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Logical Fallacy of Proof by Agnosticism

 

Logical Fallacy of Proof by Agnosticism

Proof by agnosticism is one of the many smokescreens that are used to cover the fact that the reasoning is based on one of the three fallacies of Agrippa's trilemma. Whenever a logical fallacy is committed, the fallacy has its roots in Agrippa's trilemma. All human thought (without Divine revelation) is based on one of three unhappy possibilities. These three possibilities are infinite regress, circular reasoning, or axiomatic thinking. This problem is known as Agrippa's trilemma. Some have claimed that only logic and math can be known without Divine revelation; however, that is not true. There is no reason to trust either logic or math without Divine revelation. Science is also limited to the pragmatic because of the weakness on human reasoning, which is known as Agrippa's trilemma.

The Logical Fallacy of Proof by Agnosticism occurs when agnosticism, the unfounded belief that no one has or can know anything about the spiritual realm, is used as a base assumption or axiom and treated as if it were a known fact. This is a type of hysteron proteron. Agnosticism is a universal negative fallacy in that it claims to know that no one can know God. This is also an assertion contrary to fact, since, through Jesus Christ and the sacrifice that He made, millions of Christ-followers do know God in varying degrees of intimacy. 

Agrippa's Trilemma is seen at work in proof by agnosticism. If fact, anyone who accepts agnostic assumptions is not only basing his or her life on either infinite regress, circular reasoning, or bare assertion, but they also cannot possibly come to the knowledge of anything. Every conclusion that they come to must be based on either infinite regress, circular reasoning, or bare assertion. That means that they always must have some fallacy operating in every thought that they have unless they abandon agnosticism. Without Divine revelation, every person is totally lost and in a mental fog. In fact, rationalism can make persons in total mental fog feel as if they are very wise and knowing. In reality, they know nothing. They cannot know anything. They have cut off the only source of knowledge, wisdom, understanding, love, and peace.

Examples of the Logical Fallacy of Proof by Agnosticism

Bill Nye arguing against Creation science: "The idea that there is a higher power that has driven the course of events in the Universe and our own existence is one that you cannot prove or disprove. And this gets into this expression, Agnostic. You can’t know."

This is the essence of the logical fallacy of proof by agnosticism. Of course, you see the circularity of thinking right away. Bill is assuming that no one can know God to conclude that no one can know God. This is part of His argument against the Creator God and against the fact of Creation and the Genesis Flood, both of which can be known by Divine revelation.

HydrodynDM on Newsbusters: "The agnostic position I hold is one that accepts the possible existence of God but rejects that there is currently enough evidence or proof for his existence. Accepting the possible existence of God isn’t really much of a concession since, if you accept the possible existence of supernatural entities (as I do), you pretty much have to accept that just about any conceivable entity might potentially exist."

Because of Agrippa's Trilemma, HydrodynDM is claiming that no one can know anything about anything. There is not enough evidence to prove anything about anything. You can be sure that HydrodynDM has never given this serious thought to contemplate the ramifications. If HydrodynDM were right, then we would have to live with relativism as a fact, though we could not possibly establish relativism to be a fact since all logic used to establish relativism would then be relative and untrustworthy. However, there is concrete evidence that HydrodynDM is wrong. That evidence rests on the only sound reason to know anything, Divine revelation. By Divine revelation, we also know that HydrodynDM knows that God exists, refuses to acknowledge Him, and is without excuse before God.

This all sounds pretty good, but what is the basis of the rejection that there is currently enough evidence or proof for God's existence? There is ample evidence for God. We know, from the First Law of Thermodynamics, that neither matter nor energy create themselves. We know, from the Second Law of Thermodynamics, that, if everything had always existed in an eternal past, we would not seen planets, stars, or people, but we would see a uniform temperature near absolute zero throughout infinity. God has revealed this to us in a way that even the most resistant person can see it and understand it. So they are without excuse. God has also shown His great wisdom as He speaks to us through the complexity and beauty of what He has created. When we see the rock layers and the geology of the world, God speaks to us through these about the judgment that He brought against the violence and sin of the pre-Flood world. When we see the pain and suffering, God speaks to us about the fall of humanity into sin and the headship of man over the Creation that caused it to fall with him.

God also speaks to us through Scripture, giving us just the basic details that we need to know about the history of the world. Everyone who seeks (inquires of) Jesus Christ does eventually find Him. For those who choose to submit themselves to Him in obedience and reverence, He unveils truth. Early on, He reveals that the Bible is His Word and that it is without error. He begins to speak to them through the Bible. They begin to discern the Body of Christ, to realize what is and what is not the Body of Christ. They begin to see those who have received Jesus Christ in a new light, not after the flesh, but after the spirit. They see the new creation in Christ, not the old nature that is dying away. For all of those who continue to follow Christ, Christ continues to lead them to higher heights and deeper depths in Himself. The begin to learn to hear His Voice and to respond in submission and respect. As they walk with Christ, they make many mistakes, and they experience the mercy of God and the joy of His forgiveness when they step off or slip off (sin) the path that leads to the genuine and absolute fullness of life.



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Last updated: Sep, 2014
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