This is a very basic fallacy not often seen, but every once in a while it crops up in various forms. It's worth exploring because it clearly illustrates begging the question (circular reasoning or Petitio Principii) in its most simplified form.
The statement, "Evolution is wrong (creationism is right) because the Bible said God made everything," is just another form of the same fallacy.
The assumption being made in both cases is the infallibility of a single book with questionable origins. No evidence is presented to lend credibility to the initial premise.
Broken down it looks like
Premise 1: God is infallible.
Premise 2: God wrote the Bible.
Premise 3: The Bible says God exists.
Conclusion: Therefore, God exists.
It is assumed that premise one, "God is infallible" is true without presenting any evidence to suggest so beyond the equally unsupportable premise two. Premise three is irrelevant if the first two premises can't be supported in any way, rendering the conclusion meaningless.
The statement, "Evolution is wrong (creationism is right) because the Bible said God made everything," is just another form of the same fallacy.
The assumption being made in both cases is the infallibility of a single book with questionable origins. No evidence is presented to lend credibility to the initial premise.
Broken down it looks like
Premise 1: God is infallible.
Premise 2: God wrote the Bible.
Premise 3: The Bible says God exists.
Conclusion: Therefore, God exists.
It is assumed that premise one, "God is infallible" is true without presenting any evidence to suggest so beyond the equally unsupportable premise two. Premise three is irrelevant if the first two premises can't be supported in any way, rendering the conclusion meaningless.
Other Examples Of This Fallacy In Religious Discussion
- "God exists because we can see His perfect creation all around us and that perfect creation must have a creator."
- "The universe had a beginning. That which has a beginning has a cause. That cause is called God."
- "Atheists ignore God and therefore cannot know right from wrong."
Be on the lookout for this fallacy in discussion. Religion isn't the only guilty party. The political arena is rife with such nonsense. If you should encounter it, call bullshit.
Sam Harris said it best,
Sam Harris said it best,