believing that the creator would see fit to put anyone through that kind of suffering.
Disease is just disease. If it was ounishment I can think of plenty of folks in Washington that should being dying of cancer or AIDS.
The flaw is that too many decent "God fearing" folks die of evil diseases. While too many jerks live long healthy lives.
2007-12-19 06:51:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the general flaw in the argument is that the authority and the punishment upon which the beginning of the premise is based is upon man-made principles. To take a religious standpoint, comparing man-made principles and rules to those of God doesn't always fit. Ex: murder is a sin, yet war is justifiable. The laws of man say war is alright if it is for protection or survival. The laws of God say no murder is allowed.
I am not saying whether I think you answer is right or wrong, just showing the flaw in the logic on which your premise is based.
2007-12-19 06:41:22 · answer #5 · answered by sweetbearsg2003 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The statement "punishments we observe are "always" the result of a higher authority" is not valid or true in every case of punishment. It is a huge generality.
There are many kinds and souces punishment in life.
We are also more than capable of punishing ourselves.
2007-12-19 07:09:31 · answer #6 · answered by thetaalways 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) Assumes cancer is a punishment
2) Assumes all punishments are doled out by an authority. If i purposefully hit my finger with a hammer, it will have a consequence that will make me avoid such behavior in the future. Who punished me?
2007-12-19 06:44:33 · answer #7 · answered by neil s 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not logic, it's an assumption based on religious belief. IF there was a God then PERHAPS he inflicts cancer as a punishment. The other flaw is it doesn't address the question of why a toddler can die of a horrible disease yet Charles Manson is still alive.
2007-12-19 06:45:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
So what of children who get cancer? What exactly did they do to deserve something so terrible?
Cancer doesn't care if you're a good or bad person. It strikes indifferently.
Assuming it's a punishment is completely idiotic.
2007-12-19 06:52:33 · answer #9 · answered by chibisqueak 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your flaw is that you assume cancer is a punishment. Good people that don't do anything wrong can get cancer. What are they being punished for?
2007-12-19 06:40:16 · answer #10 · answered by NOJ 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
punishment by definition is something that must be imposed by an outside force with the INTENTION of punishing, so this statement is technically correct, yet it is a blatant tautology.
that being said; who makes the drunk driver wreck? why do i get zapped when i stick forks into light sockets? some "punishments" are merely natural consequences, and some natural consequences are "punishments".
to me this statement makes about as much sense as saying that "2" is the punishment for adding 1+1
2007-12-19 06:40:14 · answer #11 · answered by Free Radical 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋