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Appeal to Emotion (Ridicule)
Cal Thomas is a more erudite Evangelical than our last theist (see Tricks Theists Play part 1). He is a columnist and is well-respected by secular conservative media outlets as well. However, an examination of his engagement with the atheist worldview and those holding same is a rhetorical disaster.
Thomas writes a column about Christopher Hitchens saying,
"I have always found atheists to be interesting people because they just may be the world's smallest minority group, one that gets smaller still as its members pass on and meet God face to face. Still, atheists demand physical proof of God's existence, as if they could bring God down and make Him into their image. What kind of God would that be? He would be their equal and, thus, not God at all."
Nice taunt. I'm sure many theists will find the prepubescent humor funny. It is not! It brings shame to those who call themselves ambassadors of Christ. Jesus was a great intellect who schooled Jerusalem's scholars when he was only 12 years old. Taunting is not engagement. It is refusing to engage.
"Atheist demand physical proof." Having read several thousands of pages by atheists philosophers it doesn't seem to be the case that "physical proof" is equivocal with premises that are supported "scientifically."
Antony Flew stated that he became convinced of the existence of a God as a result of the fine-tuning of the universe arguments developed by physicists in the 1970s and 80s. This is what is general meant by physical proof, not as Thomas suggests, by God bringing himself down so they could see him.
After bringing up a few salient points he returns to his taunts:
"Scripture warns, 'A fool has said in his heart ‘there is no God.“' (Psalm 14:1)
In this season when many celebrate the object of their faith, there is no joy in the death of one who had faith that God does not exist. Hitchens now knows the truth and that can only be the worst possible news for him.
As for the atheists still with us, Christmas is a reminder there is still time to believe and receive the ultimate gift."
Hardly a winning appeal to the rationality of the Christian claims. He even has the gall to quote C.S. Lewis, who's approach was that of presenting rational evidence and arguments for God's existence not making fun of those who don't hold that view.
Cal Thomas has succeeded in matching the mindless vitriol of the new atheists with his own new theists off-putting rhetoric.
Cal Thomas is a more erudite Evangelical than our last theist (see Tricks Theists Play part 1). He is a columnist and is well-respected by secular conservative media outlets as well. However, an examination of his engagement with the atheist worldview and those holding same is a rhetorical disaster.
Thomas writes a column about Christopher Hitchens saying,
"I have always found atheists to be interesting people because they just may be the world's smallest minority group, one that gets smaller still as its members pass on and meet God face to face. Still, atheists demand physical proof of God's existence, as if they could bring God down and make Him into their image. What kind of God would that be? He would be their equal and, thus, not God at all."
Nice taunt. I'm sure many theists will find the prepubescent humor funny. It is not! It brings shame to those who call themselves ambassadors of Christ. Jesus was a great intellect who schooled Jerusalem's scholars when he was only 12 years old. Taunting is not engagement. It is refusing to engage.
"Atheist demand physical proof." Having read several thousands of pages by atheists philosophers it doesn't seem to be the case that "physical proof" is equivocal with premises that are supported "scientifically."
Antony Flew stated that he became convinced of the existence of a God as a result of the fine-tuning of the universe arguments developed by physicists in the 1970s and 80s. This is what is general meant by physical proof, not as Thomas suggests, by God bringing himself down so they could see him.
After bringing up a few salient points he returns to his taunts:
"Scripture warns, 'A fool has said in his heart ‘there is no God.“' (Psalm 14:1)
In this season when many celebrate the object of their faith, there is no joy in the death of one who had faith that God does not exist. Hitchens now knows the truth and that can only be the worst possible news for him.
As for the atheists still with us, Christmas is a reminder there is still time to believe and receive the ultimate gift."
Hardly a winning appeal to the rationality of the Christian claims. He even has the gall to quote C.S. Lewis, who's approach was that of presenting rational evidence and arguments for God's existence not making fun of those who don't hold that view.
Cal Thomas has succeeded in matching the mindless vitriol of the new atheists with his own new theists off-putting rhetoric.
