Religion and Logic Go Together Like Ice Cream and Horse Shit
25 October 2005 by Rockstar Ryan“‘Faith’ means believing in something you know ain’t so.” - Mark Twain
I couln’t have said it better. I’ve heard so many logical fallacies on this site it makes my head spin. Here’s a short list:
Argument from Incredulity: This fallacy is the basis for all theistic religions. The argument goes like this: The universe is so amazing, Mongo the Serpent-Headed must’ve done it! It is also the basis for (un)Intelligent Design: We are so complex, Invisible Pink Unicorns must’ve designed us.
Similar is the Least Plausible Hypothesis fallacy. It typically involves invoking the supernatural when completely unnecessary: My house caught fire. Surely Throm the Merciless shot a lightning bolt at it because I didn’t go to church. Or the priceless painting is gone! Obviously invisible flying gremlins took it back to their lair. The best way to reason around this is to apply Occam’s Razor, which your Rockstar shaves with daily.
Next we have the ever popular strawman fallacy, ever existentialized by our friend sable chicken. Setting up a strawman is exaggerating another’s argument, thereby weakening it, and attacking it. A perfect example can be found here. Sean wrote an article and stated that stem cell research has been roadblocked by the religious right, known to be of the Xian faith. Sable chicken then put up the strawman and went to town, exaggerating Sean’s argument to include blaming the Xian faith for everything wrong with the world today.
Appeal to Fear. The reason why religion has a grasp on otherwise reasonable people. It goes like this: If you don’t believe Gorlock the Mighty was Throm the Merciless’ prophet, you will
BURN IN FIRE FOREVER!!!
Our final trip to Stupidville (pop. 212,500,000), we have Argument from Ignorance. We can’t prove King Muck-Muck doesn’t exist, therefore he does. Obviously, this is no reason to argue for the existence of King Muck-Muck.
We’ll be back with Part II soon. Until then…
25 October 2005, on 11:48 am
If they could only see how much of a stretch their reality is they would make fun of themselves! Unfortunately they look at life through jebus colored glasses… so we have to do it for them. Nice job Rockstar!
25 October 2005, on 12:17 pm
I like the ‘Godly’ names. Very catchy. Having worn the ‘Jesus colored glasses’ in my youth, it only makes the idea more funny to me now.
25 October 2005, on 1:10 pm
“Sean wrote an article and stated that stem cell research has been roadblocked by the religious right, known to be of the Xian faith.” AKA( xians fault )
Do you really want to razor cut through the muck-muck. Just last year there was a big vote for stem-cell research…and it passed, so what’s this roadblocking that Sean is talking about?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6384390
Other great posts of the week,
Atheist are the last ones to be offended by MegaBucks coffee cups, but that doesn’t stop them from giving them a little product endorsement.
Poll is taken, sad news is that there are only 15% left of the smart people, efforts must increase to let the xians know that they are big dumby heads.
25 October 2005, on 1:34 pm
Nice job, Rockstar — although a hot fudge sundae will never look the same to me again.
25 October 2005, on 1:42 pm
Cluckin’ Chicken,
Your “proof” is old and only covers ONE state- the roadblocking is at a federal level. Holy virgin mary on a vibrator, you need a secular education.
25 October 2005, on 2:45 pm
I like the ‘Godly’ names. Very catchy.
Big assist from Sean on that one. I laughed my ass off when I first read the “bibble stories with silly names” comment. We should do a whole thread on that topic…
25 October 2005, on 4:29 pm
Check these out. Very funny!
http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/GodProof.htm
25 October 2005, on 4:31 pm
Sable. You are so out of your element, you should probably give up now. Truly. I see a train wreck in the making, and I don’t like to see people get hurt.
Rockstar, you’re on fire. Bring it. If only more rock stars were like you.
Logic will win. I believe it is so. I’m with Arthur C. Clarke. Childhood must end.
In the meantime, we argue with chickens. Why do we even bother?
Cluck-diddity-fuckin-cliznuck.
And thank you for keeping my names alive. King Muck-Muck, Throm the Merciless and whatever the fuck that other name was coming soon to a theater near you.
Love,
Cesspool Mouth
25 October 2005, on 4:41 pm
PS: Funniest headline I have seen on here in a while.
27 October 2005, on 3:47 pm
I’m still embarrassed when I hear Christians argue… I was them for 40+ years… damn I feel stupid when I hear arguments I used to use thinking I was so smart… oh well, now I can laugh at them… that’s the way it’s supposed to be…
27 October 2005, on 4:05 pm
LOL, I hear ya loud and clear on that one! That’s one of the reasons we use silly names (thanks, Sean!)- to make the arguments in favor of religion sound just as silly.
5 November 2005, on 8:25 pm
i’m a faithiful man with a honest heart.
7 November 2005, on 4:13 pm
Congradulations!
7 November 2005, on 4:18 pm
Thanks for letting us know, chire. Did you think GifS was a dating site or something?