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Atheism and logical fallacies (view source)
Revision as of 14:26, June 13, 2015
, 14:26, June 13, 2015→Atheists and the genetic fallacy
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRvJ-4WmJwk William Lane Craig debunks the atheist's "Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence?]</ref>
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRvJ-4WmJwk William Lane Craig debunks the atheist's "Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence?]</ref>
== Atheists and the genetic fallacy ==
[[Genetic fallacy]] - The genetic fallacy is a [[logical fallacy]] wherein an argument is based on the circumstances of something's origin or history when that origin or history has nothing to do with the present value of that something.<ref>[http://www.fallacyfiles.org/genefall.html Fallacy Files: Genetic Fallacy]</ref> The fallacy is thus a fallacy of relevance.
[[Genetic fallacy]] - The genetic fallacy is a [[logical fallacy]] wherein an argument is based on the circumstances of something's origin or history when that origin or history has nothing to do with the present value of that something.<ref>[http://www.fallacyfiles.org/genefall.html Fallacy Files: Genetic Fallacy]</ref> The fallacy is thus a fallacy of relevance.
[[Image:2384975035_230a0eac30.jpg|thumb|left|170px|The [[Wall Street Journal]] reported: "A comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows ...that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to [[superstition]], tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians."<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>]]
[[Image:2384975035_230a0eac30.jpg|thumb|left|170px|The [[Wall Street Journal]] reported: "A comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows ...that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to [[superstition]], tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians."<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>]]
The [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[C.S. Lewis]] wrote about the illegitimate and illogical use of the genetic fallacy in his essay entitled ''Bulverism''.<ref>[http://www.barking-moonbat.com/God_in_the_Dock.html God in the Dock - Bulverism]</ref>
The [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[C.S. Lewis]] wrote about the illegitimate and illogical use of the genetic fallacy in his essay entitled ''Bulverism''.<ref>[http://www.barking-moonbat.com/God_in_the_Dock.html God in the Dock - Bulverism]</ref>
=== Atheists, family/societal origin of religious belief and the genetic fallacy ===
[[File:Georgetown 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ Study: Atheists Have Lowest 'Retention Rate' Compared to Religious Groups</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Atheists, origin of religious belief and the genetic fallacy]]
Atheists have given themselves pretentious monikers such as [[Freethought|freethinker]], rationalist and "[[Brights Movement|bright]]" (see also: [[Atheism and arrogance]] and [[Atheism and intelligence]] and [[Causes of atheism]]).
Like many atheists/agnostics, the [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] often arrogantly claims that a person is an adherent of a particular religion purely due to their upbringing and environment.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mmskXXetcg Richard Dawkins - "What if you're wrong?"]</ref> These same atheists often complain that religion is purely the result of religious indoctrination while ignoring the existence of [[atheist indoctrination]].
This type fallacious thinking is an example of the [[genetic fallacy]] and ignores the existence of people changing their religion/worldview based on thoughtful consideration or due to divine intervention. For example, one of Christianity's greatest evangelist was the [[Saint Paul|Apostle Paul]] who was a zealous Jew who persecuted Christians until his experience with [[Jesus]] on the road to Damascus. In recent years, there are many reports of [[Islam|Muslims]] receiving dreams/visions and becoming Christians.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqHDUpIZO68 LAST DAYS! Muslims Coming To Jesus Through Visions!]</ref>
=== Atheism has a lower retention rate than other worldviews ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]]
In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an [[Atheism|atheist]] household remain atheists as adults.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ Study: Atheists Have Lowest 'Retention Rate' Compared to Religious Groups</ref> Similarly, according to recent research by the Pew Research Forum on Religion and Public Life, in the United States, a majority of those surveyed who were raised in atheist or [[agnosticism|agnostic]] households, or where there was no specific religious attachment, later chose to join a religious faith.<ref>http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/defectors-to-faith-mark-a-growing-trend/story-e6frg7ko-1225710667095</ref><ref>http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1204/religion-changes-affiliations-survey</ref>
==== Abandonment of atheism in atheistic communist countries ====
In addition, in atheistic [[Communism|Communist]] China, Christianity is experiencing explosive growth.<ref>http://www.millennialstar.org/christianity-exploding-in-china/</ref><ref>http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/shows/cwn/2008/August/Christianity-Growing-in-China-/</ref> On July 3, 2005, the [[New York Times]] reported concerning many countries in the former [[Soviet Union]]: "A return to religion in [[Romania]] and the region's other formerly Communist countries has in many places outrun the speed at which the church can screen and train clergy..."<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/03/international/europe/03romania.html</ref>
===== Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union =====
See: [[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]
=== Allegation that all religion is superstitious and the genetic fallacy ===
A commonly ploy of atheists is to attempt to disqualify biblical writers on the spurious ground that they were allegedly superstitious and therefore their testimony is unreliable. Yet, the irreligious population has significant problem with superstition (see: [[Irreligion and superstition]])<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>
A commonly ploy of atheists is to attempt to disqualify biblical writers on the spurious ground that they were allegedly superstitious and therefore their testimony is unreliable. Yet, the irreligious population has significant problem with superstition (see: [[Irreligion and superstition]])<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>
This is not a new finding. In his 1983 book "The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener," skeptic and science writer Martin Gardner cited the decline of traditional religious belief among the better educated as one of the causes for an increase in pseudoscience, cults and superstition. He referenced a 1980 study published in the magazine ''Skeptical Inquirer'' that showed irreligious college students to be by far the most likely to embrace paranormal beliefs, while born-again Christian college students were the least likely.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>}}
This is not a new finding. In his 1983 book "The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener," skeptic and science writer Martin Gardner cited the decline of traditional religious belief among the better educated as one of the causes for an increase in pseudoscience, cults and superstition. He referenced a 1980 study published in the magazine ''Skeptical Inquirer'' that showed irreligious college students to be by far the most likely to embrace paranormal beliefs, while born-again Christian college students were the least likely.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>}}
=== Atheists, the genetic fallacy and false accusations of mental illness ===
Atheists often falsely accuse theists (particularly those who criticize atheism) of mental illness<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/10/mailvox-continuing-education.html Mailvos - Continuing education]</ref>, despite the fact that atheists have higher incidences of depression and suicide (see: [[Atheism and suicide]] and [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism and health]]).
Atheists often falsely accuse theists (particularly those who criticize atheism) of mental illness<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/10/mailvox-continuing-education.html Mailvos - Continuing education]</ref>, despite the fact that atheists have higher incidences of depression and suicide (see: [[Atheism and suicide]] and [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism and health]]).