by Doy Moyer<\/p>\n
One of the most common logical fallacies is the ad hominem. It occurs when a person attacks the character of another rather than addressing the argument. There are many ways this happens, but one that I have seen several times is in questioning the honesty of one who differs. You don’t agree with what I just said? You’re not being honest, obviously. Otherwise, you’d agree.<\/p>\n
Questioning integrity and motives quickly shuts down a conversation. It’s a lazy way out because it bypasses the argument and dismisses both the person and the position held by that person. After all, if the other person isn’t being honest, why should I have to answer the argument?<\/p>\n
Is it possible the other person is being dishonest? Yes. And it’s possible that I’m being dishonest, too. But this is not a charge to be taken lightly or thrown around as a catch-all for those who don’t agree with my “obviously well-thought-out and flawless position.” If only you see what I see, know what I know, and can think as sharply as I think, you’d be right there with me. Case closed.<\/p>\n
But this isn’t how solid or fair communication happens. Love gives the benefit of any doubts, and we have to be able to trust each other to have decent motives when we disagree. Now multiple interactions may expose dishonesty, but that’s ultimately for the Lord to decide, not me.<\/p>\n
It’s on me to check my integrity and honesty, and it’s on you to check yours. Then, if we discuss something we disagree with, we can focus on the arguments and perhaps help sharpen one another.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Doy Moyer One of the most common logical fallacies is the ad hominem. It occurs when a person attacks the character of another rather than addressing the argument. There are many ways this happens, but one that I have seen several times is in questioning the honesty of one who differs. You don’t agree…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[37,884,1292],"class_list":["post-68400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-apologetics","tag-arguments","tag-debates"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":47781,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-we-disagree\/","url_meta":{"origin":68400,"position":0},"title":"When We Disagree","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Be generous.\u00a0Assume the best first. Don't assign evil motives to other parties. They may have intended something else. Let the principles of love guide our discussions (I Cor 13:4-8). Be respectful.\u00a0Don't begin a response by insulting and insinuating that the other parties are intellectually deficient. Just address\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":49568,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/your-answer-against-a-person-questioning-his-core-belief-was-inappropriate\/","url_meta":{"origin":68400,"position":1},"title":"Your answer against a person questioning his core belief was inappropriate","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 6, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I'm not sure if you're the person I'm supposed to send this to, but your email was at the bottom of the page. I'm a member of the church and in regards to one of the Questions and Answer posts on the La Vista Church of Christ website, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":57749,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/hiding-behind-the-truth\/","url_meta":{"origin":68400,"position":2},"title":"Hiding Behind the Truth","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 4:1-6 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0One basic principle of logic is that if you start with a false idea, you can prove anything \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0False doctrine could be justified if you started with a false idea as evidence \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Premise: Presidents of the United States must be younger\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":49923,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/while-i-dont-agree-with-everything-i-am-impressed-by-your-arguments-on-buddhist-philosophy\/","url_meta":{"origin":68400,"position":3},"title":"While I don’t agree with everything, I am impressed by your arguments on Buddhist philosophy","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 16, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have read many of your posts and the question and answer page. I read all your thoughts on Buddhist philosophy (I'm Buddhist) and am impressed with how you put your arguments forward. I don't agree with everything of course, but I like reading your positions on various subjects.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34952,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/could-you-review-this-debate-on-whether-god-exists\/","url_meta":{"origin":68400,"position":4},"title":"Could you review this debate on whether God exists?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 26, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Can you look at this is a video of a debate asking if the God of the Bible exists? Now it's lengthy, but I imagine you will skim through the main points. 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