Circular reasoning (begging the question), continued:

• Spiritual importance, continued:

  • Matthew 26:63-66 – The Pharisees assumed Jesus was not the Son of God, therefore when He claimed to be deity, they assumed He was blaspheming.

  • Evolutionists often use the similarity of DNA in different life forms as proof that those life forms came from a single ancestor.

  • Circular reasoning is used to date rock layers and fossils. The evolutionary timeline is assumed to be true, dates are assigned to fossils, and thus to rocks in which those fossils are found.

The question-begging epithet (biased words)

• What is it?

  • “… the arguer uses biased (often emotional) language to persuade people rather than using logic.”

  • Example: “That is the dumbest argument I’ve ever heard.”

• Spiritual importance

  • “Let’s open up our Bibles and discover whether or not this ridiculous doctrine is true.”

    • Maybe it is true that the doctrine is ridiculous but starting like this we prevent an objective assessment of the facts.

  • Examples regarding creation and evolution:

    • “Our department is becoming infested with creationists.”

    • “Creationists believe that the universe is young, but the best scientists tell us that it is billions of years old.”

  • Serene Jones: “Crucifixion is not something that God is orchestrating from upstairs. The pervasive idea of an abusive God-father who sends His own kid to the cross so God could forgive people is nuts.”