Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Christian Leap Logic

    Christians, and by extension most theists, employ a wonderful tool of reasoning that I like to call CLL, or Christian Leap Logic. In short this means that if Item A is true, totally unrelated Item B must also be true. Once you understand how this reasoning works it is fairly easy to disassemble almost all arguments for theism.
     For example: Item A: the Bible mentions accurate geographical places. Totally unrelated Item B: Jesus performed miracles. This isn't an example I pulled out of thin air. It happens to be one of Lee Strobel's favorite arguments. Read it in More Than a Carpenter if you can stomach it.
     Another example: Item A: the universe must have had a beginning. Totally unrelated Item B: God is the creator of the universe and is imbued with all the attributes described of him in the Bible. This one if from Dr. Turek in his book I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist.
     CLL accounts for the vast majority of arguments I've heard from Christians. To be honest, it saddens me. I honestly believe that if Christians would employ actual logic...well, they wouldn't be Christians. Other than the fact that I don't think Christians and other theists would stop believing if it weren't for CLL, I also think they would understand their place in the world somewhat better.
     Christians, if they applied normal logic, would understand their own beliefs. They would understand that people who want to live their own lives in a manner that is different are not a threat to them. They would realize that being the majority does not necessarily mean that you get your way. They would understand that other people expressing themselves is not a form of persecution. They wouldn't react based on fear, emotion, guesses or...faith.

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