by F.J. Foster

Created on: September 24, 2008   Last Updated: October 07, 2010

It all just happened. At least that's what we're told.  Something emerged from nothing, random molecules slamming against each other to form the universe and all in it.  There can be no God.  Instead, we must believe in "scientific" magic.  Maybe  we can give it an awesome name - say, Quantum Fluctuation.  You know, a burp in space that creates universes, though nobody has ever seen it happen.

But, no matter.  Science seemingly no longer requires observation.  Just the word of somebody famous and smart will do.  And if they are famous and smart, and they write books, well ... that ices it, huh?  As famous and smart atheist and scientist Richard Lewontin once said , "We can't allow a divine foot in the door." 

Okay, but how do you keep the foot out if there is a God, and He owns the door?  Remember the story of the dispirited followers of Jesus, hiding in the upper room?  They barred the door.  Jesus dropped in for dinner anyway.  Turns out He didn't need a door.

I'll admit it - I believe in God.  I know Him personally.  Have for years.  But don't worry.  I'm not going to give you a long testimony here.  If you don't know Him, you wouldn't believe me anyway.  You'd merely call it subjective, and you know what?  You'd be right.  Trouble is, subjective doesn't mean it didn't happen.  No, I'd rather look at some arguments mounted against belief and believers.

I'm aware that some believers use poor logic, but they aren't alone.  For example, if they are accused of arguing that "the universe exists so God must have created it," then they are wrong.  That isn't an argument, it's a truth claim.  It's also arbitrary, since it's only somebody's opinion.  But  I've never heard anyone use that "argument."  The example, then, is itself a fallacy.  It's called a straw man.

A straw man is an argument introduced by your opponent, that misrepresents your position.  Then the opponent argues against the straw man - successfully, of course -  instead of your real arguments.  If you're going to fight against fallacies, it's a good idea not to use fallacies to do it.

Almost any unbeliever can explain away God's existence given enough time.  God will never convince them if they are determined to be selectively blind.  And the "preconditions"

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